The singer and songwriter from Peter, Paul and Mary has passed away.
Peter Yarrow, the beloved vocalist and songwriter from the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has passed away at the age of 86. According to reporting from The Guardian, his publicist confirmed that Yarrow had been battling bladder cancer for the past four years.
Yarrow’s unmistakable voice shaped some of the group’s most enduring songs, including Puff the Magic Dragon, The Great Mandala, and Day Is Done, all of which he wrote or co-wrote with fellow bandmate Noel Paul Stookey. With Yarrow’s passing, Stookey becomes the trio’s only surviving member; Mary Travers died in 2009.
Born on May 31, 1938, in New York City, Yarrow grew up immersed in a culturally rich Jewish household. After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in psychology in 1959, he soon discovered his true passion: music.
Under the guidance of manager Albert Grossman, Yarrow, Stookey, and Travers formed Peter, Paul and Mary in 1961. Their harmonies and socially conscious lyrics helped define the 1960s folk revival. Their debut album shot to the top of the charts, featuring classics like If I Had a Hammer and Lemon Tree, solidifying their place in American musical history.