Peter Yarrow, founding member of the legendary folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, speaks about the 1967 March on the Pentagon during a vigil marking the 50th anniversary of the protest outside the Pentagon on Oct. 20, 2017, in Arlington, Va. The musician has died at 86. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Peter Yarrow, renowned as part of the iconic folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, passed away in New York on Tuesday at the age of 86 after a four-year battle with bladder cancer, his publicist confirmed.
Yarrow’s daughter, Bethany, honored his legacy in a heartfelt statement, referencing the group’s beloved song Puff the Magic Dragon: “Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life.” She praised her father’s creativity, kindness, and passion, qualities evident in both his music and life.
During the 1960s, Peter, Paul and Mary—comprising Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers—became one of the leading voices of the folk music revival in America. They achieved remarkable success with six Billboard Top 10 singles, two No. 1 albums, and five Grammy Awards. Their renditions of Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right brought Dylan’s music to a wider audience.
The trio temporarily disbanded in 1970 to pursue individual projects but reunited in 1978 for a landmark anti-nuclear power concert in Los Angeles, organized by Yarrow. They continued to perform together until Travers’s passing in 2009.
Yarrow, centre, is shown with Mary Travers and Noel Paul Stookey performing as Peter, Paul and Mary before delegates during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July 2004. The group stayed together until Travers, who had battled leukemia for several years, died in 2009. (Elise Amendola/The Associated Press)
Early Life and Path to Folk Music
Born on May 31, 1938, in New York City, Yarrow developed a love for music early, beginning with violin lessons before switching to guitar. Inspired by folk icons like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, he pursued a passion for storytelling through song.
After earning a psychology degree from Cornell University in 1959, Yarrow immersed himself in the Greenwich Village music scene, where he connected with Stookey and Travers under the guidance of manager Albert Grossman. Their harmonies and shared commitment to social causes propelled them to stardom.
Their debut album, Peter, Paul and Mary (1962), topped the charts, while subsequent releases like In the Wind and Moving cemented their reputation. The group’s music championed social justice, with tracks like If I Had a Hammer and Day Is Done, as well as tender ballads such as Puff the Magic Dragon. Yarrow always emphasized that Puff was a metaphor for the loss of childhood innocence, not a veiled reference to drugs, as some speculated.
Travers, left, Stookey and Yarrow perform as Peter, Paul and Mary at a Los Angeles benefit to aid Cambodian refugees on Jan. 30, 1980. (George Brich/The Associated Press)
Challenges and Redemption
Yarrow’s life was not without controversy. In 1970, he served three months in jail after pleading guilty to an incident involving a minor. He repeatedly apologized for his actions and was later pardoned by President Jimmy Carter in 1981. In the decades that followed, Yarrow remained committed to social activism and creative endeavors, including co-writing the 1976 hit Torn Between Two Lovers.
A Lasting Legacy
Yarrow’s contributions to music and activism earned him lasting admiration. He received an Emmy nomination in 1979 for the animated adaptation of Puff the Magic Dragon. Beyond his public achievements, he cherished his family, including his ex-wife Mary Beth McCarthy, daughter Bethany, son Christopher, and granddaughter Valentina.
Peter Yarrow’s music and message continue to inspire, embodying hope, compassion, and a call for a better world.
