Peter Yarrow, a leading figure from the iconic 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has passed away at the age of 86 after a battle with bladder cancer.
Born in New York in 1938 to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Yarrow pursued his passion for music at the High School of Music and Art and later attended Cornell University. Upon graduation, he immersed himself in the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene, which led to a significant appearance at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival, where he connected with Albert Grossman, his future manager and the driving force behind the creation of Peter, Paul and Mary.
The trio released their self-titled debut album in 1962, featuring folk classics and songs from Pete Seeger, achieving considerable success. Their second album, “Moving,” released in 1963, showcased Yarrow’s famed original song, “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Throughout the 1960s, the group consistently produced albums, only to initially disband in 1970.
However, the breakup was influenced by legal troubles, as Yarrow faced conviction in 1970 for taking indecent liberties with a minor, which resulted in a three-month prison sentence. He received a presidential pardon from Jimmy Carter in 1981, the day before Carter’s term ended.
Despite these challenges, Peter, Paul and Mary reunited and continued to perform live until the passing of Mary Travers in 2009.
