Peter Yarrow, a pivotal figure in the American folk music scene, has died at the age of 86. Breitbart reported that Yarrow died from bladder cancer after battling the disease for four years.
Yarrow's influence as part of the trio Peter, Paul, and Mary helped shape the soundtrack of the 1960s folk revival. With his fellow musicians, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, Yarrow achieved significant commercial and critical success, symbolizing an era of music intertwined with social activism.
The trio’s musical journey included a series of hit singles and acclaimed albums. Their ability to capture the spirit of the social movements of their time left a lasting impact on their audience and the music industry.
Peter Yarrow was born on May 31, 1938, in New York City. Raised in an upper-middle-class family, he was immersed in a culturally rich environment from an early age.
After graduating from Cornell University in 1959 with a degree in psychology, Yarrow did not immediately pursue music as a career. However, his passion for folk music grew, particularly during his senior year at Cornell, leading him back to New York City's vibrant folk scene in Greenwich Village.
It was here that Yarrow’s path first crossed with impresario Albert Grossman, who had a vision for a new folk trio. Yarrow, with his deep interest in both music and social issues, proved to be an ideal fit for what would eventually become Peter, Paul, and Mary.
The trio came to life in the early 1960s after Yarrow and Grossman joined forces with Stookey and Travers. Their first rehearsal, initiated by a simple phone call to Stookey, marked the beginning of what would be a formidable musical and cultural influence.
Yarrow’s songwriting skills shone brightly with the creation of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” a song that, despite controversy, became an enduring part of their musical legacy and a hit that resonated with a wide audience.
Throughout the 1960s, Peter, Paul, and Mary not only charted multiple Billboard Top 10 singles but also won five Grammy Awards, solidifying their status as folk music royalty.
Their music became a voice for the civil rights and anti-war movements, epitomized by their performance at the 1963 March on Washington. This event underscored the trio's commitment to activism through music, amplifying their songs' impact on American culture and politics.
The trio's success was intertwined with their promotion of other folk artists, notably Bob Dylan. Their renditions of Dylan’s songs helped bring his work to a broader audience, further influencing the folk music genre.
Despite their disbandment in 1970, the bond between the members remained strong. They reunited eight years later for a concert to oppose nuclear power, once again using their platform to address social issues.
Following Mary Travers' death in 2009, Yarrow continued to perform occasionally with Stookey while also engaging in solo projects and advocacy work. His contributions extended beyond music, embodying his lifelong commitment to social change.
Yarrow leaves behind his wife, Marybeth, daughter Bethany, son Christopher, and granddaughter Valentina. His family remembers him as a man who was as generous and wise in his personal life as he was in his public persona.
In remembering her father, Bethany Yarrow said, “Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest.”
Yarrow's musical career was deeply intertwined with his personal beliefs and his vision for a better world. His explorations of folk music at Cornell gave him insights into its potential to foster social change, a notion that he carried throughout his life.
"I saw these young people at Cornell who were very conservative in their backgrounds opening their hearts up and singing with an emotionality and a concern through this vehicle called folk music,” Yarrow once reflected.