Peter Yarrow, the beloved troubadour of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, has passed away at the age of 86. His death marks the end of an era for the group, which became an iconic force in American music and culture. Yarrow, who was known for his soulful voice and powerful storytelling, was an integral part of the trio, whose songs still resonate with listeners worldwide.
Yarrow, born in New York City to Ukrainian Jewish parents in 1938, grew up playing in his family and in New York City’s High School of Music and Art in Manhattan during his teenage years. He continued his education at Cornell University, but it was in the dynamic folk scene of Greenwich Village where he found himself.
It was where Yarrow got to meet Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, the two other members of Peter, Paul, and Mary. Their collaboration, founded on mutual respect and a common love for folk music, quickly rose to fame.
The biggest hit of the trio at this time was “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” which was penned by their friend John Denver. It only peaked at No. 1 on the charts and is the biggest track to this date for which they are known.
Peter, Paul, and Mary’s music was very politically charged, as befits the 1960 social activism subtheme. Their music would offer the accompaniment for civil rights demonstrations, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and similar other movements connected with reforms throughout society. Yarrow would also speak and act out for peace and justice through his voice and make people aware of more than once of these issues.
But there were some problems that the trio was to face in its confinement: In 1970, a legal scandal struck Peter Yarrow and hence threatened to break the trio apart. Yarrow was found guilty of a sex offense by having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl and given three months imprisonment. This is a rather dark episode in life, but it did not have to be his destiny for the rest of the days. In 1981, President Jimmy Carter pardoned Yarrow and wiped off his slate, thus enabling him to do more service.
Yarrow released music on his own after the breakup in 1970 and continued to work on music as well as television special. The three again got together in 1978 for a summer tour, and the following year, Peter, Paul, and Mary put out an album to mark their comeback. The friends are reunited again for the series and audiences were delighted; the duo performed as a band until Mary Travers died in 2009.
After the breakup in 1970, Yarrow pursued a solo career, recording music and producing television specials. The trio reunited in 1978 for a summer tour, and the following year, Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded an album that celebrated their return. Their reunion was a joyous occasion for fans, and the group continued to perform together until Mary Travers’s passing in 2009.
Years later, after the death of Travers, Yarrow and Stookey continued as a duo, carrying on the work of Peter, Paul, and Mary. Their performances celebrated the legacy of the trio while maintaining their message of peace, love, and social activism. His own voice and presence in those performances were evidence of his great bond to the music that had shaped much of his life.
He influenced far more through his music, though. The peace and justice causes were well represented by the efforts he engaged in. Timeless lyrics about peace and social justice issues would characterize Peter, Paul, and Mary. His influence, like those of his colleagues, went far beyond the confines of music into the cultural environment.
Folk music lost one of its biggest legends when Yarrow died from bladder cancer on January 7, 2025. However, Yarrow, Stookey, and Travers can no longer appear on stage together again, and yet the tradition of Peter, Paul, and Mary lives on and inspires future generations.
Yarrow’s death is a poignant reminder of the power of music to change lives and bring people together. His contributions to the folk genre and to American culture will never be forgotten. As fans reflect on the timelessness of his work, they are reminded that the music of Peter, Paul, and Mary will forever echo in their hearts, resonating with the ideals of peace, love, and understanding.
