Peter, Paul and Mary

Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an iconic American folk trio whose harmonious vocals and social activism defined the 1960s folk revival. Formed in 1961 in New York City, the group consisted of Peter Yarrow (born 1938), Noel Paul Stookey (born 1937), and Mary Travers (1936–2009). Managed by Albert Grossman (Bob Dylan’s manager), they signed with Warner Bros. and scored early hits with Pete Seeger’s “If I Had a Hammer” (1962, Top 10), “Puff, the Magic Dragon” (1963, No. 2), and Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963, No. 2—their version popularized it). Albums like Peter, Paul and Mary (1962) and In the Wind (1963) sold millions. Known for civil rights and anti-war advocacy, they performed at the 1963 March on Washington and continued hits like “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (written by John Denver, No. 1 in 1969). They disbanded in 1970 for solo careers but reunited periodically. Mary Travers died of leukemia in 2009 at 72. Peter Yarrow battled bladder cancer and passed away on January 7, 2025, at age 86 in New York City. Noel Paul Stookey, at 88 as of 2026, remains the last surviving member, occasionally performing. Inducted into halls of fame, their legacy endures through timeless protest anthems and harmonious folk-pop.