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Peter Yarrow was a singer-songwriter and activist, best known as one-third of the folk-music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, a group that helped define the sound and social conscience of the 1960s folk revival.
Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers formed the folk-music trio 'Peter, Paul & Mary'. They released multiple albums and singles, toured extensively, and were known for their harmonies and activism. Yarrow also co-wrote many of the group’s best-known songs. They released their self-titled debut album in 1962, which became a No. 1 hit.
Peter, Paul and Mary signed their first recording contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1962, marking a decisive step in their path to success. Their debut album, 'Peter, Paul & Mary', released under Warner, reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
Peter Yarrow partnered with PBS for various projects and promotions, including a musical special 'Peter, Bethany & Rufus: Spirit of Woodstock' that aired on public television in 2008. PBS also featured tributes and news about Peter Yarrow.
Yarrow appeared on the CBS television show 'Folk Sound USA' early in his career. He also produced three CBS TV specials based on 'Puff the Magic Dragon', earning an Emmy nomination.
Yarrow performed at the Newport Folk Festival multiple times, both as an unknown artist and later as a board member. He was instrumental in founding the New Folks Concert series at the festival and emceed a pivotal show in 1965.
Peter Yarrow was instrumental in founding the New Folks Concert series at the Kerrville Folk Festival, where his work has been described as his 'most important achievement'. The song 'Don't Laugh at Me', which became central to his anti-bullying initiative, was heard by him and his family at this festival.
Yarrow helped start Operation Respect in 2000, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating school bullying by teaching children tolerance and respect. The project was inspired by the song "Don't Laugh at Me."
Yarrow collaborated with Sterling Publishing for several children's books, including 'Puff, the Magic Dragon' (2007) and 'The Peter Yarrow Songbook' series (2008-2010).
Peter Yarrow was born on May 31, 1938, in New York City. His parents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who valued education and the arts. Yarrow’s early life saw him develop a strong interest in folk music, influenced by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. He attended Cornell University, initially studying physics before switching to psychology and graduating in 1959. During his time at Cornell, he discovered the emotional impact of music while serving as a teaching assistant for a class on American folklore, a turning point that solidified his career path in music.
After college, Yarrow moved to Greenwich Village, New York, where he connected with Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers through manager Albert Grossman. The trio, named Peter, Paul and Mary, quickly signed with Warner Bros. and released their self-titled debut album in 1962, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Their early success included two Grammy Awards for “If I Had a Hammer” in 1962. They were instrumental in introducing Bob Dylan’s music to a wider audience, turning his songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” into Billboard Top 10 hits. The group actively participated in the civil rights movement, performing “Blowin’ in the Wind” at the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Yarrow co-wrote several of the group’s notable songs, including “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Day Is Done,” and “Light One Candle.”
Peter, Paul and Mary continued to achieve commercial success and maintain their advocacy for social and political causes throughout the 1960s, releasing two No. 1 albums and six Billboard Top 10 singles. Following a hiatus in the 1970s, the trio reunited in 1978 for an anti-nuclear-power concert and continued to perform together until Mary Travers’ death in 2009. Beyond his musical career, Yarrow was deeply involved in social activism, co-founding Operation Respect in 2000 to combat school bullying and advocating for Soviet Jewry. He received various awards for his humanitarian efforts and continued to perform and mentor younger artists. Yarrow died on January 7, 2025, at the age of 86, from bladder cancer.
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