Peter Yarrow, a renowned member of the influential folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has passed away at the age of 86. Known for iconic tracks like Blowin’ in the Wind and If I Had a Hammer, Yarrow was a cornerstone of the 1960s folk music revival.
According to Variety, Yarrow died Tuesday morning at his home in New York City, surrounded by his family. He had been battling cancer for four years.
Peter, Paul and Mary emerged as leading figures in the folk-music scene during the early 1960s, a movement centered around the vibrant nightclubs and cafés of New York’s Greenwich Village. Yarrow, who began his singing career as a student at Cornell University, gained recognition performing in New York and at the Newport Folk Festival. It was there that manager Albert Grossman discovered him and envisioned creating a modernized version of the legendary folk group, The Weavers. Grossman recruited singers Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, and together they formed Peter, Paul and Mary, taking inspiration from Stookey’s middle name.
The trio quickly rose to fame after signing with Warner Bros. Records. Their debut singles, Lemon Tree and If I Had a Hammer, garnered widespread acclaim, earning them two Grammy Awards in 1962. Yarrow’s songwriting contributions included several of the group’s most celebrated works, such as the poignant antiwar ballad The Great Mandala.
Yarrow’s legacy extends beyond his music, reflecting the enduring impact of Peter, Paul and Mary on American culture.
He is survived by his wife, Marybeth, his son Christopher, his daughter Bethany, and his granddaughter Valentina.