The world of music mourns the loss of Peter Yarrow ’59, a pivotal figure who, before co-founding the iconic folk trio Peter Paul And Mary Peter Paul And Mary, found his early artistic inspiration during his time at Cornell University. Yarrow passed away on January 7th in Manhattan at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with the American folk music revival and social activism.
In 1961, the landscape of folk music was forever changed with the formation of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary. Yarrow, alongside Mary Travers and Noel Paul Stookey, created a musical force that resonated deeply with audiences throughout the 1960s and beyond. Their impact on the Billboard charts was undeniable, with six songs and five albums reaching the top 10, including two albums that soared to the coveted No. 1 position. Yarrow’s songwriting talents were integral to their success, having penned or co-written enduring classics such as “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” a song he began crafting during his Cornell years, drawing inspiration from a poem by Leonard Lipton ’62.
Yarrow’s academic pursuits at Cornell, where he majored in psychology within the College of Arts and Sciences, played a significant role in shaping his artistic sensibilities. He often spoke of the profound influence of American Folk Literature, a course affectionately known as Romp-n-Stomp, taught by the esteemed professor and folklorist Harold Thompson. Serving as a student instructor for this class, Yarrow earned a $500 stipend, a substantial sum at the time representing 20% of his Cornell tuition. His role involved leading fellow students in songs that enriched the course content, spanning from somber murder ballads and Dust Bowl narratives to the powerful spirituals of enslaved peoples.
Reflecting on his formative experiences, Yarrow eloquently connected his Cornell education to the later activism of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary. He noted, “If you take what I learned in Romp-n-Stomp and look at Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary in the march on Washington in 1963, singing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘If I Had a Hammer,’ it was just an extrapolation from Romp-n-Stomp.” This connection highlights how his academic exploration of folk traditions directly informed the trio’s impactful musical contributions to the civil rights movement and beyond.
Yarrow’s deep connection to Cornell remained throughout his life. He returned to his alma mater for his 50th reunion in 2009, participating in a Romp-n-Stomp revival that brought together alumni musicians and engaged over 900 people in song within Bailey Hall. He again graced the stage at his 60th reunion in 2019, further solidifying his bond with the university that played such a crucial role in his development. For Peter Yarrow, Cornell was more than just an institution; it was, in his words, “a place where I felt comfortable.”
Born on May 31, 1938, in Manhattan to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant parents, Peter Yarrow’s early artistic inclinations were nurtured at the High School of Music and Art (now Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts). There, he honed his skills in painting before embracing music during his time at Cornell. Following his graduation, Yarrow returned to New York City, immersing himself in the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene. This period marked the beginning of his ascent in the music world.
A pivotal moment arrived when Yarrow connected with Albert Grossman, a key figure and founder of the Newport Folk Festival. Grossman’s guidance led to the formation of the legendary trio Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary, bringing together Yarrow with Travers and Stookey. In 1961, the newly formed group signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing their self-titled debut album. This album proved to be a resounding success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts and achieving double platinum status with over 2 million copies sold. The subsequent nine years saw Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary release eight more albums, cementing their place in music history with 12 songs reaching Billboard’s top 40.
Beyond their musical achievements, Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary were known for their overt progressive political stance. Their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” became an anthem for the civil rights movement, famously performed at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, at the same site where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The trio continued to use their platform to advocate for social change, performing at presidential campaigns and participating in marches against the Vietnam War.
Despite disbanding in 1970 to pursue individual projects, including a solo album by Yarrow, the members of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary remained connected. They reunited for benefit concerts and, from 1978 onwards, embarked on regular tours until Mary Travers’ passing in 2009. In 2000, Yarrow’s commitment to social betterment led him to establish Operation Respect, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering safe and inclusive learning environments for schoolchildren.
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary, Yarrow shared in a 2014 interview on WNYC Studios’ Soundcheck podcast: “These songs are around. They’re in the summer camps. They’re in the schools. They’re in the churches, the synagogues, the mosques even. They’re not going away. They were there before the folk renaissance, and they will stand as part of our culture for a long time.” Peter Yarrow’s contributions, both as part of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary and through his individual endeavors, have left an indelible mark on music and social consciousness.
Peter Yarrow is survived by his wife Mary Beth McCarthy, his son and daughter, and a granddaughter. His memory and the music of Peter Paul and Mary Peter Paul and Mary will continue to inspire generations.
