Peter Yarrow, the iconic singer-songwriter and member of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at the age of 86. A longtime advocate for civil rights and against war, Yarrow’s impassioned harmonies captivated millions during the 1960s.
Born in New York in 1938, Yarrow rose to fame alongside his bandmates Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, releasing six Billboard Top 10 singles and winning five Grammys. Their music helped bring folk music into the mainstream, exposing audiences to iconic songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “If I Had a Hammer.”
Yarrow’s personal life was marred by controversy, including a guilty plea for indecent liberties with a teenager in his hotel room. However, he continued to write and perform music, co-writing hits like “Torn Between Two Lovers” and advocating for civil rights causes.
In 2022, Yarrow remarried after being divorced twice, and he is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and granddaughter. The Associated Press Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy contributed reporting from New York, which appeared in this obituary.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/peter-yarrow-of-folk-music-group-peter-paul-and-mary-dies-at-86