Peter Yarrow, a founding member of the iconic folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary, died on Tuesday, aged 86, following a four-year struggle with bladder cancer, according to his publicist.
His daughter Bethany described him as a “fearless dragon” and praised his generosity, creativity, and wisdom, mirroring the themes of his famous lyrics.
Before his death, Yarrow’s family established a “living tribute” website where admirers could add memories, images, and comments in his honor. Bethany’s most recent update, on January 3, stated that the family spent Hanukkah together, adding, “Peter is very weak physically, but his spirit is strong, and his light is growing brighter every day.”
Yarrow, alongside Paul Stookey and Mary Travers, formed one of the most iconic folk groups in music history. Their song “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” co-written by Yarrow, became a cultural touchstone. The trio released 13 albums between 1962 and 2004, earning five Grammys and 16 nominations.
Yarrow, a dedicated activist, protested the Vietnam War and famously played Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” at the 1963 March on Washington.
Yarrow’s legacy, however, includes controversy. In 1970, he was convicted of “taking indecent liberties” with a 14-year-old girl, serving three months in prison. He was later pardoned by President Jimmy Carter in 1981. More recently, a 2021 lawsuit accused him of raping a minor in 1969, which was settled privately.
Yarrow is survived by two children from his marriage to Mary Beth McCarthy: Bethany and Christopher. Travers died in 2009, and Yarrow continued to perform with Stookey into his later years.