Peter Yarrow, the lead vocals behind folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, died Tuesday at his home in Manhattan, The New York Times reported. He was 86.
Yarrow died from bladder cancer, which he had been battling for four years, his publicist, Ken Sunshine, confirmed, per the Times.
Much of Peter, Paul and Mary’s early popularity followed the 1963 release of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” co-written by Yarrow, which became a No. 2 Billboard hit.
Yarrow often sang for peace, in support of human rights and belted protest anthems in many of the band’s hits, such as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Cruel War” and “The Great Mandella (The Wheel of Life).”
The trio is widely credited with popularizing folk music and paving the way for Bob Dylan, who was relatively obscure when the trio covered three of his songs on their 1963 album “In The Wind,” including Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” per Variety.
Under the guise of the group’s friendly, light-hearted demeanor, Yarrow performed at rallies, human rights protests and marches. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the group performed “Blowin’ in the Wind,” following the March on Washington, the same site where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
“Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest,” his daughter, Bethany, said in a statement, per Variety.
Her statement continued, “Driven by a deep belief that a more compassionate and respectful world is possible, my father has lived a cause driven life full of love and purpose. He always believed, with his whole heart, that singing together could change the world.”