Mary Travers, known best for being one third of ground-breaking activist folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, passed away tonight in a hospital in Connecticut at the age of 72. Travers had been fighting leukemia for quite some time and, despite her illness, continued to perform from time to time with her history-making band. The New York Times reports that cancer was the cause of death.
Peter, Paul and Mary were one of the most popular and influential folk-pop groups of the mid-Century folk revival. They helped to popularize the Pete Seeger-penned "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" as well as "Puff the Magic Dragon" and numerous other folk classics.
Travers was born in Louisville, KY, in 1936, and recorded five solo albums after Peter, Paul and Mary broke up in 1970. She reunited with her collaborators in 1978, however, and continued to perform with them throughout the remainder of her life. She was dedicated to human rights and was a staunch advocate for peace. Learn more about Peter, Paul and Mary.
photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Comments
Indeed a part of our hearts, for so many people around the world, is grieving at the news of Mary’s passing last night. But if Mary were here she would be singing to us “Weave, weave, weave me a sunshine out of the falling rain. Weave me a hope for a new tomorrow. Fill my heart again.” Mary cared so deeply for the world and it’s people, but hers was a message of hope and peace and love. We can honor her spirit keeping the flame of her ideals alive and spreading that Light to others. Mary, you add so much to the heavenly choirs right now!
I am an Englishman who grew up in the 60s listening to Peter,Paul and Mary. Her passing will leave a gap in my life as it will in others’. ‘Carry it on’ indeed!
I’ve always enjoyed the most popular song of peter paul and mary “puff the magic dragon” but like other songs too. so many people from being kids and then too adults have heard their songs and she will be missed. And yes she is probably a great addition to the hevenly choir.
I have been looking all over the web for a site to honor Mary. It seems strange to me that a woman who stood up with Martin Luther King Jr, and protested the Vietnam War, and every other social issue has so little in respect to her passing. Mary stood up when others shut up. I guess if you are not in the news in the last 5 months then people forget all the you have done in the last 40 years.