It never stops, does it? Last night brought the news that Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary had become, at age 72, yet another beloved entertainer gone too soon. Not a complete surprise — Travers was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004 — but very sad nonetheless.
Peter, Paul and Mary played a crucial role in helping the folk-music scene become a mass popular movement in the early 1960s. They couldn’t have done it without Mary Travers’ clear, expressive vocals. A gifted interpreter of others’ songs, she was the principal reason why the trio’s covers of Pete Seeger’s “If I Had A Hammer” and Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind” were arguably better-loved than the originals. Harmonizing on silly kid’s tunes like the classic “Puff the Magic Dragon” one minute, playing for social justice at the historic March on Washington another — both in the year 1963 — Travers, along with bandmates Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, epitomized something about that transformative era.
On a personal note, I was raised on Peter, Paul and Mary’s music in the 1980s. Making folk music for children was another key aspect of their legacy, from 1969’s Peter, Paul and Mommy to 1993’s Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too concert sequel, ensuring that a younger generation is missing Mary today, too. My lifelong folkie mom sent over the vintage clip you’ll find below of PP&M performing the standard “500 Miles.” Listen to Travers’ mournful, beautiful voice in this song and see if you can make it through without tearing up. Then share your memories of Mary Travers in the comments section.
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RIP Mary.
I was a jazz guitarist and a contemporary of PP&M. A piece of my musical life died with her. Her music will outlive all of us.
I grew up listening to PPM as well. I learned to sing harmony and stand up for what I believe in, all from her clear vocals and passion about life. I will miss her.
I don’t have to listen to the selection to hear the voice and get the chills.I remember singing along to the record when I was a young teenager. Mary Travers was blessed with her voice and blessed us all by sharing it.
Went to two concerts of PPM with my wife over the last 15 years, and had the pleasure of meeting Paul Stookey on a red eye to Chicago back in 1996. We talked about him, Peter, and when he talked about Mary, his eyes lit up. What a great trio. Now what do we do? think it’s over for their touring with just the two guys
Not a bad group, for liberals.
Not a bad name for a fool!
How’s you alleged johnson, retromingent?
RIP, Mary.
To Warner Brothers: how about releasing on CD Mary’s wonderful solo albums from the early ’70s “Morning Glory” and “Circles”? It was so nice to finally hear “Mary” on CD last year.
Oh yes, how I wish all 5 of her solo albums (4 on Warners, 1 on Chrysalis) would appear on cd. I try to keep on top of these things, but I had no idea her first album, “Mary” had been released last year and now I find that it has already gone out of print. Her singing is like comfort food for me and has helped to sustain me since I first heard “I Had a Hammer” on the radio so many years ago.
Try the Ladyslipper catalog–if it’s still around, that is. As I remember, they had albums by EVERY female musician out there–including old albums.
Please thank your “folkie mom” for this beautiful clip. I am another folkie mom, but had never seen such a young Mary in performance. She and the group shaped so much of our youth and beyond.
Travel well, Mary
Like many I grew up with PP&M as I am part of their generation. I had an opportunity to sit in with them with my guitar and banjo and jam for hours after a concert in the mid-west. It was beyond belief for me that I had just played toe to toe with MM&M and not a recording or picture of the session. I do however carry that moment in my heart as a high point in my life. We became acquaintances, perhaps a little more and kept in touch over the years. People with Mary’s directness and honesty are a rare occurrence in live and we can not afford to lose them. But in her we lost the leader of honesty. She will be missed by us all each in our own special way. RIP Mary.
My mother had the P,P&M records and I used to listen to them as a kid. I recently pulled those out to give them a listen again, I had forgotten how great they were. RIP Mary, thanks for the music.
As a child we never owned a Beatles or Rolling Stones albums, but we had every PPM vinyl made. There was no such thing as karaoke in those days so my older sister would replay the songs until she got all the lyrics down so we could have our own hootenannies. Thank you, Mary, for all those wonderful hours of letting us sing our hearts out along with you.
A phenomenal and essential part of not only musical history but of history itself.
Than you, Mary Travers for sharing your mind, body and soul
Peter Paul and Mommy is loved by my family.
Too Much Of Nuthin is my favorite Dylan cover by any band.
RIP
Peter, Paul and Mary were my first concert. I saw them in San Francisco in 1968. Such moving music. It touched my soul. RIP Mary and thank you!
I love PP&M music ever since the
60’s,but I know for a fact that John Denver did not write Iam Leaving on a Jet Plane.Thanks for
writing it Skip.
I too loved PP&M. A decade ago I drove from LA to San Luis Obispo with a two-year-old in the back seat. The only thing that calmed him down was “Puff the Magic Dragon” played over and over. Thanks for this post.
“No Other Name” is a beautiful and haunting and now sadder than ever.
Although diametrically opposed to their political stance, I thoroughly enjoyed their music.My son played “Puff” until even I learned the lyrics.
Thank you for keeping your support for the Viet Nam War and the denial of civil liberties to blacks out of this post.
And leave to a lib to bring it up…
Mary will be missed.
Another ledgend in Rock & Roll Heaven
I have listened to PPM since I was 12 years old. Mary always seemed timeless as she sang with Peter and Paul. Now she is gone and I feel old.
The passsing of Mary Travers is indeed a sad occasion. Mary along with Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow were a constant in the folk music scene for 5 decades. Mary’s voice often provided the musical background to the struggle for equality and social justice.
I was a rebellious teenager when PP&M’s version of “Blowin’ in the Wind” was popular. I loved it. But I was raised in a strict religious group that forbade popular music. My parents were very dedicated to the organization. So I listened late at night to a radio hidden under my pillow, waiting for the DJ to play the song again. Then one day in the halls of the organization’s headquarters I heard someone playing the song in the distance. He or she played it again and again. I followed the sound, captivated by both the music and the daring of this person who challenged the rules. I found the room where the one record player the group had was located. The music was loud now, and I thought it was just wonderful. So I sneaked into the room. There was a woman there, playing the song. She was my mother.
PP&M crossed generations and prejudices, and brought people closer to one another. That’s as good as it gets.
Part of my childhood just passed. I grew up with my older sister teaching me her songs. I taught my kids those same songs. God bless! You will be missed.
Such an integral part of my teenage years. I saw them in concert when I was a student at Berkley and have loved the group forever. Mary, you will be missed!
My parents played her records so much she seemed like family. To go back in time, all I need to do is remember one of their tunes, and I’m back there. Mary was anti-war, non-violent. Shouldn’t we all be?
The voice, the sound and the memories will live on forever. That was real music…RIP dear Mary.
The voice, the music and the memories will live on. Thank you, Mary. May you rest in peace.
One of the most amazing people in the last half century. She, along with Peter and Paul, helped entertain and enlighten, though her inspiring and immense talent. I’ll always remember her smile, her voice and her courage, and thank goodness for all the music she has left behind for us to enjoy.
How many roads did Mary Travers walk all of us down? The answer of course, is…blowin’ in the wind. Bye Mary.
When I was a small chiled in the early 60s ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ and ‘Lemon Tree’were my favorite tunes. God bless her!
L at like many of you I too grew up with PP&M. My older sister took me to a concert in the great Folk music city of Philadelphia. I will dig out my old records today and fondly embrace her memory.