Peter Yarrow, Of Peter, Paul And Mary, Dies At 86

Peter Yarrow, the singer-songwriter best known for his time in the beloved folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, has died at the age of 86. Yarrow passed away on Tuesday (January 7), at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Yarrow’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Ken Sunshine, who revealed that the cause was bladder cancer, which the musician had been battling for the past four years. Peter, Paul and Mary were known for their intricate harmonies, which featured Yarrow’s tenor blending with Noel Paul Stookey’s baritone and Mary Travers’ contralto. Yarrow sang lead on the band’s most enduring hit, “Puff the Magic Dragon,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard singles chart. The group released five Billboard Top 10 albums over the course of their career, and reached No. 1 in 1969 with their cover of John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” In 1970, Yarrow was convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl, serving three months in prison. He was later granted a presidential pardon by Jimmy Carter. (New York Times)