Description of Peter Paul and Mary's Music:

Folk-pop, topical singer/songwriters

Comparisons:

Peter Paul and Mary have sung songs by Bob Dylan, and are most comparable to their contemporaries like Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, and Pete Seeger.

Trivia Fact:

Contrary to popular belief, Peter Paul and Mary's song, "Puff the Magic Dragon," is not about drug use, but was based on a poem by Leonard Lipton, which tells a children's story of a boy and his dragon.

Starter CDs:

Peter, Paul & Mary (Warner Bros., 1962)

In the Wind (Warner Bros., 1963)

See What Tomorrow Brings (Warner Bros., 1965)

Peter Yarrow:

Born in May, 1938, Yarrow earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Cornell University in 1959. He was inspired early on by the work of the Weavers and their socially conscious topical songwriting. He co-wrote "Puff the Magic Dragon" based on a poem by fellow Cornell grad Leonard Lipton. He received the Allard K. Lowenstein Award in 1982 for his advocacy for human rights and peace.

Noel "Paul" Stookey:

Born in December, 1937, Stookey began playing electric guitar with several rock & roll bands in the 50s. He later became a stand-up comic and MC at local clubs. After graduting from Michigan State University, he moved to New York. Stookey's most notable composition was "The Wedding Song," which he wrote for Yarrow's wedding. As a solo act, he has focused more on the Christian Contemporary genre.

Mary Travers:

Mary Travers was born in November, 1936, in Louisville, KY, but spent her high school years living in Greenwich Village, NYC.

She was active in the Village folk scene of the 50s, and recorded with a group called The Song Swappers. She left the Swappers to join a Broadway show, before being recruited for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1961. Since the group's break-up, she has made five solo records.

Peter Paul and Mary Biography:

Peter, Paul and Mary was a folk singing group brought together by manager Albert Grossman, who was looking to form a "folk-pop supergroup" made up of a tall blonde gal, a good-looking guy, and a jokester.

Their first gig was in 1961 at New York's Bitter End coffeehouse, which was very well-received. Within a year, Peter, Paul and Mary had released their debut (self-titled) album, featuring Pete Seeger tunes like "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

By 1963, the group had made three records, including one of their biggest hits, "Puff the Magic Dragon." They performed at the 1963 March on Washington (where Martin Luther King, Jr., made his famous I Have a Dream speech. Their recording of Bob Dylan's "Blowin In the Wind" was the fastest selling record ever released by Warner Brothers Records, landing the trio at the forefront of the civil rights and peace movement.

By 1970, however, the group had broken up so that the members could pursue their own solo careers. They have reunited several times since then for select concert dates.

Mary Travers was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2005, and received a bone marrow transplant in the autumn of the same year. Peter, Paul and Mary continued their reunion tour in late 2005, and continue to tour now.