Peter, Paul and Mary All You Need to Know

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Peter, Paul, and Mary- Have you heard of the group called Peter, Paul and Mary? They are the most popular folk groups in of the 1960s. The group is a made up of America folksingers at the forefront of the revival group in the 1960s. The group is known to have created a bridge between traditional folk music and later folk rock. The group’s name is coined out from the first name of each member of the group who is Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey (later Noel Paul), and Mary Allin Travers. To learn more about these three wonderful music artists, read through this article centered on Peter Paul and Mary and all you need to know.

PETER, PAUL, AND MARY ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Group Origin: New York, United States (1961 – 2000s)
  • Group Members: Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers
  • Genres: Contemporary folk music, Pop music, Children

Peter Paul and Mary, the trio formed the group in 1961 after meeting in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The group began playing in folk clubs and on college campuses too. The group’s style of play, their lyricism, tight harmonies, and spare sound, usually accompanied by Yarrow and Stookey on acoustic guitars began pulling a large number of youth who follow the group.

Over time the Music group became popular, especially through their records and television appearances. More so, the group is known to popularize both new and traditional folk songs written by other songwriters such as “This Land Is Your Land” (written by Woody Guthrie), “If I Had a Hammer” (written by the Weavers), “Blowin’ in the Wind” (written by Bob Dylan), and “And When I Die” (written by Laura Nyro).

Notably, the trio was instrumental in the “civil rights movement” and the struggle against the “Vietnam War.” This they did by singing protest songs in a repertoire that featured plaintive folksong, traditional song as well as children’s songs such as Yarrow’s “Puff (the Magic Dragon).”

Sadly, the group pathed ways in 1970 to pursue solo careers, but came back together in 1978 and released an album “Reunion.” In 1986 they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a series of concerts.

Biography of the Group Members ( Peter, Paul, and Mary)

  • Peter Yarrow
  • From: New York
  • Born: May 31st, 1938

Peter Yarrow is a famous Jewish American songwriter, producer and folk musician who was a member of the trio group known as Peter, Paul, and Mary. He found his path into the music after graduating from Cornell University, and he was serving as a teaching assistant. He later moved to Greenwich Village in 1959 where he met Noel “Paul” Stookey and Mary Travers whom all came together and created the group Peter, Paul, and Mary. Before meeting the duo, Peter Yarrow was already playing in Greenwich Village, and the following year, he was signed up on a CBS network television show about folk music where he met Albert Grossman. It was Grossman that suggested the idea to Yarrow of forming a trio group that would offer serious folk songs, yet have a blend of the same kind of mixed male/female voices such as other popular folk groups. Yarrow accepted Grossman proposal, and they approached Travers and later on Stookey, who was the last member of the group. That was how the group was formed and with the guide and help of Milt Okun, who was already working with other established folk music groups like Chad Mitchell Trio. After seven months of careful preparation, the group instantly won the heart of Greenwich Village residents with their three-part vocal sound that was different and unique from others

Peter Paul, and Mary
Peter Paul, and Mary
  • Noel Paul Stookey
  • Born: December 30, 1937, Baltimore, MD)

Paul Stookey is an American Singer and songwriter who is known as “Paul” of the famous Peter, Paul and Mary folk music group. Unlike Peter, Paul music career started at an early age been a huge fan of Jazz music and a guitarist. He was later known as R& B in the mid to late 1940s. While in High school in the early 1950s, he had formed his first band, known as the “Birds of Paradise.” He continued his music career in college and likewise discovered two additional talents, as an anecdotist and as a standup comedian, with skillfully improvising sound effects.

He later moved to Greenwich where he began learning folk music. Soon afterward, he met Travers, and they soon became friends; they often performed music and compose songs together.

  • Mary Travers
  • From: Louisville, KY
  • Born: November 9, 1936,
  • Died: September 16, 2009 (Danbury, CT)

Mary Travers was born to a journalist father and raised in Greenwich Village. She was already enlightened politically and music wise. In 1954, she released her first music record while still in high school been a backup singer for Pete Seeger under Folkways record. Later on, She was involved and participated in making of international folk songs and camp song been a member of the Song Swappers. Furthermore, she participated in a stage production titled “The Next President.” Her music career was heavily influenced by Ronnie Wilbert of the Weavers alongside other top folksingers.

Peter, Paul and Mary Music Career

The group soon released their first music album under the record label of Warner Bros 1962, shortly after that, they released a single song titled “Lemon Tree.” The song made it to number 35 on the music chart, but their hit single “If I had a Hammer” written and composed by Seegers and Hays was the straw that broke the camel’s back and marked their breakthrough. The music is known for its political tone, yet it was considered to have a memorable chorus and a rousing number with great hooks. The single soon rose to number one on the chart-topping it for some couple of years.

Their second album titled “Moving” was released January 1963 also became number two on the chart though on a slow start. Also, another single “Puff (the Magic Dragon) written by Peter Yarrow from the album rose to number two becoming one of the most loved and singed children song of all time.  The trio third album “In the Winds” released in late 1963 was a success as well, making it to number one, topping the chart and also pulled their two previous Alba back into the top ten spots also.

The group stage performance is ever fun-filled as captured in the “In Concert” album, which connotes that the trio enjoys what they were doing.

  • Peter, Paul and Mary Awards

The trio also won awards in different categories recognizing their work.

  • Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Year: 2003
  • Winning Song: Blowin’ in the Wind
  • Grammy Award for Best Ethnic (Traditional Folk Recording)
  • Year: 1964, 1963
  • Winning Song: Blowin’ in the Wind, If I Had a Hammer
  • Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group
  • Year: 1964, 1963
  • Winning Song: Blowin’ in the Wind, If I Had a Hammer
  • Grammy Award for Best Album for Children
  • Year: 1970
  • Winning Song: Peter, Paul, and Mommy

Peter, Paul, and Mary Known for

The trio was also instrumental outside the music industry which also added to their continued success, popularity, and relevance. The trio was known to be actively involved, the credentials, and the credibility to address this new issue in ways that, other groups like, the Kingston Trio could have never done even if they venture to. The release of their records such as “If I Had a Hammer” was as topical in 1965 having been released in 1962, had a way of not only staying relevant but fun to sing also. As the civil rights movement deepens and the Vietnam War continued, another single “500 Miles” released by the group was believed by many people to take on a personal resonance. Not forgetting their appealing to liberals and antiwar activists, and raising the consciousness of the interested while entertaining the people on the other hand.

It was In the midst of social unrest, especially the civil rights movement which was strongly ongoing back then the trio still thrive and continued making fun and good music which is also safe and children friendly.

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Conclusion on Peter Paul and Mary All You Need To Know

If for nothing, Peter, Paul, and Mary ability to communicate political concerns to the public through song within the first six months of their existence. The trio group rose to stardom during the period when music was not yet competitive, and there were not yet so many genres of a song which will distract listeners from recognizing them. One can say, Peter, Paul, and Mary successful music career occurred during a relatively quiet time in popular music.

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