Are Peter, Paul and Mary still alive? Band legacy explored in wake of Peter Yarrow's death at 86

Peter, Paul and Mary founding member Peter Yarrow recently passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 86. Apart from being associated with the trio, Peter also pursued a solo career where he released a few albums such as Hard Times and Love Songs, and even produced some musical projects.

Apart from Yarrow, the members of Peter, Paul and Mary also included Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. Mary passed away back in 2009 following which the other two performed without using the name of the group. Meanwhile, Stookey remains the only member alive. They disbanded in 1970 after the members decided to focus on their solo careers respectively.

According to the Independent, Yarrow's publicist Ken Sunshine first revealed the news, saying that he battled with bladder cancer for a long time, which eventually led to his demise. Sunshine also told NBC News that Yarrow was surrounded by his family members when he passed away at his residence in New York City.

Notably, Peter's children Christopher and Bethany disclosed through Instagram in December last year that he had been diagnosed with cancer. The duo's statement also mentioned:

"He has kept his doctors in awe at his resilience as he has continued to perform and live life in his own generous and cause-driven way. It has been a long road and he has been a strong dragon, but right now he is very weak and, at 86, his dragon days are numbered."

Christopher and Bethany additionally stated that they have requested the friends and family members to send a "written story, video or audio message", addressing how Peter's work was able to leave an impact on the lives of many people.

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Peter, Paul and Mary released multiple albums over the years: Journey to success and other details explained

The trio became famous during the '60s when folk music was extremely popular among the public. According to the group's self-titled official website, America was recovering from various problems at the time, including the Cold War, and the trio aimed to send a message related to humanity, hope, and activism.

Peter, Paul and Mary accumulated a huge fanbase in a brief period and was a recipient of five Grammy Awards. Apart from this, they also received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Lifetime Achievement Award and the reason for the same was their singles, which were praised for not being too preachy.

The trio's website also says that Peter had once addressed how their songs are made and said:

"The songs we sing invite the participation of the listener, who is central to finding a way of creating the life of the song at that listening. It's the difference between poetry and didactic writing. One tells you, 'This is it', and the other says, 'Let's find this together.'"

Peter, Paul and Mary's songs have been able to send important messages successfully over the years. The list includes projects such as Leaving on a Jet Plane, 500 Miles, and In the Early Morning Rain.

Peter, Paul and Mary's website says that when John F. Kennedy was active as a president, there was a demand for racial equality and America was struggling with problems of social and political justice at the same time. The group performed at various colleges, which inspired a lot of people to wake up and understand what was going on in the country.

The group's first self-titled debut album was released in 1962 and it managed to reach on top of the Billboard charts. They continued bringing more big projects in the next few years, including Moving, In the Wind, A Song Will Rise, and See What Tomorrow Brings.

Yarrow also organized an anti-nuclear benefit at the Hollywood Bowl in 1978 and opened at Broadway for almost a week, collecting funds for the New York Coalition of the Homeless. Peter, Paul and Mary were even featured in a PBS special titled A Holiday Concert in 1988. Their last major release was In These Times, which came out back in 2003.