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Peter Yarrow, Co-Writer of 'Puff the Magic Dragon' and Peter, Paul and Mary Member, Dies at 86

Jan 7, 2025, 06:30 PM

Peter Yarrow, the singer-songwriter best known as a founding member of the iconic 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at age 86 on January 7, 2025. Yarrow co-wrote some of the group's most enduring songs, including "Puff the Magic Dragon," often denying the song's alleged references to drug use. The trio gained fame with hits like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "If I Had a Hammer," and were influential in promoting civil rights and protesting war. Yarrow was also known for his social activism but his career was marred by a 1970 conviction for taking indecent liberties with a 14-year-old girl, for which he received a presidential pardon in 1981. His publicist, Ken Sunshine, confirmed that Yarrow passed away in New York after battling bladder cancer for four years.