Peter Yarrow, who brought his message of peace and justice to Kent State University during May 4 commemorations as part of the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, died Tuesday in New York. He was 86.
Yarrow, who had been battling bladder cancer for four years, was remembered not only for hits like “Puff the Magic Dragon,” which he co-wrote, but for his unwavering commitment to activism and social justice – a spirit that resonated deeply with the Kent State community.
During the 25th anniversary commemoration of the May 4, 1970 shootings, Yarrow and his bandmates Mary Travers and Noel Paul Stookey performed before a crowd of 3,800 in the MAC Center. The trio donated all proceeds from the concert to establish a May 4 scholarship fund.
“Being with you today is an extremely moving experience,” Yarrow told the audience that night in 1995, according to Daily Kent Stater coverage from the event. The group performed their iconic protest songs including “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” moving many in the audience to tears as they held hands and swayed to the music.
At a teach-in during the commemoration, Yarrow explained how activism was central to the group’s mission. “Music has the capacity to heal, unite, and correct,” he said. His bandmate Travers added that activism “is probably one of the most important things you can do ... You stop feeling for yourself and the world – what you want to do – is have an effect on the environment instead of the environment having an effect on you.”
The folk trio’s connection to civil rights and peace movements ran deep. They performed “Blowin’ in the Wind” at the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. The group’s repertoire of protest songs and social justice anthems helped define the soundtrack of the 1960s civil rights and anti-war movements.
After an eight-year hiatus in the 1970s, the trio reunited and continued performing until Travers’ death in 2009. Yarrow and Stookey subsequently performed both together and separately.
Beyond his musical legacy, Yarrow is survived by his son Christopher, daughter Bethany, and granddaughter Valentina. “Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life," his daughter said in a statement. “The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest.”