Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 72

Mary Travers, one-third of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary who helped popularise the work of Bob Dylan and sang hits such as Puff The Magic Dragon has died, aged 72, after battling leukemia. A statement on the group’s website said that Travers had succumbed “to the side effects of one of the chemotherapy treatments”.

Bandmate Peter Yarrow said that in her last months, Travers handled her declining health “in the bravest, most generous way imaginable.” Throughout her long career, he said, Travers sang with honesty and complete authenticity. “I believe that, in the most profound of ways, Mary was incapable of lying, as a person, and as an artist,” Yarrow said.

Travers performed with guitarists Yarrow and Noel ‘Paul’ Stookey in one of music’s popular acts. Their version of Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan helped transform the song into a civil rights anthem and introduced his music to a wider audience. The group also scored big hits with If I Had a Hammer, and Leaving on a Jet Plane.

The members were also noted for political activism. They performed at the 1963 civil rights March in Washington in 1963 and at demonstrations protesting the Vietnam War.  Reuters