Peter, Paul and Mary singer, who wrote Puff The Magic Dragon, dies aged 86
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Singer-songwriter Peter Yarrow, best known as one-third of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at the age of 86. The group were civil rights and anti-war campaigners, best known for the song Puff The Magic Dragon and their versions of If I Had A Hammer and Where Have All The Flowers Gone?.
Yarrow, who was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder four years ago, died in New York on Tuesday, publicist Ken Sunshine said. "Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life," Yarrow's daughter, Bethany, 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.". During a run of success in the 1960s, Peter, Paul and Mary - Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers - released six billboard top 10 singles and two number one albums, and won five Grammys.
Puff The Magic Dragon, their most famous song, was written by Yarrow based on a poem by Leonard Lipton. It tells the tale of Jackie Paper, a young boy who has adventures with his make-believe dragon friend until he outgrows his childhood fantasies. Many believed the song was about drugs, but Yarrow always maintained it reflected the loss of childhood innocence and nothing more.
