Peter Yarrow, co-writer of Puff, the Magic Dragon, dies aged 86
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Peter Yarrow, co-founder of the ’60s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died from bladder cancer aged 86. Yarrow, alongside his bandmates, was behind the hit song Puff The Magic Dragon which came out in 1962. His daughter Bethany confirmed the sad news of his death on Tuesday in a statement.
![[Peter, Paul and Mary. [ L - R ] Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers, Noel](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235282484-e5d0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She said: ‘Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. ‘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.’.
![[Peter Yarrow]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235283008-3e4c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
His bandmate Noel ‘Paul’ Stookey also shared his sorrow at the death of his ‘brother’ who was the ‘best man at [his] wedding’. He continued: ‘He was a loving ‘uncle’ to my three daughters. And, while his comfort in the city and my love of the country tended to keep us apart geographically, our different perspectives were celebrated often in our friendship and our music.
![[Peter, Paul and Mary - Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers and Noel Paul Stookey]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235282572-f04f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I was five months older than Peter – who became my creative, irrepressible, spontaneous and musical younger brother – yet at the same time, I grew to be grateful for, and to love, the mature-beyond-his-years wisdom and inspiring guidance he shared with me like an older brother.
![[Peter Yarrow]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-1332188562_1b1bcb.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘Politically astute and emotionally vulnerable, perhaps Peter was both of the brothers I never had — and I shall deeply miss both of him.’. Peter, Paul and Mary rose to prominence in the 60s with six top 10 singles, such as If I Had A Hammer (A Hammer Song) and a chart-topping hit, 1969’s Leaving on a Jet Plane.
