I was so saddened to learn today that Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary died this week. She had been ill with leukemia but ended up succumbing to the deadly side effects of the treatment.
Peter, Paul and Mary were there throughout most of my life. They were on the mall in Washington singing out for racial equality in 1963. Their music reached people of all ages & beliefs; the child in each of us played in Honolee with Puff, the magic dragon. Mary's distinctive voice made the trio unique and her warmth, humor and commitment to what she believed was right came through in concerts and recordings.
I was lucky enough to see her in one of the last concerts the trio would ever play, in May in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She was in a wheelchair and on oxygen but undaunted as she sang throughout the concert. Her voice was a bit reedy at times and her discourse hindered some by her breathing challenge. Yet when she was singing, it was with strength and melody, letting us hear the Mary we all loved. At the intermission, the conversation was filled with concern for Mary. It was a dedicated audience filled with long time fans. Mary with partners, Peter Yarrow & Noel "Paul" Stokke were met with rousing response to their performance; it was truly a love fest.
Mary was so well loved and I was one who loved her. She will be missed.
Read Paul & Noel's tributes to her on their website:
www.peterpaulandmary.com.
