Post by Rob Durkee on Sept 16, 2009 23:17:08 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, one of the most popular folk music acts of all time who scored a #1 hit with "Leaving On A Jet Plane," died Wednesday (September 16, 2009). She was 72. According to the Associated Press and the group's publicist, Heather Hylis, Travers died at Danbury (Connecticut) Hospital of leukemia, which she had battled for several years.
Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers formed in New York City in the early 1960's. Together, the trio followed in the footsteps of the Weavers and the Kingston Trio as among the top folk music acts of all time. They broke through first with "Lemon Tree," which reached #54 on the Cash Box pop chart's top 40 in the spring of 1962. Then came the #13 "If I Had A Hammer" in the summer of 1962. Two former Weavers, Pete Seger and Lee Hays, co-wrote "Hammer."
Peter, Paul and Mary's next two top 40 hits peaked at #2 in 1963--"Puff The Magic Dragon" and "Blowin' In The Wind." Bob Dylan wrote the latter song along with the group's followup, the #15 "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. " The latter song became a hit again in late 1965 for the Four Seasons when they called themselves The Wonder Who. "Stewball" was Peter, Paul and Mary's last of four top 40 hits in 1963, reaching #38. "Go Tell It On The Mountain" was a modest #31 hit in 1964 and in 1965, the Gordon Lightfoot-written "For Lovin' Me" reached #25.
In 1967, Peter, Paul and Mary just missed the top 10, peaking at #11 with "I Dig Rock And Roll Music," a hit that included "the Mamas and the Papas" and "the Beatles" in the lyrics. In 1969, the group had a #20 hit with "Day Is Gone." That year ended with their biggest hit ever, the #1 "Leaving On A Jet Plane," which John Denver wrote.
Many of Peter, Paul and Mary's hit songs had deep-rooted themes. "If I Had A Hammer" dealt with racial equality, for instance. "Blowing In The Wind" became an anthem for civil rights, so much so that the group marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in the mid-1960's. "Puff The Magic Dragon" was often mistakenly linked to marijuana use when, in fact, the song was merely about growing up.
Peter, Paul and Mary weren't afraid to speak their minds over the years. The group was vehemently opposed to the Vietnam War, for instance. In 1995, they performed at the 1995 anniversary of the Kent State shootings. The trio also performed to benefit California Strawberry pickers. When groups like the Byrds helped usher in folk rock with an electric guitar-driven sound, Travers said, "When the fad changed from folk to rock, they didn't take along any good writers."
Peter, Paul and Mary disbanded in 1971, which happened to be the year Stookey scored with his only top 40 solo hit, the #21 "Wedding Song (There Is Love)." The group enjoyed several reunions over the ensuing years.
Around 2006, Travers underwent bone marrow transplant surgery to help treat her leukemia plus enable her to perform with the group again. "It was like a miracle," she said. "I'm just feeling fabulous. What's incredible is that someone has given your life back. I'm out in the garden today. This time last year, I was looking out a hospital window."
Looking back at the group's career, Travers said they all worked together because they all respected each other. "There has to be a certain amount of love just in order for you to survive together. I think a lot of groups have gone down the tubes because they weren't able to relate to one another."
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, one of the most popular folk music acts of all time who scored a #1 hit with "Leaving On A Jet Plane," died Wednesday (September 16, 2009). She was 72. According to the Associated Press and the group's publicist, Heather Hylis, Travers died at Danbury (Connecticut) Hospital of leukemia, which she had battled for several years.
Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers formed in New York City in the early 1960's. Together, the trio followed in the footsteps of the Weavers and the Kingston Trio as among the top folk music acts of all time. They broke through first with "Lemon Tree," which reached #54 on the Cash Box pop chart's top 40 in the spring of 1962. Then came the #13 "If I Had A Hammer" in the summer of 1962. Two former Weavers, Pete Seger and Lee Hays, co-wrote "Hammer."
Peter, Paul and Mary's next two top 40 hits peaked at #2 in 1963--"Puff The Magic Dragon" and "Blowin' In The Wind." Bob Dylan wrote the latter song along with the group's followup, the #15 "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. " The latter song became a hit again in late 1965 for the Four Seasons when they called themselves The Wonder Who. "Stewball" was Peter, Paul and Mary's last of four top 40 hits in 1963, reaching #38. "Go Tell It On The Mountain" was a modest #31 hit in 1964 and in 1965, the Gordon Lightfoot-written "For Lovin' Me" reached #25.
In 1967, Peter, Paul and Mary just missed the top 10, peaking at #11 with "I Dig Rock And Roll Music," a hit that included "the Mamas and the Papas" and "the Beatles" in the lyrics. In 1969, the group had a #20 hit with "Day Is Gone." That year ended with their biggest hit ever, the #1 "Leaving On A Jet Plane," which John Denver wrote.
Many of Peter, Paul and Mary's hit songs had deep-rooted themes. "If I Had A Hammer" dealt with racial equality, for instance. "Blowing In The Wind" became an anthem for civil rights, so much so that the group marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in the mid-1960's. "Puff The Magic Dragon" was often mistakenly linked to marijuana use when, in fact, the song was merely about growing up.
Peter, Paul and Mary weren't afraid to speak their minds over the years. The group was vehemently opposed to the Vietnam War, for instance. In 1995, they performed at the 1995 anniversary of the Kent State shootings. The trio also performed to benefit California Strawberry pickers. When groups like the Byrds helped usher in folk rock with an electric guitar-driven sound, Travers said, "When the fad changed from folk to rock, they didn't take along any good writers."
Peter, Paul and Mary disbanded in 1971, which happened to be the year Stookey scored with his only top 40 solo hit, the #21 "Wedding Song (There Is Love)." The group enjoyed several reunions over the ensuing years.
Around 2006, Travers underwent bone marrow transplant surgery to help treat her leukemia plus enable her to perform with the group again. "It was like a miracle," she said. "I'm just feeling fabulous. What's incredible is that someone has given your life back. I'm out in the garden today. This time last year, I was looking out a hospital window."
Looking back at the group's career, Travers said they all worked together because they all respected each other. "There has to be a certain amount of love just in order for you to survive together. I think a lot of groups have gone down the tubes because they weren't able to relate to one another."
