Folk star, convicted child sex offender and ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ writer Peter Yarrow dies, age 86

Peter Yarrow, known as part of the US folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary as well as for writing ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ – and convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl but later receiving a presidential pardon – has died aged 86.

According to The New York Times, Yarrow died from bladder cancer, which he was diagnosed with four years ago, at his home in Manhattan. His publicist, Ken Sunshine, confirmed the news.

Yarrow was the lead vocalist on Peter, Paul and Mary tracks ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ and ‘The Great Mandella’, which he either wrote or co-wrote with Noel Paul Stookey – the group’s last surviving member. Mary Travers died in 2009, aged 72.

In a statement to the New York Times, Stookey called Yarrow his “creative, irrepressible, spontaneous and musical younger brother”, adding that he also “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.”

During their prime, Peter, Paul and Mary had six US Top 10 singles and five US Top 10 albums. Their music was often political and charged with meaning, with ‘The Great Mandella’ being about a war objector on hunger strike, and ‘Day Is Done’ being about making the world better in the future.

Yarrow was heavily involved in politics. In the 90s he played at inaugural events for Bill Clinton and campaigned with Democratic politicians. However, according to Rolling Stone, this caused problems as the Republican party seized on Yarrow’s child sex abuse conviction.

In 2019, organisers of the New York folk festival removed Yerrow from the line-up after his allegations resurfaced.

At the time, the musician said he fully supported “the current movements demanding equal rights for all and refusing to allow continued abuse and injury — most particularly of a sexual nature, of which I am, with great sorrow, guilty.”

Recently, Yarrow’s children Bethany and Christopher set up a “living tribute” for him on his website. They have asked fans to submit short messages, photos, or videos in his honour.