The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Peter Yarrow Of "Peter, Paul & Mary" Fame Dies At 86

**Posted by RadioActive** January 7, 2025 2:09 pm

Yarrow was a member of the legendary folk trio and wrote one of their most famous (and as it turns out) controversial songs, Puff The Magic Dragon.

"Some insisted they heard drug references in the song, a contention at the heart of a famous scene in the film “Meet the Parents,” when Ben Stiller angers his girlfriend’s tightly wound father (Robert De Niro) by saying “puff” refers to marijuana smoke.

Yarrow maintained it reflected the loss of childhood innocence and nothing more."

Despite his demeanour of peace, love and understanding, Yarrow was not perfect. After the group broke up in 1969, he was arrested for being found naked in a hotel room when a 14-year-old girl wanted his autograph. He served a short jail sentence and was eventually pardoned by President Jimmy Carter.

Bladder cancer claimed the famous folkie at age 86, leaving only Paul Stookey as the sole surviving member of the trio. He's currently 87.

Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 86

**Posted by Bill101** January 8, 2025 5:45 am

Carter's pardon of Yarrow remained controversial over the years. Lawsuits and other allegations followed Yarrow for many years afterwards . Washington Post had a lengthy article about its few years back.

https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2021/05/a-famed-folk-singer-won-a-presidential-pardon-after-molesting-a-child-did-he-prey-on-others/

Last edited by Bill101 (January 8, 2025 1:07 pm)

**Posted by John D** January 10, 2025 5:36 pm

Bladder Cancer. I currently know the feeling.

**Posted by RadioActive** January 10, 2025 5:40 pm

John D wrote:
Bladder Cancer. I currently know the feeling.

Don't give up John. You can beat this. As I often say, "The world needs more Donabie!"

**Posted by John D** January 10, 2025 8:20 pm

Thank you, RA, for your ongoing encouragement.

**Posted by Fitz** January 11, 2025 12:10 am

My favorite song by PP&M is Apologize along with their version of Dylan's Too Much of Nothing. Both songs can be found on the album Late Again which I have on prerecorded reel to reel and that still sounds great.

I first heard Apologize on Gary Storm's Oil of Dog on WUWU FM maybe around 1983, Still have a tape of him playing and announcing that as well.