Peter Yarrow is a folksinger with the celebrated musical trio Peter, Paul and Mary. The group’s music contributed to various social movements, including the civil rights and anti-war campaigns in the 1960’s and early ‘70’s. Channeling their activism through music, the group performed at historic events including the 1963 March on Washington and the Selma-Montgomery March in 1965. Peter, Paul and Mary won five Grammy awards and released over 20 albums over 50 years. Yarrow is especially well-known for writing “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
Yarrow’s gift for singing and songwriting is driven by a passionate belief that music holds a unique power to build community and inspire change. He has devoted himself to causes including equal rights, peace, protection of the environment, gender equality, education, hospice care, and child welfare. Yarrow is the founder of Operation Respect, a non-profit organization helping children to enjoy lives free of bullying, ridicule and violence.
Yarrow is currently working to help the grief-stricken community of Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and 6 adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, 2012. Working with the Newtown community, Yarrow organized and participated in a concert to honor lives lost and give those still grieving a sense of comfort and solidarity through music. That concert will be broadcast on public television stations across the country to galvanize support for meaningful solutions to gun violence.
