Peter Yarrow, co-writer of Puff the Magic Dragon, dies aged 86

Peter Yarrow, co-founder of the ’60s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died from bladder cancer aged 86.

Yarrow, alongside his bandmates, was behind the hit song Puff The Magic Dragon which came out in 1962.

However, there was much controversy in his personal life as Yarrow was convicted and served three months in prison for ‘taking indecent liberties with a minor’, as recounted by 14-year-old Barbara Winter, in 1970.

His daughter Bethany confirmed the news of his death on Tuesday in a statement.

She said: ‘Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life.

‘The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest.’

His bandmate Noel ‘Paul’ Stookey also shared his sorrow at the death of his ‘brother’ who was the ‘best man at [his] wedding’

He continued: ‘He was a loving ‘uncle’ to my three daughters.  And, while his comfort in the city and my love of the country tended to keep us apart geographically,  our different perspectives were celebrated often in our friendship and our music. 

‘I was five months older than Peter – who became my creative, irrepressible, spontaneous and musical younger brother – yet at the same time, I 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. 

‘Politically astute and emotionally vulnerable, perhaps Peter was both of the brothers I never had — and I shall deeply miss both of him.’

Peter, Paul and Mary rose to prominence in the 60s with six top 10 singles, such as If I Had A Hammer (A Hammer Song) and a chart-topping hit, 1969’s Leaving on a Jet Plane.

The musical group also went double platinum in the US with their chart-topping self-titled debut and enjoyed five Grammy wins including for their rendition of Blowin’ In The Wind.

Puff The Magic Dragon was inspired by the 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton about an imaginary dragon. The popular children’s folk song also resulted in him co-producing three CBS specials based on the tune.

Alongside his five-decade musical career, was also known for his political activism.

He aligned himself with the civil rights and anti-Vietnam war in the US in the 60s, helping stage a number of events culminating in a 1969 demonstration, Celebration of Life, attended by half a million people.

Following his conviction relating to ‘indecent liberties with a minor’, Yarrow was granted a presidential pardon by Jimmy Carter in January 1981.

Winter described the pardon as a ‘sucker punch to the gut’.

In 2019, when the conviction resurfaced, Yarrow told the New York Times: ‘I do not seek to minimise or excuse what I have done and I cannot adequately express my apologies and sorrow for the pain and injury I have caused.’

Yarrow was born in 1938 in New York to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants. After graduating from Cornell University he began performing at folk clubs in New York City and was discovered by manager Albert Grossman.

Yarrow married Democratic presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy’s niece, Mary Beth, in 1969. After getting divorced, they remarried in 2022.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Legendary soul singer Brenton Wood dies at 83

MORE: How seas froze over and temperatures dropped to -22°C in Big Freeze of 1963

MORE: The Beatles are back as Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr share surprise onstage reunion