Travers Mary

Mary Travers (1936–2009)

Mary Allin Travers was an American folk singer best known as a founding member of the vocal trio Peter, Paul and Mary. She was born on November 9, 1936, in Louisville, Kentucky, United States.

Overview

Travers helped define the sound of 1960s American folk music with Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey. The group's harmonies and socially conscious repertoire made them one of the era’s most influential folk acts, contributing to the broader folk revival and civil rights movement.

Career and notable works

• Joined Peter, Paul and Mary in 1961 alongside Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey.
• Helped popularize enduring songs such as If I Had a Hammer, Puff the Magic Dragon, and Leaving on a Jet Plane.
• Recorded multiple albums during the 1960s, becoming a staple of the era’s protest and folk music scenes.

Public appearances and activism

As part of Peter, Paul and Mary, Travers participated in performances and recordings that supported civil rights and humanitarian causes. The group used its platform to advocate for social justice and international peace throughout the 1960s and beyond.

Later life and death

Mary Travers passed away on August 16, 2009. The cause of death was cancer (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma). Her passing was mourned by fans around the world, and she is remembered for shaping American folk music and its social conscience.

Legacy

Travers’s work with Peter, Paul and Mary remains a central part of the 1960s folk revival. Their recordings continue to be reassessed and celebrated for their musical artistry and historical impact on popular culture and social movements.

News, media and social media

There are no active official social media profiles for Mary Travers due to her passing. Public tributes and archival features appear in music histories, documentary programs, and retrospectives about the 1960s folk scene and the civil rights era.

Selected discography (with Peter, Paul and Mary)

• If I Had a Hammer
• Puff the Magic Dragon
• Leaving on a Jet Plane