Biography of Mary Travers

A folk musician known for her commitment to social issues, Mary Travers was part of the group Peter, Paul and Mary. Along with Peter Yarrow and Noel Stookey, she made several popular folk hits such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer." Born in Louisville, Kentucky to two newspaper reporters, Mary Allin Travers was exposed to societal and political concerns at an early age. In 1938 the Travers family moved to New York City where Mary Travers was exposed to the folk music of Greenwich Village. Attending Elizabeth Irwin High School, she became involved in the music program. While in high school she recorded with Pete Seeger in his songs "Roll the Union On," "Miner's Lifeguard" and "Hold the Fort and Join the Union." The album, Talking Union, was released by Folkways Records in 1955. Mary Travers met up with Peter Yarrow and Noel Stookey in Greenwich Village. The trio rehearsed for seven months before their public debut in 1961, in the Bitter End coffeehouse. They began performing in clubs across the nation. After immediate success at the famous Blue Angel club in New York City, the group set out on tour; a tour that lasted almost ten years. The touring failed to stop the group from recording songs and albums. In 1962, under the Warner Brothers label, the group released their first album, Peter, Paul and Mary. The album achieved immediate success, remaining in the Top Ten for ten months, in the Top 20 for two years and selling more than two million copies. The group had three albums on the charts in 1963 that included the hits "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Blowin' in the Wind." The group also devoted time to social causes, performing at fund-raisers, demonstrations and teach-ins in the anti-Vietnam crusade. Although the '70s were a time of great social concern, the trio still found time to seek out new musicians. In 1970 the group performed Gordon Lightfoot's "In the Early Morning Rain" and John Denver's "Leavin' on a Jet Plane." It was also in 1970 that the trio disbanded to pursue solo careers. During this time Mary Travers produced five albums, produced and starred in a television series and did lectures and concerts across the country. The group reunited in 1978 at the anti-nuclear benefit, Survival Sunday. The reunion inspired them to tour again as Peter, Paul and Mary, but all three still pursue their own solo careers and interests. The group performs only 45 touring dates, still incorporating social concerns into their music. "El Salvador" is a song about the sufferings in Central America and "Light One Candle" was written for the Israel peace process in 1985. In 1986 the group made their television debut on the PBS special 25th Anniversary Concert on behalf of the New York Coalition for the Homeless. This was followed by a Holiday Concert, where the group performed with the New York Choral Society and a 40-piece orchestra. Peter, Paul and Mary signed a contract with Warner Brothers Records in 1992. Their popular children's album, Peter, Paul and Mommy, earned a Grammy nomination and the live concert earned an Emmy nomination. The group's 1996 television show, Lifelines, included such folk singers as Ronnie Gilbert, Odetta, Fred Hellerman, Ritchie Havens and Tom Paxton. Mary Travers continually combines music with the social issues of the time. Her folk style allows her to enjoy singing while at the same time making a point. The songs of Peter, Paul and Mary are still influencing those who listen. ~ Kim Summers