by Dick MacMary Travers, one-third of the sixties folk trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, died yesterday. She was 72. Travers developed leukemia and her death was the result of complications of chemotherapy for a bone-marrow transplant she received several years ago.
Just like the other members of Peter, Paul & Mary, she was politically active outside of her singing career, and spoke openly in support of civil rights.
The trio sang songs as varied as the very political "Blowin' In The Wind" and the fairy-tale-ish "Puff, The Magic Dragon." Their three-part harmonies were beautiful and Travers was an image of beauty and sex appeal in a musical genre that was not known for pop culture successes.
Raised in Greenwich Village, she started her career in 1955 as a back-up singer for Pete Seeger in. She then formed the famous trio with Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey in 1961.
After the group disbanded in 1970, Travers embarked on a solo career that produced five albums.
Peter, Paul & Mary reunited in 1978 for a show to benefit the movement against nuclear power. They continued to perform around the world; and many of their concerts were political benefit performances.
Mary Travers was a true hero. A major talent whose shyness kept her humble, whose beautiful voice entertained three generations, and whose political beliefs and activism helped to make the world a better place. We have all lost a special person.
She is survived by a husband, Ethan Robbins; two daughters, Erika Marshall of Naples, Fla., and Alicia Travers of Greenwich, Conn.; a sister, Ann Gordon of Oakland, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Mary Travers Wikipedia entry
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 72 - an in-depth obit at the NY Times
2 comments:
wow, we are losing some of the most important performers of our generation.!
I love their music. I offer my prayers and condolences to the family.
Post a Comment