Peter Yarrow

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Peter Yarrow
Image:PeterYarrowPromo.jpg Peter Yarrow in a publicity photo 2007
Background information
Born	May 31 1938 (1938-05-31) (age 71)
Genre(s)	Folk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals Guitar
Years active	1960 - Present
Associated acts	Peter, Paul and Mary

Peter Yarrow (born May 31, 1938) is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow cowrote (With Leonard Lipton) the group's most famous song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

Yarrow's parents were Jewish, born in the Ukraine; the family name was changed from Yaroshevitz to Yarrow after immigrating to Providence, Rhode Island.^[1]

Yarrow received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Cornell University in 1959. He began singing with Mary Travers in December 1960; when Noel "Paul" Stookey joined them, they chose the name "Peter, Paul and Mary" for their folk trio.

He helped found the Newport Folk Festival in 1962.^[2] While campaigning for 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, Yarrow met McCarthy's niece, Mary Beth McCarthy.^[3] They were married in October 1969.^[1] Yarrow's involvement in politics continued throughout the ensuing decades. He also had a variety of contacts with politicians; he played at John Kerry's wedding.^{[citation needed]} Yarrow has also cited Judaism as one of the roots of his liberal views.^[1]

In 1970, Yarrow was convicted of taking "improper liberties" with a 14-year-old fan, for which he served a short sentence. ^[4]^[5] Yarrow regretted the incident, and said: "In that time, it was common practice, unfortunately–– the whole groupie thing."^[6] He was later granted clemency by President Carter for the incident.^[7]

Yarrow received the Allard K. Lowenstein Award in 1982, for his "remarkable efforts in advancing the causes of human rights, peace and freedom."^[2] He co-founded the Kerrville Folk Festival.^[2]

In December 2000, Yarrow's Larrivee acoustic guitar was stolen while on an airplane flight. In early 2005, the guitar was spotted by fans of Yarrow on eBay. The guitar was recovered in Miami by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and returned to Yarrow. Charges were not filed against the thieves, at Yarrow's request.^{[citation needed]}

In an effort to combat school violence, Yarrow started Operation Respect, which brings children in schools and camps a curriculum of tolerance and respect for each other's differences.^[1]

Yarrow and his daughter Bethany Yarrow, who is also a musician, often perform together.