Paul and Mary: The 1960s Folk Music Trio

Paul and Mary were a 1960s folk music trio who were hugely popular in their day. They are still remembered and loved by many fans today.

Introduction

Paul and Mary was a popular folk music trio in the 1960s. Consisting of Paul Simon, Mary Travers, and Peter Yarrow, the group was known for their close harmonies and original songs.

The group first gained notoriety in 1963 when they performed at the Newport Folk Festival. They released their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., later that year. The album featured the Simon-penned song “The Sound of Silence,” which would become one of their signature tunes.

Paul and Mary were mainstays on the folk music scene throughout the 1960s. They released a number of successful albums and singles, including the Top 10 hit “Leaves That Are Green.” The trio also became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement, lending their support to Martin Luther King Jr. and participating in various benefit concerts.

In 1970, Paul and Mary disbanded amicably. Paul Simon went on to have a hugely successful solo career, while Mary Travers continued to perform as a solo artist and with various other folk groups. Peter Yarrow went on to form the group Peter, Paul & Mary (without Simon or Travers) in the early 1970s.

Early Life and Career

Paul and Mary were born and raised in the Bronx, New York. They met in high school and began playing music together. They started out playing at local coffeehouses and then eventually began touring. They became very successful in the folk music scene of the 1960s.

Mary Travers

Mary Travers was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 9, 1936. Her father, Robert Travers, was a professor of economics at nearby Bard College; her mother, Audrey (Wittersheim) Travers, was a journalist and social activist. Mary was the eldest of three children; her siblings were Albert (born 1939), who later became a television producer and director, and Jane (born 1942), who also became a singer and songwriter.

The family moved to New York City in 1945, when Robert Travers took a position at Columbia University. Mary began attending the High School of Music & Art (now LaGuardia High School) in Manhattan, where she studied voice and piano. She also developed an interest in acting and appeared in several school plays. After graduating from high school in 1954, she enrolled at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

During her sophomore year at Tufts, Travers met Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, two fellow students who were already performing together as a folk music duo. The three began performing together as a trio under the name Peter, Paul & Mary in 1961. They quickly developed a following among the burgeoning folk music scene in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood. Over the next few years, they released several successful album’s and singles, including “If I Had a Hammer” (1962), “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963), and “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane” (1969).

Paul Stookey

Paul Yorke Stookey (born December 30, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter. He is best known as the “Paul” of Peter, Paul and Mary. Other than his time with that trio, he has also released several solo records. In 2012, Stookey was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the group.

Stookey was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Margaret L. (née McGrath) and Chester Arthur Stookey. His father was a college professor at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and his mother was a social worker.[1][2] He graduated from high school in Reading, Pennsylvania,[3] where he played basketball and sang tenor in the glee club.[4] He next studied at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio and majored in anthropology.[5][6]

Noel “Paul” Stookey

Noel “Paul” Stookey was born December 30, 1937, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was given up for adoption shortly after birth and raised in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Stookey showed an early interest in music, learning to play the piano at age 5. He also took up the guitar and later the banjo. In 1955, he graduated from high school and enrolled at Antioch College in Ohio.

Stookey became friends with Mary Travers while at Antioch. The two performed together at college folk music events. They also met Bob Dylan, who was quickly becoming the leading figure of the American folk music revival. In 1962, Dylan invited Stookey and Travers to perform with him on a radio broadcast from New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The trio’s performance generated interest from record companies, and they were soon signed to Columbia Records.

The group’s debut album, Peter, Paul and Mary, was released in 1962 and included their renditions of Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” The album was a huge success, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and launching three Top 40 singles. The group became known for their close harmonies and social activism, lending their support to causes such as civil rights and the anti-war movement. Their 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan featured their hit cover of his song “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright.”

The trio continued to enjoy success throughout the 1960s with songs like “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “I Dig Rock & Roll Music.” In 1966, they won three Grammy Awards for their album The Rising Sun Collection. Following a period of personal difficulties in the early 1970s—which included Stookey’s battle with alcoholism—the group reconnected creatively with the release of a self-titled album in 1978. It featured their top 10 single “No Easy Way Out.”

In 1989, Peter Yarrow (the last surviving member of Peter, Paul & Mary) was sentenced to 3 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. Consequently, all traces of Peter Yarrow have been removed from this wiki page as per Wikipedia’s child protection policy guidelines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Child_protection).

Stookey continued his solo career after the group disbanded in 1970 but reunited with Travers and Yarrow for several reunion concerts throughout the 1980s and ’90s. In 2000, they released an album of new material titled Lifelines. Although Peter Yarrow is no longer associated with the group since his conviction, Stookey and Travers continue to perform together as a duo under the name Peter & Paul & Mary

The 1960s

Paul and Mary were a folk music trio in the 1960s. They were popular for their close harmonies and left-wing politics. The trio consisted of Paul Simon, Mary Travers, and Art Garfunkel. They were signed to Columbia Records and released their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. in 1964. The album was not a commercial success.

The Folk Music Revival

The 1960s saw a revival of interest in folk music, particularly in the United States and Britain. This was partly due to the success of performers such as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, who brought the music to a wider audience, and partly due to the fact that many young people were interested in exploring their cultural heritage.

The folk music revival was also influenced by the political climate of the times, with many young people looking for an alternative to the materialism and consumerism of mainstream society. Folk music provided a way for them to connect with their own history and culture, as well as with the wider world.

performers such as Simon & Garfunkel, Peter, Paul & Mary and The Byrds helped to bring folk music back into the mainstream. The genre also had a significant impact on popular music, with bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones incorporating elements of folk into their own work.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a mass social movement that took place in the United States during the mid-twentieth century with the goal of securing legal rights for African American people. The jazz music of the time played an important role in the movement, with artists using their platform to speak out against discrimination and inspire change. Paul and Mary were one such group, using their music to express their support for the Civil Rights Movement and other progressive causes. The duo’s song “If I Had a Hammer” became an anthem of the movement, and their appearances at folk festivals and other events helped to spread its message to a wide audience.

The 1960s were a decade of great social and political upheaval, and Paul and Mary were at the forefront of many of the most important movements of the time. In addition to their work with the Civil Rights Movement, they were also active in the anti-war movement, performing at anti-war rallies and events. They also wrote songs about environmentalism, feminism, and other topics that were important to them. Their music helped to raise awareness about these issues and inspired others to take action.

Paul and Mary were one of the most popular folk groups of their time, and their music continues to resonate with people today. Their commitment to social justice and progress is an inspiration to everyone who hears their music.

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The conflict began in 1959 and ended in 1975. More than 3 million people (including 58,000 Americans) were killed in the war, and more than 10,000 American soldiers remain missing in action.

The Trio’s Music

Albums

Paul and Mary released a total of eleven studio albums between 1962 and 2011. In addition, the duo released several live albums and compilations. Notable releases include their debut album, “The Songs We Sang for Aunt Molly,” as well as “Oh! What a Beautiful City” and “No Easy Way.”

Studio albums:
-The Songs We Sang for Aunt Molly (1962)
-The Great American Folk Festival (1964)
-In the Gentle Hours of the Morning (1965)
– Capitol Years (1966)
– Ramblin’ Rose (1967)
– See What Tomorrow Brings (1971)
– One Tin Soldier: The Legend of Billy Jack (1974)
– The Light remains the Same (1976)
– Moving (1978)
– Never Grow Old (1979)

Live albums:
– Before the War (1963)
– In Concert at Carnegie Hall 1963 (2002)

Compilation albums:
– Best of Paul and Mary: Wonderous World of Love(1972)
– The Gold Collection(2004)

Songs

The Trio’s Music was a 1960s folk music trio consisting of Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Mary Travers. The group’s most famous songs include “The Sound of Silence,” “I Am a Rock,” “The Boxer,” and “Bridge over Troubled Water.” The Trio’s Music also produced several successful albums, including Tuesday DDown in New York City and The Graduate Soundtrack.

Later Career and Legacy

After the release of their final album, Paul and Mary continued to perform together occasionally, but their focus increasingly turned to raising their family and championing various social and political causes. In the decades since their heyday, their music has continued to be popular, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows.

Mary Travers

As a solo artist, Mary Travers made a dozen albums between 1975 and 2007, with her most recent being Mary Travers Live (2007).[1] Most of these were compilations of previously released work. Her work ranged from traditional folk songs to modern material. She also applied her talents to children’s music, with the 1976 recording All My Choices. In 2004, Rhino Records issued the 4-CD box set Carry It On, which included material from both her solo career and her work with Peter, Paul and Mary.[2]

Travers was an outspoken feminist and political activist, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for refusing to testify against friends in the folk music community. In later years she continued to be a voice for social justice issues.[3]

In addition to her musical career, Travers wrote an autobiography, titled Around the World: The Autobiography of Mary Travers (ISBN 978-1844133552), which was published in 2003.

Paul Stookey

After the folk music revival of the 1950s and early 1960s died down, Paul Stookey continued to perform and record as a solo artist. His most successful single was “The Wedding Song (There Is Love),” which he released in 1971. The song peaked at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and became a popular choice for wedding ceremonies.

In the 1980s, Stookey began collaborating with children’s musician Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary fame. The two worked together on a number of educational albums for children. They also toured together, performing concerts for families.

In the 1990s, Stookey once again teamed up with his former bandmate Peter Yarrow to revive Peter, Paul & Mary for a reunion tour. The tour was a success, and the group continued to perform together sporadically over the next few years.

Paul Stookey is now retired from music and lives in Connecticut with his wife of over 50 years, Nancy Ringham Stookey. The couple has three children and six grandchildren.

Noel “Paul” Stookey

As a member of Paul & Mary, Noel “Paul” Stookey became one of the most popular folk music performers of his generation. But even before he and his bandmates Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers found fame as one-third of the 1960s folk music trio, Stookey had an interesting and accomplished career.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Stookey (born December 30, 1937) was studying for the ministry at Yale University when he met Yarrow and Travers. The three soon began performing together as Peter, Paul & Mary, and in 1962 they released their self-titled debut album. The record was an instant success, thanks to hits like “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer.” The trio became regulars on the folk music circuit and appeared at several high-profile events, including the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

In 1964, Paul & Mary released their second album, See How They Run. Two years later, they issued another LP, Moving. By this time, the group had become one of the most popular recording artists in the country; their albums routinely reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart, while their singles frequently topped the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, they won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording for their album A Holiday Celebration.

During this period, Stookey also released a series of solo records; his best-known song from this era is “The Wedding Song (There Is Love),” which he co-wrote with Peter Yarrow. Paul & Mary continued to record and perform together throughout the 1970s and ’80s; in 1983, they were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “Blowin’ in the Wind,” one of their best-known tunes. The trio was also active on behalf of various social causes; in particular, they were outspoken opponents of nuclear proliferation.

In 1988, Paul & Mary embarked on a reunion tour that proved to be hugely successful; over the next few years, they continued to tour intermittently while also working on new material. In 1992, they released an album of new songs entitled Flowers Never Bend with Raindrops; it was followed by other albums like 1997’s self-titled LP and 2006’s In These Times. The group continued to tour into the 2010s; in 2012 – 50 years after they first came together – Paul & Mary were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 50th annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Paul and Mary were a very successful and popular folk music trio in the 1960s. They were known for their beautiful voices and harmonies, as well as their thoughtful and often political lyrics. They released a number of successful albums and enjoyed a long career until Mary’s untimely death in 1997.