Thursday, September 17, 2009

Mary Allin Travers (11/9/1935-9/16/2009)




Mary Allin Travers was an American singer-songwriter and member of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Noel "Paul" Stookey. Peter, Paul and Mary was one of the most successful folk-singing groups in the 1960's.



Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Travers moved with her parents in 1938 to Greenwich Village in New York City. She attended the Little Red School House in New York City but left in the 11th grade to pursue her singing career.



While in high school, she joined The Song Swappers which sang backup for Pete Seeger when Folkways Records reissued a union song collection, Talking Union, in 1955. The Song Swappers recorded a total of four albums for Folkways in 1955, all with Seeger. Travers had regarded her singing as a hobby and was shy about it but was encouraged by fellow musicians. Travers also was in the cast of the Broadway-theatre show, The Next President.





The group Peter, Paul and Mary was formed in 1961. It was popular and known for its renditions of anthems such as "Blowin' in the Wind", "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?". The group broke up in 1970, and Travers subsequently pursued a solo career and recorded five albums. The group re-formed in 1978, toured extensively and issued many new albums. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.



Mary Travers died of complications related to leukemia.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does this bring back memories! How old was I? 16? K.

Blog Stalker said...

Thanks for the bio. Truly great singer and songwriter. I learned things I never knew.

Have a great day!

MuseSwings said...

I loved PP&M and the M will be missed!

sandyshares said...

loved her. Whene ver they got together , they always rallied around her..She must have been and all of them - fun talents..sj

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

I was a few years younger when I first heard them, K., but all my life I've heard and appreciated their music! :))

Hi, Blogstalker! So nice to see you! I too learned much and yet probably didn't scratch the surface of her creative and giving life! :))

Muse! How nice to see you! Yes, very much so!

Whenever I'd seen her perform (never live, in specials on TV), she'd bop around, shaking her blonde hair -- I loved her energy, Sandy! :))

Tipper said...

Intersting details about her life Petra- I loved seeing her sing-and hearing her too : )

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

It dawned on me, Tipper, that as long as we can still listen to their music, we'll always remember her! :))

Anonymous said...

Will never forget her and the folk music days. We need more of that again. David

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

I agree, David! :))

Maude Lynn said...

I hadn't heard. That's too bad.

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

Yep, MZ! :((