History of Peter Yarrow in Timeline
Peter Yarrow was a prominent American folk singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the iconic 1960s trio Peter, Paul and Mary. He co-wrote their signature song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon." Beyond his musical contributions, Yarrow was a dedicated political activist, engaging in various causes including anti-Vietnam War protests and anti-bullying campaigns. However, his career was marked by a 1970 conviction for molesting a minor, for which he received a presidential pardon in 1981.
1904: Birth of Vera Yarrow
Peter Yarrow's mother, Vera, was born in 1904.
1922: Emigration to the United States
Bernard Yarrow emigrated to the United States in 1922.
1925: Bachelor's Degree
Bernard Yarrow obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University in 1925.
1928: Law School Graduation
Bernard Yarrow graduated from Columbia Law School in 1928.
May 31, 1938: Birth of Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow was born on May 31, 1938.
1938: Appointment as Assistant District Attorney
Bernard Yarrow was appointed an assistant district attorney in 1938.
1943: Divorce and Remarriages
Bernard and Vera Yarrow divorced in 1943, and both remarried.
1944: Service in the Office of Strategic Services
Bernard Yarrow joined the Office of Strategic Services in 1944.
1949: Writing of "If I Had a Hammer"
The song "If I Had a Hammer" was written in 1949 by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays.
1951: Interlochen Music Camp
Peter Yarrow attended Interlochen's Music camp in the summer of 1951.
1952: Senior Vice-President of Radio Free Europe
In 1952, Bernard Yarrow became a senior vice-president of Radio Free Europe.
1952: Interlochen Music Camp
Peter Yarrow attended Interlochen's Music camp during the summer of 1952.
1955: Mary Travers' Early Career
Mary Travers participated in musical projects, including backing up Pete Seeger and performing on a Folkways LP, in 1955.
1959: Graduation from Cornell University
Peter Yarrow graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1959.
1961: Formation of Peter, Paul and Mary
The trio Peter, Paul and Mary debuted at The Bitter End nightclub in Greenwich Village in 1961.
1962: Release of "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer"
Peter, Paul and Mary released "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer" in 1962, with the latter winning two Grammy Awards.
June 1963: Release of "Blowin' in the Wind"
Peter, Paul and Mary released Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" as a single in June 1963.
August 28, 1963: March on Washington Performance
Peter, Paul and Mary performed at the March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963.
1963: Civil Rights Activism
In 1963, Peter, Paul and Mary marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, and Washington, D.C.
1964: Newport Folk Festival Board
Peter Yarrow joined the Board of the Newport Folk Festival in 1964.
1968: Meeting Mary Beth McCarthy
Peter Yarrow met Mary Beth McCarthy in 1968 while campaigning for Eugene McCarthy.
August 1969: Sexual Misconduct Incident
In August 1969, Peter Yarrow engaged in sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl.
October 1969: Marriage to Mary Beth McCarthy
Peter Yarrow and Mary Beth McCarthy were married in October 1969. Paul Stookey wrote "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" for the occasion.
1969: March on Washington
In 1969, Peter, Paul and Mary sang at the March on Washington, which Yarrow helped organize. They also faced death threats due to their activism.
1970: Conviction and Imprisonment
In 1970, Yarrow was convicted for his actions in 1969 and served three months in prison.
1970: Conviction
In 1970, Yarrow was convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl.
1973: Death of Bernard Yarrow
Bernard Yarrow, Peter's father, passed away in 1973.
1978: Survival Sunday and Reunion
Yarrow organized the antinuclear benefit Survival Sunday in 1978, and Peter, Paul and Mary reunited.
January 19, 1981: Presidential Pardon
Peter Yarrow was pardoned by President Jimmy Carter on January 19, 1981.
1981: Presidential Pardon
Yarrow was pardoned in 1981 by President Jimmy Carter.
1982: Allard K. Lowenstein Award
Peter Yarrow received the Allard K. Lowenstein Award in 1982 for his work in human rights, peace, and freedom.
1983: Yarrow's Influential Song
Peter Yarrow wrote a song in 1983 that inspired activism among high school and college students.
1987: Performance at the Capitol
In 1987, Peter Yarrow performed his song on the steps of the Capitol during a march for the freedom of Soviet Jews.
1993: Kate Wolf Memorial Award
In 1993, Peter Yarrow received the Kate Wolf Memorial Award from the World Folk Music Association.
1995: Tikkun Olam Award
In 1995, the Miami Jewish Federation presented Yarrow with the Tikkun Olam Award for his contributions to "repairing the world".
1996: Emmy Nomination
Peter Yarrow received an Emmy nomination for the Great Performances special LifeLines Live in 1996.
December 2000: Guitar Stolen
Peter Yarrow's guitar was stolen from an airplane in December 2000.
2000: Operation Respect Founded
In 2000, Peter Yarrow co-founded Operation Respect, a non-profit aiming to combat school bullying through promoting tolerance and respect. The inspiration came from the song "Don't Laugh at Me".
2003: Congressional Recognition
In 2003, a congressional resolution recognized Peter Yarrow's achievements and the work of Operation Respect.
2004: Political Fallout
In 2004, Yarrow's past conviction became a political issue, leading to a cancelled fundraising appearance.
2005: Performance in Ho Chi Minh City
In 2005, Peter Yarrow performed in Ho Chi Minh City at a concert benefiting victims of Agent Orange and asked for forgiveness from the Vietnamese people for the United States.
2005: Guitar Recovered
Peter Yarrow's stolen guitar was recovered by the FBI in 2005 after being spotted on eBay.
March 2008: Reuters Interview
In March 2008, Peter Yarrow gave an interview to Reuters.
November 1, 2008: Performance for Obama Volunteers
On November 1, 2008, Peter Yarrow performed for Barack Obama's campaign volunteers in New York City.
2008: "Peter, Bethany & Rufus: Spirit of Woodstock"
The musical special "Peter, Bethany & Rufus: Spirit of Woodstock" aired on public television in 2008.
March 9, 2010: "The Colonoscopy Song" Premiere
On March 9, 2010, Peter Yarrow premiered "The Colonoscopy Song" on CBS's The Early Show.
October 3, 2011: Occupy Wall Street Performance
On October 3, 2011, Peter Yarrow and his children performed at Zuccotti Park during the Occupy Wall Street protests.
2013: Renewed Political Controversy
In 2013, Yarrow's conviction again caused controversy, with calls for a Democratic candidate to cancel a fundraiser with him.
2015: Film Appearance
Peter Yarrow appeared in the film While We're Young in 2015.
2017: NAMM Oral History Collection
Peter Yarrow participated in the NAMM Oral History Collection program in 2017.
2019: Disinvitation from Folk Festival
Peter Yarrow was disinvited from a folk music festival in 2019 due to his past conviction.
April 3, 2021: Interfaith Passover Seder
On April 3, 2021, Peter Yarrow participated in an online interfaith Passover Seder hosted by Braver Angels.
May 2021: Washington Post Article
In May 2021, The Washington Post published an article about Peter Yarrow's pardon and detailed other allegations of sexual assault against minors.
2022: Remarriage to Mary Beth McCarthy
Peter Yarrow and Mary Beth McCarthy remarried in 2022.
January 7, 2025: Death of Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow passed away on January 7, 2025.
January 2025: Yarrow's Death
Peter Yarrow passed away in January 2025. At this time, it was confirmed that he was married to Mary Beth McCarthy.
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