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.

1991: Death of Vera Yarrow

Vera Yarrow passed away in 1991.

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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