Peter Yarrow, the Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary, Dies at 86

Mr. Grossman sought to create a modern version of the successful folk harmony group, the Weavers, by forming a new group. He paired Mr. Yarrow with Ms. Travers, who had previously performed with Pete Seeger in Village clubs. The trio expanded when Noel Paul Stookey joined, and they adopted the name “Peter, Paul and Mary.”

The group’s distinctive appearance, with the men in dark ties and Ms. Travers with her blond hair, caught the attention of audiences. They began performing at the Bitter End on Bleecker Street and signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1961. Their debut album, “Peter, Paul and Mary,” was released in May of the following year.

Their first single, “Lemon Tree,” sung by Mr. Yarrow, reached the Billboard Top 40. The album rose to No. 1 thanks to their second single, “If I Had a Hammer,” which won two Grammy Awards. Their next album, “Movin’,” included the popular song “Puff the Magic Dragon.”