GREAT PERFORMANCES mourns the passing of Mary Travers (1936 – 2009) of the iconic, 1960s folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary. A steadfast supporter of public television, Mary Travers’ many PBS appearances include the 1996 GREAT PERFORMANCES’s special, “Lifelines,” featuring the trio in a nostalgic concert of their signature songs dating back to the group’s early days in Greenwich Village. Best known for their emblematic hit “Puff the Magic Dragon” and the ballad “Leaving on Jet Plane,” written by John Denver, the group was a major influence in bringing folk music to a heightened new prominence in the post-WWII era. Her unforgettable contribution to American popular music will live on through her memorable public television performances.
Photo by Robert Corwin