Not an icon for the past 20 or so years but Mary had a wonderfully low voice for a woman and Paul Stookie and Peter Yarrow became quite accomplished at harmonizing around her. "Puff" is probably their best known song although, in their Greenwich Village days, hanging around with a bunch of unknown (but soon to be well known) artists and musicians, Dylan was the poet/composer of choice, and they were quite radical in their politics.

John Sebastian was a friend in those days, as was John Phillips, later of the Mamas and the Papas. The song that catapulted Peter, Paul & Mary onto the pop charts (they liked the money but that was about all) was "Leavin' On a Jet Plane" written by John Denver. Sometime around 1970, Peter Yarrow got married and Paul wrote the "Wedding Song" which I played at countless weddings in the 1970's.

Their concerts, particularly their reunion concerts in the 1980's and 1990's and later, were quite enjoyable and often quite spontaneous. I saw them in Syracuse and had the chance to talk for a few minutes with Peter Yarrow. They were pretty comfortable by then and only did concerts for some cause. In Syracuse, there was an effort to rehab a beautiful old vaudeville theatre and they donated most of their proceeds. There were always rumors about Mary having an affair with one or the other (Peter or Paul) and she always categorically denied it with grace and certainty. May this great lady rest in peace.

I can't really say I'll miss her because I didn't really know who she was. They were a group of 3 in the 60's (Peter, Paul, and Mary), but because of that, the only song I ever heard that they sang was "Puff the Magic Dragon" and I only remember one line from it and that was "puff the magic dragon, lived by the sea" and after that it just sort of rhymes I think but I can't remember the words. I have the usual sympathy for mary as I do for just about anybody who dies, but nothing more.

I can't say I was a big fan, but when I did hear Peter, Paul and Mary over the years, I always appreciated what I heard. One of my earlier memories is of hearing "Puff, the Magic Dragon" on the car radio as my parents were driving back to NJ from Connecticut, and it seemed like such a sad song (from a tiny kid's perspective, anyway). Later, when "Leavin' On A Jet Plane" become popular (it was written by John Denver but made famous by PP&M), it was a song that my father used to like when it played on the radio, and I came to like it as well (not enough to buy the CD, but enough that I don't immediately turn it off when it gets played on the radio now).

Back in the day, I thought she was immensely attractive. Obviously, she had gained a lot of weight over the years and wasn't quite as fetching in her older age (well...who is?), but I didn't realize she was ill with leukemia. She lived in Redding, Connecticut (where portions of the original cult film "Last House On The Left" were filmed), and died in nearby Danbury, an area I like to visit with some frequency (speaking of female singers-- Laura Nyro lived in Danbury and died there in 1997; Judy Collins supposedly lives not all that far away in the Ridgefield area, where my half-brother lives...he says he's seen her walking around the lake there). As I've said, I wasn't Mary's biggest fan, and I can't say I'll lose sleep over the fact that she's gone. Too, like Irishgit notes, there were better, more accomplished folk artists out there. Still, I enjoyed what I heard, they certainly contributed their fair share to the culture, she was on the right side of the civil rights struggle and lent it what support she could, and I send her good thoughts for her passage into eternity (a road we'll all eventually take someday, obviously). R.I.P., Mary.

I feel old today. I saw PP&M in concert in 1963. A good group and Mary had a nice voice. I go back and listen to a few of their songs once in a while for old times sake.

Well, I guess if 'Puff the Magic Dragon' is high on your list then this might be a bit sad (Jackie Paper, for example). Anyway, I wonder if it will continue as a duo, Peter and Paul....still has a ring to it. Overall, not familiar w/the music except for 'Puff' and 'Leaving on a Jet Plane,' seemed like a nice person though.

I kind of liked Peter, Paul and Mary, although there were far better, more accomplished and more adventurous folkies.

Can't say I'll miss Mary though, especially since she has been absent from music (to the best of my knowledge) for twenty years.

I didn't know Mary had a last name.

Sad...we sung along as kids to many of the songs she popularized....RIP.