Travers, Mary (1936–)

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Travers, Mary (1936–)

American singer. Name variations: Peter, Paul and Mary. Born Nov 7, 1936, in Louisville, KY; dau. of Virginia Coigney (social activist and journalist who also wrote for tv soap "Edge of Night"); father wrote novels; m. 3rd husband Ethan Robbins (restaurateur), 1991; children: Erika and Alicia.

Sang on Broadway in The Next President (1957); while working in Greenwich Village, met Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey and formed Peter, Paul and Mary (1961); with trio, signed with Warner Bros. and released debut LP, Peter, Paul and Mary (1962), which went #1 and included hits "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer"; other single hits include "Puff the Magic Dragon" (1963), "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963), "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" (1967), "Day Is Done" (1969), "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (1969); albums include A Song Will Rise (1965), Late Again (1968), Flowers and Stones (1990), and Around the Campfire (1998); hosted radio talk show and BBC tv series after group disbanded (1970); with trio, began 40th anniversary tour of US (2000); known for commitment to political and social issues.