Upon Mary Travers’ death in 2009 and Peter Yarrow’s death in 2025, Stookey became the last surviving member of Peter Paul and Mary.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland, Stookey spent his early years in Birmingham, Michigan. Before his folk music career, he led a high school rock band called the Birds of Paradise and worked as a stand-up comedian. After briefly attending Michigan State University, he moved to New York City in 1959, where he became part of the Greenwich Village folk scene.
Peter, Paul and Mary
Manager Albert Grossman brought Stookey together with Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers in 1961, recognizing their potential as a folk group. Despite having the least folk music experience of the three, Stookey’s baritone voice, guitar skills, and stage presence proved essential to the trio’s success. His between-song humor helped balance the group’s serious message songs and political activism. The trio released 20 albums. Their self-titled debut studio album was released in 1962 on Warner Bros. Records and hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The group’s 1963 albums “Moving” and “In the Wind” reached #2 and #1 respectively. Their most popular singles include “Lemon Tree,” “If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song),” “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “I Dig Rock and Roll Music,” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”
Solo Work and Spiritual Journey
During Peter, Paul and Mary’s initial hiatus in the 1970s, Stookey experienced a spiritual awakening and became a born-again Christian. This transformation influenced his songwriting, leading to “The Wedding Song (There Is Love),” which he wrote for Peter Yarrow’s wedding. The song’s royalties have been donated to charity through the Public Domain Foundation, which Stookey established. His subsequent solo work has often reflected his spiritual beliefs while maintaining his folk music roots.
Innovation and Activism
Beyond his musical performances, Stookey has been an innovator in concert sound technology. He helped develop large-venue sound systems that improved the quality of live folk music performances. His commitment to environmental causes and social justice has remained constant throughout his career, often reflected in both his solo work and continued performances with Peter, Paul and Mary until Mary Travers’ death in 2009. Peter Yarrow died in January 2025.
Personal Life & Real Estate
Stookey married Betty Bannard in 1963. They have three daughters. They own a property in Maine and spend part of the year living in Ojai, California.
