The ballad Leaving on a Jet Plane reached the top of the U.S. Billboard and Cash Box charts in December 1969, marking the singular number one hit for the trio Peter, Paul and Mary. As the group's contralto, Mary Travers helped define the folk music landscape throughout the 1960s before transitioning into a distinct career as a solo recording artist.
Early Development in Greenwich Village
Born in 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky, Travers moved to New York City at age two after her father, Robert Travers, saw his employer close. Growing up in Greenwich Village, she attended the Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School. During her formative years, she interacted with musicians such as Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson. She eventually departed school during the 11th grade to join the Song Swappers, a group that provided vocal backing for Seeger's 1955 pro-union folk reissues.
The Rise of Peter, Paul and Mary
In 1961, Travers formed Peter, Paul and Mary alongside Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey. Managed by Albert Grossman, the group achieved immediate commercial success. Their interpretation of Bob Dylan's composition Don't Think Twice, It's All Right supported the ascent of Dylan's album Freewheelin' into the U.S. Top 30. Despite a temporary breakup in 1970, the trio reunited for political and professional events, including a 1972 fundraising concert for George McGovern and a 1983 performance recorded by the BBC.
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Following the dissolution of the trio in 1970, Travers focused on solo efforts. She released five albums between 1971 and 1978: Mary, Morning Glory, All My Choices, Circles, and It's in Everyone of Us. Her personal life involved four marriages, beginning with John Filler, followed by photographer Barry Feinstein, publisher Gerald Taylor, and finally restaurateur Ethan Robbins, with whom she resided in Redding, Connecticut.
Health Struggles and Legacy
Travers faced a leukemia diagnosis in 2004. Although a bone marrow transplant in 2005 provided a temporary reprieve, she succumbed to complications on September 16, 2009, at Danbury Hospital. She was buried in Umpawaug Cemetery. In November 2009, a memorial service at Riverside Church honored her dual influence as a musician and a political activist who helped frame the concept of beautiful dissent.
Fast facts
- Born: 1936, Louisville
- Died: 2009, Danbury
- Primary Group: Peter, Paul and Mary
- Solo Albums: 5
- Citizenship: United States
- Vocal Range: Contralto
- Inducted into Vocal Group Hall of Fame: 1999
Questions readers ask
What was Mary Travers' early professional experience before joining her famous trio?
She was a member of the folk group Song Swappers and performed on Broadway in the show The Next President.
How many solo albums did she release?
She released five solo albums between 1971 and 1978.
Where is Mary Travers interred?
She is interred in Umpawaug Cemetery in Redding, Connecticut.
Achievements
- Educated at Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School
- Worked as singer-songwriter, composer and singer
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