Goodbye Mary Travers

category: News

Published September 16, 2009 @ 07:32PM PT

This just in - Mary Travers - of Peter, Paul & Mary has passed away tonight. We don't talk that much about on Change.org about how women can bring truth to the female experience through their music, but Mary Travers was definitely one of those women who could translate the needs and wants of women through her voice and spirit.

I grew up in San Francisco. I listened to the music of the '60s in order to understand what came before me in the neighborhood I grew up in - the Haight-Ashbury. The death of Mary Travers reminds me again of how much time has passed since that revolutionary era and makes me yearn for the next cultural uprising to come - one that includes music, politics and a desire for peaceful change.

Here are the preliminary details of her death from the New York Times:

Mary Travers, whose ringing, earnest vocals with the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary made songs like "Blowin' in the Wind," "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" enduring anthems of the 1960s protest movement, died Wednesday night in Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. She was 72 and had lived in Redding, Conn.

The cause was cancer, said her spokeswoman, Heather Lylis.

Ms. Travers brought a powerful voice and an unfeigned urgency to music that resonated with mainstream listeners. With her straight blond hair and willowy figure and two bearded guitar players by her side, she looked exactly like what she was, a Greenwich Villager straight from the clubs and the coffee houses that nourished the folk-music revival.

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Comments (7)

Oh, god, what a tragedy. It was such a terrific folk singing group. This may be a great loss of music world. My condolences to Mary's family, friends and fans.

http://replicajewelry.blog.com/

Posted by eronne bing on 09/16/2009 @ 09:24PM PT
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Mary was ont the most thoughtful, honest and caring people I've had the priveledge to know. My father was her plumber and I went with him to her and Ethan's. As I grew up, she became a sort of role model to me, and in later years raised much needed funds for my nephews battle with cancer, supported our family when my father passed and attended my wedding. There were well know famous professionals at her home many times that I was there (i idn't know them) but she invited me in at times, and to join them for dinner. My point is she treated everyone as an equal. Everyone was important. She also, had a love for her gardens and home.Anyway, she will be greatly missed.

Posted by jill anderson on 09/17/2009 @ 04:41AM PT
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Thanks Mary, wherever you are. You were a triumphant ambassador for the spirit of the times.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 09/17/2009 @ 07:49AM PT
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Whenever a fellow musician dies, it feels like a note is missing from the chord...

Posted by Lisa Smolen on 09/18/2009 @ 07:36AM PT
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She will be missed...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 09/18/2009 @ 05:00PM PT
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Rest in Peace Mary, Rest in Peace..thanks for all the 'good folk'... __ Humanitarianism First..

Posted by gwenn meltzer on 09/19/2009 @ 12:20PM PT
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You gave me hope that the world would listen and become better. You gave me the spirit of a woman who is proud and courageous to live from the heart. You were the voice of my generation and you were MY voice. To sing with you on my records got me through a time when suicide was the only other option. I love you. You will always be in my heart, beautiful lady.

Posted by Victoria Manning on 09/28/2009 @ 09:05PM PT
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Author

Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.