Posted by Farm at September 17th, 2009

Hard though it may be for some people to realize, our life is more than just goats. Music has long been a part of what makes life worth living for us. It makes my heart fly to play my guitar and to hear wonderful words set to melody.

Today the world finally lost one of those voices who raised us up, Mary Traverse. Best known as the female part of trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. She had been sick for a long time, but her voice still shown through in the few appearances she made in the last few years. I was introduced to them when I was a child in the ’60’s, and Paul, born Noel Stookey, performed at my sister’s high school commencement, since he too was a graduate of Birmingham High School, which became Seaholm, our alma mater.
But it was as an adult that I grew to value the passion in their activism and the goodness of their message. In a world that sometimes seems so overwhelming, the beacon of direction that came from their three part harmony gave us knowledge that there was a way through, if we worked together.

This may sound corny, but Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Pete Seeger, have been the soundtrack to my adulthood. Mary’s voice, always so clear, was not a soprano tone, like so many popular singers. It was rich and deep, as was their well of optimism and strength.

My heart goes out to Mary’s family, both biological and “heart family.” Though many of us never met her, please know that we will miss her too. Your pain is carried with all of us who matured along with her music, and her work will live on in our actions and  our hearts.

God bless you, Mary Traverse. Thanks for letting us share your music for awhile.