Peter, Paul and Mary

Nick and special guest Dr. Mark Lempke (The Also-Rans) discuss the musical and cultural significance of the 60s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. When they formed in 1961, it didn’t take long for them to become one of the most popular musical acts of their time. Along with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary were at the forefront of the folk revival scene of the early 1960s. They famously covered Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and even performed the song at the March on Washington demonstration in 1963. It was, in fact, on the very same stage where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously delivered his “I Have a Speech” speech. It doesn’t get much bigger than to open for Dr. King! Peter, Paul and Mary’s brand of social activism proved singers can be fiercely political and maintain a devoted fanbase. And their music still sounds as urgent and relevant as it did six decades ago.