Beloved Peter, Paul, and Mary Singer Dead at 86

Peter Yarrow of the beloved Grammy-winning group Peter, Paul, and Mary has died at the age of 86. 

Yarrow's publicist Ken Sunshine confirmed to USA Today that the singer died at home in New York City on Jan. 7. His daughter Bethany, who followed in his footsteps as a musician, marked his final days in a touching statement. "Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life," she said. "The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest."

Related: 'Love Boat' Singer Jack Jones Dead at 86

Bethany shared a living tribute to her father on Instagram last month as it became clear his health was declining. 

"He has kept his doctors in awe at his resilience as he has continued to perform and live life in his own generous and cause-driven way. It has been a long road and he has been a strong dragon, but right now he is very weak and, at 86, his dragon days are numbered," she wrote. "There is Peter Yarrow the folk activist legend, and then there is the man, a deeply compassionate man, who changed the lives of so many people in very personal ways... Puff the Magic Dragon is forever."

Yarrow wrote many of Peter, Paul, and Mary's biggest hits including "Puff, the Magic Dragon," "Day is Done," and "Light One Candle." The group's biggest and final hit, their cover of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.