March 19, 2018 By Diane Kemp

Ray’s chat 40

Hi Folks
It’s RAYS CHAT Forty

Yes the Early 60’s Was a really fantastic time for Folk Music.
The Folk Clubs were really starting to become Young Folk Clubs: With New Young writers and singers.
So here we are at Rays Chat 40.. And in the past 39 Chats; One famous Lady we have never chatted about:
Although we did mention her When she was part of the Famous Group: Peter, Paul and Mary.
YES: I am talking about MARY TRAVERS.

Mary was a famous Lady in her own right.
She sang with a Group called “SONG SWAPPERS” in 1952.”
(WHO??? NO I hadn’t heard of them either)
And She was singing Solo: Before She met-up with Peter and Paul. Indeed She had sung with the Kingston Trio as well as having recordings of her own. I found this recording of her with The Kingston Trio at a Re-Union – listen to her talking about the Old days Put in:
MARY TRAVERS AND THE KINGSTON TRIO 4.53
In fact She also had a short Broadway career When She was in
A Broadway Show, “The Next President”. (if did not last long)

She made many records singing Solo: In this one She sings a Superb Song that Roberta Flack made her own. But, Mary does a good job: Put in: MARY TRAVERS – FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE 2.55. Oh What a Superb Song.

And; I found her singing a duet with Joan Baez: Put in
JOAN BAEZ – MARY TRAVERS LONESOME VALLEY 3.28. Yes I liked this: Nice Historic recording.
BUT..YES; that’s more Country than Folk.. You might say?
YES: So we come back to where you draw the Line?
And I found this one Put in:
GUESS HE’D RATHER BE IN COLORADO 2.01
I LIKED THAT A LOT!! Yes!! But the Country/ Folk Thing???

WELL OK: THIS IS DEFINITELY FOLK.
Put in: MARY TRAVERS – THERE is a SHIP 2.47
Nice: Slower than it is usually sung perhaps??

BUT: This shows Mary can Sing: Oh YES.
Put in: MARY TRAVERS – FOLLOW ME 2.40
That I Really liked!! YES
It is a John Denver Song that I had NEVER heard before.
Nice Find for me.

Well: I have shown you Mary had a career outside the Group
PETER PAUL AND MARY.
But: yes: Her BIG TIME came when She joined Peter and Paul And they became PETER,PAUL AND MARY.
One of THE Most FAMOUS FOLK GROUPS EVER.
And that was in 1961.

One of THEIR First Hits was this: Put in:
PETER,PAUL AND MARY – PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON 3.28
OH!! That Really took off!! WOW YES!!

I can remember : When one night at “The Jug of Punch Folk Club”.. Someone started just to sing “Puff the Magic”.
And the WHOLE Place went CRAZY!! Everyone singing their hearts out. 400 people singing PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON.
It was a Crazy Wonderful Magic moment; I remember.

Another song they found; was a song WILL HOLT had written in the 50’s; it was: THE LEMON TREE. Put in:
PETER, PAUL AND MARY LEMON TREE 2.57
Nice Gentle Song .

And then the Hits just kept coming making them one of the
GREATEST FOLK GROUPS EVER: Hits like:
BLOWING IN THE WIND
DON’T THINK TWICE IT’S ALRIGHT
And the Great Pete Seeger Song:
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
Oh So Many others.
And Then: Maybe Their GREATEST??
They Sang the lovely John Denver song:
Put in: PETER,PAUL AND MARY- LEAVING ON A JET PLANE 3.27
YES: The early 60’s was a really fantastic time for Folk Music.
The Folk Clubs were really starting to be The Young Peoples Scene.
And one of the most famous Groups that was leading the New Sounds was PETER, PAUL AND MARY.
Other new names were Bob Dylan; Pete Seeger; Joan Baez;
The Kingston Trio. (All of whom Mary had sang with)

YES: MARY deserves a place as ONE OF THE GREATS.

But it was with PETER,PAUL AND MARY That She became
Very Well Known.
She had a lovely voice that worked so well with the two Guys.
Listen to her here in the Great Bob Dylan Song:
Put in: PETER, PAUL AND MARY – DON’T THINK TWICE IT’S ALRIGHT 3.16
This superb song became almost the Anthem of the 60’s .

But Unfortunately Mary was suffering from Leukaemia:
Which gradually got worse; eventually killed her.
BUT: She still sang although She could not perfom in Public any longer. This is from 1971 .. She died in 1972.
Put in: Mary Travers – “Follow Me” (1971) 2.43

And: I found this lovely Song She recorded not long before She died. Her last Video with Her Grand Daughter.
Ladies you need you Hankies for this one!!
Put in: R.I.P Mary Travers – You Tube 2.56.
Bye for now
​ RAY.