Peter and Paul

My early exposure to folk music began with Peter, Paul and Mary. I look back on them now and see them as the archetype for all the artificially created music groups that came later.. the spice girls, the backstreet boys, nsync, etc.
But at the time, I didn't know that.
Their music totally convinced me that there was a type of music that wasn't only about romantic love, but could be about history and social causes. I saw it as the new music for the ages. And their harmonies were beautiful. And they represented the free-thinking individual that I was going to be when I grew up.
I saw them perform when I was in the army at Fort Bragg North Carolina. It was at the height of the Vietnam war, and their music touched my heart and mind.

Peter, Paul & Mary led me to other folksingers and performers that I still love. Within the last few years I've seen performances by Joan Baez, Tom Rush and Arlo Guthrie.
My musical tastes are very wide and folk is only a part of that. But, with the death of Mary Travers, I'll certainly miss the group that was Peter, Paul and Mary.