Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 72

Mary Trevers

She died Wednesday night in a hospital in the eastern US state of Connecticut, her spokeswoman Heather Lylis told The New York Times.

 Peter, Paul and Mary was famous for such hits as If I Had a Hammer; Blowin' in the Wind; Puff, The Magic Dragon; I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane; and Lemon Tree.

 But Travers, Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey also were known for their political activism, which was based on strong opposition to the Vietnam War and support for the civil rights movement.

 The trio won five Grammies before disbanding in 1970 to pursue solo careers. They found little individual success and reunited in 1978.

 Travers was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2004 and had a bone marrow transplant. Her final performance was this year.