Folk singer Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 86

American singer and songwriter Peter Yarrow, who became famous with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, died on Tuesday at the age of 86, his publicist said.

Yarrow died in the morning at his New York home surrounded by family following a four-year battle with bladder cancer, publicist Ken Sunshine said in a statement.

“Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life," Yarrow's daughter Bethany said in a statement provided by Sunshine. "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."

Yarrow formed Peter, Paul, and Mary with Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. The group helped popularize Bob Dylan's early work and sang hits such as "Puff, The Magic Dragon," which Yarrow co-wrote.

FILE PHOTO: Legendary American folk music pioneers Peter, Paul & Mary perform during their first concert in Hong Kong late March 9, 2001. The group comprises Mary Travers (L), Noel Paul Stookey (C) and Peter Yarrow. KC/JD/File Photo

The group's version of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" helped transform the song into a civil rights anthem and introduced his music to a broader audience. The group also scored big hits with "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" co-written by folk artist Pete Seeger.

The group's other hits included covers of Will Holt's "Lemon Tree" and John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane."

The trio's members were noted for their political activism. They performed at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington and demonstrations protesting the Vietnam War.

Throughout his life, Yarrow campaigned for social change and various causes, including equal rights, peace, the environment, gender equality, homelessness, hospice care, public broadcasting, and education.

Stookey, the only living member of the trio, praised Yarrow's creative influence and said he would deeply miss his former bandmate.

"Being an only child, growing up without siblings may have afforded me the full attention of my parents, but with the formation of Peter, Paul, and Mary, I suddenly had a brother named Peter Yarrow," Stookey said.

"And while his comfort in the city and my love of the country tended to keep us apart geographically, our different perspectives were celebrated often in our friendship and music," he added.

Yarrow is survived by his wife, Marybeth, son Christopher, daughter Bethany, and granddaughter Valentina.