COLDWATER – Combining both the views of the emotional songwriter and the American political activist, few have managed to be as inspiring as world-renowned singer/songwriter Peter Yarrow who will perform at Tibbits Opera House on September 29, 2012 – sharing messages of humanity, hope and activism through the music that he loves so much.

To those people privileged enough to experience the 1960s, one need only reference the group Peter, Paul & Mary to recognize the most well-known pieces of Peter’s work. These talented musicians formed a US folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career posterized 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers.

As their fame grew, Peter, Paul and Mary developed a passion for political and social activism. In 1963, the trio marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in both Selma, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. They sang at the 1969 March on Washington, which Yarrow, himself, helped to organize.

 To the younger generations: Even if you don’t recognize Yarrow or the group by name, you will surely recognize their all-time greatest hit “Puff, the Magic Dragon” – a song that still frequents children’s TV shows and radio stations all across the country.

 Other popular songs in the Yarrow repertoire include “If I Had a Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Light One Candle” and “Day is Done.” For his Tibbits appearance Yarrow will be accompanied by his daughter, Bethany, and master cellist, Rufus Cappadocia, both outstanding musicians in their own right. 

Though much of Peter’s activism has been directed toward the social/political arena, Peter has been equally active on behalf of more personal projects such as his advocacy on behalf of the Hospice Movement. He is a board member of the Connecticut Hospice. Also in the health care arena, Peter founded the “Save One Child” Fund at Beth Israel Hospital’s Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) in 1996 which provides free medical care for, and saves the lives of, children from all over the world whose families can not afford their critically needed neurosurgery.

In an effort to combat school violence, Yarrow also spearheaded Operation Respect, which brings a curriculum of tolerance and respect for the differences of others to children all across the country. This program has joined forces with others like it to address issues such as bullying and to reduce the rate of things like anger-driven shootings and youth suicide.

Peter Yarrow in concert begins at 8 pm. Tickets for this inspiring performance are $27 for adults, $15 for students and $24 for Tibbits members. Tickets are available on line at www.Tibbits.org, by phone at 517-278-6029, or weekdays at the business office at 93 West Chicago St.  The performance is held at the historic Tibbits Opera House, 14 South Hanchett Street, Coldwater, MI.