He was the "funny one." At least, that’s how the magazines in 1962 pegged him.
When Albert Grossman—the legendary, somewhat ruthless manager who later handled Bob Dylan—was assembling a folk supergroup, he had a very specific vision. He wanted a "tall blonde" (Mary Travers), a "good-looking guy" (Peter Yarrow), and a "funny guy." That third slot went to a tall, lanky guitarist and stand-up comic named Noel Paul Stookey.
Most people just know him as Paul from Peter Paul and Mary. But there is a huge, sprawling story behind that middle name that most casual listeners completely miss. Honestly, if you only know him for the harmonies on "Leaving on a Jet Plane," you're only getting about twenty percent of the man.
The Name Change That Defined a Career
Here is a weird bit of trivia: Paul isn't actually his first name.
He was born Noel Paul Stookey in Baltimore back in 1937. He grew up in the Midwest, eventually making his way to the Greenwich Village scene as a solo act. He wasn't even a folk singer at first. He was doing R&B and stand-up comedy.
When the trio formed in 1961, Grossman realized that "Peter, Noel and Mary" just didn't have that snappy, alliterative ring. So, Noel became Paul. It was a marketing move, plain and simple. He’s lived with that "Paul" persona for over sixty years now, though friends and family still call him Noel.
The trio was an immediate, explosive success. Their 1962 debut album stayed on the Billboard charts for over three years. Think about that. In the age of TikTok hits that disappear in a week, these guys stayed relevant for years on a single record.
Why Paul From Peter Paul and Mary Still Matters in 2026
It is easy to look at the 1960s folk revival as a museum piece. You see the black-and-white photos of them at the March on Washington in 1963, standing near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and it feels like ancient history.
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But as of early 2026, Noel Paul Stookey is the sole surviving member of that iconic group. Mary Travers passed away in 2009. Then, in January 2025, Peter Yarrow died at the age of 86 after a battle with bladder cancer.
Suddenly, Stookey is the keeper of the flame.
He isn't just sitting in a rocking chair, though. At 88 years old, he’s still remarkably active. Just last year, in late 2025, he was the inaugural "Arts & Impact" Artist-in-Residence at NYU. He spent days working with songwriting students, teaching them that music isn't just about a catchy hook—it’s about having a social conscience.
The Mystery of "The Wedding Song"
If you’ve been to a wedding in the last fifty years, you’ve probably heard "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)."
It is a staple. A classic.
But did you know Paul wrote it specifically for Peter Yarrow’s wedding? In 1969, Peter was marrying Marybeth McCarthy (the niece of Senator Eugene McCarthy). Stookey was the best man. He wanted to give them something special.
He claims the song was "divinely inspired"—that he didn't even feel like he wrote it, but rather that it just flowed through him. In a move that is almost unheard of in the music industry, he set up the Public Domain Foundation. He directed all the royalties from that massive hit to charity. He didn't want to personally profit from what he felt was a gift from a higher power.
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That foundation has since raised millions for social justice and environmental causes.
Life in Maine and the "Seven Years Off"
By 1970, the trio was exhausted. They’d been touring 200 days a year.
They decided to take what they called "seven years off for good behavior." During this time, Stookey did something that baffled his New York peers. He moved to Blue Hill, Maine. He became a "gentleman farmer."
He also underwent a massive spiritual shift. He became a born-again Christian, which influenced his songwriting for decades to after. While Peter and Mary were pursuing more traditional solo careers, Stookey was out in Maine, running a recording studio in a converted henhouse and writing songs about faith and family.
A Quick Look at the Stookey Solo Catalog
- Paul And... (1971): His first solo venture, featuring "The Wedding Song."
- Band and Bodyworks (1980): A more experimental, Christian-influenced record.
- Fazz: Now & Then (2022): A recent project blending folk and jazz.
- Facets (2008): A look back at his eclectic styles.
He’s always been the most musically experimental of the three. He loves jazz. He loves weird gadgets. He even helped develop a new instrument called the Manulenjo, which is a sort of hybrid guitar-banjo designed to celebrate American ethnic diversity.
The Activist Today
You might think a folk singer from the 60s would be tired of protesting. Not Noel.
He and his daughter, Liz Stookey Sunde, run a nonprofit called Music to Life. It’s basically an incubator for "musical activists." They don't just give grants; they train young artists on how to actually use their music to create community change.
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It's a practical, modern approach to the "protest song" legacy.
Honestly, the way he talks about music is refreshing. He doesn't act like a superstar. When he’s in Maine, he sings in the local church choir. He does fundraisers for the community. He’s just a guy who happens to have five Grammys and a few platinum records in his henhouse.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume the trio were just puppets of a manager or "folk-lite" compared to Dylan.
That’s a mistake.
While they were definitely more polished than the grit of the Delta blues, their activism was dangerous. They were in the Deep South during the Civil Rights movement when it was genuinely life-threatening to be there. Stookey has talked about the "galvanizing moment" of the March on Washington—how it wasn't just a concert, but a shift in the American soul.
He’s also been incredibly vocal about U.S. intervention in Central America. In the 80s, his song "El Salvador" was a direct, scathing critique of foreign policy. He doesn't just sing "Puff the Magic Dragon" (which, by the way, is definitely not about drugs, despite the urban legends).
How to Explore the Legacy of Noel Paul Stookey
If you're looking to dive deeper into the work of Paul from Peter Paul and Mary, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits.
- Listen to "The Solo Recordings (1971-1972)": You’ll hear a much more playful, jazzy side of his guitar work.
- Read his upcoming book: He’s been working with writer Jeanne Torrence Finley on a memoir about his spiritual journey and life in Maine.
- Check out the "Music to Life" website: See how the next generation is carrying on the "folk" tradition in genres like hip-hop and indie rock.
- Watch "Carry It On": The 2004 documentary gives the best behind-the-scenes look at the group's internal dynamics.
Noel Paul Stookey has spent a lifetime proving that you can be "the funny guy" and "the spiritual guy" and "the protest guy" all at the same time. He’s a reminder that folk music was never meant to stay in the 1960s—it was meant to be lived.
Actionable Insight: If you're a musician or a creator, look into the Public Domain Foundation model. Stookey proved that you can use a single "hit" to fund a lifetime of activism. Try dedicating a small percentage of your own project's proceeds to a cause that actually matters to your local community.