Noel Stookey
Encyclopedia
Noel Paul Stookey is a singer-songwriter
best known as "Paul" in the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary
. He took the stage name "Paul" as part of the trio Peter, Paul and Mary, but he has been known as Noel (his first name) otherwise, throughout his life. Since the death of Mary Travers
, he has continued to work as a solo singer and activist.
when he was about 12. Noel graduated from Birmingham High School (now Seaholm High School) in 1955.
Stookey is an alumnus of Michigan State University
in East Lansing, Michigan
. While attending MSU
, he joined Delta Upsilon
fraternity. He was raised Buddhist by his parents.
, and included some of his solo songs and extended monologues in their performances and recordings.
In addition to his recordings with the trio, he released a number of solo works, several albums with the ensemble Bodyworks, and some anthologies. He was an important artist in the young Jesus music
movement, which would later bloom into the Christian music industry
, although his generally liberal political views distinguish him from many such artists.
In 1986, Stookey teamed up with Jim Newton, Paul G. Hill and Denny Bouchard at Celebration Shop in Texas. The company, now known as Hugworks, uses original musical compositions as music therapy to address the special needs of children. The company has produced three award-winning children's CDs used in hospitals, medical camps and homes across the country.
in September, 2009. His post-Peter, Paul and Mary
works have emphasized his Christian faith, family life and social concerns. He remains active in the music industry, performing as a solo act.
In January 2011, Stookey participated in several events at Dartmouth College
that celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
, including "Music for Social Change with Noel Paul Stookey and Company."
", which charted in 1971 and remains popular for performance during wedding services. He wrote the song as a wedding gift for Peter Yarrow
, and refused to perform it for the public until Yarrow requested it at a concert where his wife was present. Stookey assigned the copyright to this song to the Public Domain Foundation.
and Gordon Bok
. He was the founder of the Neworld Multimedia record label
.
while his wife Betty served as the Northfield Mount Hermon School
chaplain
. The couple returned to their home in Blue Hill, Maine
, in June 2005, where he records in a studio that was previously a chicken coop.
Charting Single - Billboard (North America)
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
best known as "Paul" in the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
. He took the stage name "Paul" as part of the trio Peter, Paul and Mary, but he has been known as Noel (his first name) otherwise, throughout his life. Since the death of Mary Travers
Mary Travers
Mary Travers , American singer-songwriter; member of the folk, pop group, Peter, Paul and Mary.Mary Travers may also refer to:* Mary Rose-Anna Travers , Québécoise singer known as Madame Bolduc or La Bolduc...
, he has continued to work as a solo singer and activist.
Early life
Noel's family moved to Birmingham, MichiganBirmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
when he was about 12. Noel graduated from Birmingham High School (now Seaholm High School) in 1955.
Stookey is an alumnus of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. While attending MSU
MSU
-Universities:India*Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda*Manonmaniam Sundaranar UniversityMalaysia*Management & Science UniversityMoldova*Moldova State UniversityNepal*Mahendra Sanskrit UniversityPhilippines*Mindanao State UniversityRussia...
, he joined Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
fraternity. He was raised Buddhist by his parents.
Music career
As Paul in the Peter, Paul and Mary trio, he participated in one of the best known mass media ensembles of the 1960s phase of the American folk music revivalAmerican folk music revival
The American folk music revival was a phenomenon in the United States that began during the 1940s and peaked in popularity in the mid-1960s. Its roots went earlier, and performers like Josh White, Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Richard Dyer-Bennett, Oscar Brand, Jean Ritchie, John Jacob...
, and included some of his solo songs and extended monologues in their performances and recordings.
In addition to his recordings with the trio, he released a number of solo works, several albums with the ensemble Bodyworks, and some anthologies. He was an important artist in the young Jesus music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
movement, which would later bloom into the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
, although his generally liberal political views distinguish him from many such artists.
In 1986, Stookey teamed up with Jim Newton, Paul G. Hill and Denny Bouchard at Celebration Shop in Texas. The company, now known as Hugworks, uses original musical compositions as music therapy to address the special needs of children. The company has produced three award-winning children's CDs used in hospitals, medical camps and homes across the country.
Post- Peter, Paul and Mary
Paul performed as a member of Peter, Paul and Mary until the death of MaryMary Travers (singer)
Mary Allin Travers was an American singer-songwriter and member of the folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Noel Stookey...
in September, 2009. His post-Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
works have emphasized his Christian faith, family life and social concerns. He remains active in the music industry, performing as a solo act.
In January 2011, Stookey participated in several events at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
that celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
, including "Music for Social Change with Noel Paul Stookey and Company."
Compositions
His best-known composition is "The Wedding Song (There is Love)The Wedding Song (There is Love)
"The Wedding Song " is a song written by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary in the fall of 1969 and first performed at the wedding of Peter Yarrow to Mary Beth McCarthy at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar, Minnesota...
", which charted in 1971 and remains popular for performance during wedding services. He wrote the song as a wedding gift for Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
, and refused to perform it for the public until Yarrow requested it at a concert where his wife was present. Stookey assigned the copyright to this song to the Public Domain Foundation.
Production
He also has production credits on albums by several lesser-known singer-songwriters, including Dave MallettDavid Mallett
David Mallett is a singer-songwriter best known for his authorship of the popular tune "Garden Song," made famous by John Denver and Arlo Guthrie. He has recorded for independent record labels for most of his career. A resident of Maine for most of his life, in the 1980s he relocated to Nashville,...
and Gordon Bok
Gordon Bok
Gordon Bok is a folklorist and singer/songwriter who grew up in Camden, Maine.-Career:His first album, self-titled, was produced by Noel Paul Stookey and released in 1965 on the Verve Records Folkways imprint...
. He was the founder of the Neworld Multimedia record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Personal life
Stookey spent several years as a school-year resident of MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
while his wife Betty served as the Northfield Mount Hermon School
Northfield Mount Hermon
Northfield Mount Hermon School, commonly referred to as NMH, is a co-educational independent boarding high school for students in grades 9–12...
chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
. The couple returned to their home in Blue Hill, Maine
Blue Hill, Maine
Blue Hill is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,390 at the 2000 census. It is home to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, George Stevens Academy, the now-closed Liberty School, New Surry Theatre, Kneisel Hall, Bagaduce Music Lending Library, the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club...
, in June 2005, where he records in a studio that was previously a chicken coop.
Charting Single - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/31/71 | Wedding Song [There Is Love] | Pop Singles | 24 | Adult Contemporary | 3 |