These two famous performers grew up together and attended the same school in Queens, New York City. Paul Simon was born on the 13th October 1941 in New Jersey, U.S.A., whilst about a month later, on the 5thNovember the same year, his friend and singing partner Arthur Garfunkel was born in Queens, New York City.

In the late 50s the two gigged at various small clubs under the name Tom & Jerry. However, they drifted apart when Garfunkel went to Columbia University to study mathematics and architecture, while Simon studied English at Queens College. During the 1960s Simon recorded several songs for Warwick Records and then once again briefly teamed up with Garfunkel where they changed their name to what we know them as today.

In 1964, although Simon partly lived in England for a while, the duo got the breakthrough they had been looking for when they were signed by Tom Wilson to Columbia Records. They recorded their debut album "Wednesday Morning 3 a.m". From the album came a song that is recognized all around the world today, "The Sound Of Silence". Its original recording sounded a lot different to the version we know today. It wasn't until Tom Wilson took the song unbeknown to the artists, remixed it and added various different instruments that it became a successful number. Although the song went on to be a major hit in America it didn't reach the same heights in the U.K. Their next album, of the same title, was soon released. A notable track from the album was "Homeward Bound" which Simon actually wrote about his then girlfriend while sitting in the railway station in Widness, Cheshire. This song - a story of life on the road - went on to become a transatlantic hit and it seemed that there was no stopping them.
Further hits such as "I Am A Rock", "Scarborough Fair" and "Mrs Robinson" are just 3 of the many hits that soon followed. The latter was actually written for the film The Graduate which starred Anne Bancroft and a very young Dustin Hoffman.

Following "Mrs Robinson" the pair performed in 1968 at the Royal Albert Hall and also appeared on BBC's Top Of The Pops where they refused to sing their latest song because they objected to the fact that go-go girls had been lined up to dance to the hit.

The writing ability of Paul Simon and the almost angelic voice of Art Garfunkel seemed a unique match and the combination certainly didn't falter when they released the colossal album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in 1970. The title track is still recognized even today as a major landmark in music. Incidentally, a set of lyrics from this song can be found on our lyrics page. The album didn't just have one major hit but several such as "The Boxer", "Keep the Customer Satisfied", "El Condor Pasa" and "Cecilia".
During the recording of this classic the relationship between the two singers became very strained and soon after the release they decided to go their separate ways. Many theories have been given as to why they actually split up, but the probable reason is because of the different directions in which they both wanted to take. Art Garfunkel chose more of an acting career, but still managed to keep himself involved in the music industry with various recordings through the years. Whilst Paul Simon has since their break- up established himself as a singer that has tried out with very encouraging results new musical styles.

This reason however wasn't the only one for the split and it was no secret that Simon resented his partners acting intentions and it was also widely believed that he thought he never received the credit he deserved for writing the songs, as it was Garfunkel's voice which was the trademark behind most of them. From Garfunkel's point of view he considered Simon as a perfectionist and someone that he could no longer work with. This was a statement that I personally heard from him when I saw him perform in Vienna a couple of years ago.

Since the split, however, they have on more than one occasion appeared on stage together and in September 1981 they put their differences behind them by giving a concert in Central Park. Soon afterwards they released a live double album from the concert and also went on a European tour which ended in Wembley Stadium before a 70.000 crowd. Although they intended to tour America and write some new songs together, their differences came to the fore again and they cancelled their future projects together. Nonetheless, in 1993 they did once again sing together when they gave a benefit concert in Los Angeles where all the proceeds were donated to the Childrens Health Fun Project.

As I said earlier, both stars have had fruitful solo careers. Garfunkel has had hits with the records "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "Bright Eyes" which was taken from the animated film version Watership Down. He has also hosted NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live where one of his guests ironically was a certain Paul Simon. Life hasn't always been sweet for Art Garfunkel though, and after he played the lead role in the film "Bad Timing" in Europe he received the bad news that his girlfriend had taken her own life in New York. This catastrophe in his life was obviously something that he had trouble coming to terms with and even as late as 1988 when he was interviewed by Terry Wogan on BBC TV and questioned about the incident, he left the set visibly upset and refused to perform his then new song "So In Love".

Although I have seen Art Garfunkel in concert unfortunately I can't say the same about Paul Simon. He has also had numerous hits since their split, in the early days with records such as "Still Crazy After All These Years" and "Slip Slidin Away" and then later with the 2 albums "Graceland" and "Rhythm Of The Saints". "Graceland" was very much influenced by South African music. Although it proved to be a masterpiece, he unfortunately got drawn into the political scene over the record because he broke the boycott which had been imposed about recording in South Africa. Simon has also had his share of personal problems and has been through two divorces - the second incidentally from the Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher. Over the last few years he has produced the musical "The Capeman" and has just released a greatest hits album.
 

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