Simon, Paul (1941-…), is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He teamed with his childhood friend Art Garfunkel to form one of the most popular folk-rock groups of the 1960’s, and began a successful solo career in the 1970’s.
Simon and Garfunkel first billed themselves as Tom and Jerry, and in 1957 recorded a minor hit titled “Hey, Schoolgirl” while they were still in high school. Simon and Garfunkel made their popular breakthrough in 1965 with the success of the folk-rock version of their song “The Sounds of Silence.” Simon wrote almost all their material, including the hits “Mrs. Robinson” (1968) and “Bridge over Troubled Water” (1970).
Simon and Garfunkel separated in 1970. Simon’s major solo success of the 1970’s was the album Still Crazy After All These Years (1975). Simon reunited with Garfunkel in 1981 for a concert in New York City’s Central Park. It was recorded as an album and inspired a reunion tour. In 1986, Simon released the acclaimed album Graceland, which he made with black South African musicians. In the 1990’s, he turned to Brazilian music for inspiration. In 2011, Simon released the albumSo Beautiful or So What. Simon wrote the music for the Broadway show The Capeman (1998). Simon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with Art Garfunkel and in 2001 as an individual performer. Paul Frederic Simon was born on Oct. 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey.
