Simon and Garfunkel (music)
Simon and Garfunkel were a highly influential American folk-rock duo formed by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, who grew up in Queens, New York. They began their musical journey in the mid-1950s under the name "Tom and Jerry" and achieved their first hit with "Hey Schoolgirl." After a period of separate pursuits, they reunited in 1964 and recorded their debut album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m.," which initially did not succeed until their song "Sounds of Silence" was re-released with electric instrumentation, propelling them to fame. Their subsequent albums, including "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme" and "Bridge over Troubled Water," achieved commercial success and critical acclaim, with the latter winning six Grammy Awards.
Known for their poignant lyrics and harmonious sound, Simon and Garfunkel became emblematic of the 1960s cultural landscape, often engaging in performances that highlighted social and political issues. After their peak success, Garfunkel pursued acting while Simon embarked on a solo career. The duo briefly reunited for a concert in Central Park in 1981, drawing a massive audience, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Their legacy continues to resonate, reflecting the spirit and concerns of their era through timeless music.
Simon and Garfunkel (music)
One of the most popular duos of the rock-and-roll era. Their rich harmony, creative forms, and deeply personal lyrics gave their music a powerful aesthetic force that captured the spirit of the folk music tradition and the imaginations of music listeners around the world.
Origins and History
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel grew up blocks apart in Queens, New York. In 1955, at the age of fourteen, they recorded their first song, “The Girl for Me.” They signed their first recording contract a year later as Tom and Jerry. In 1957, their first hit, “Hey Schoolgirl,” reached number fifty-four on Billboard’s top one hundred and earned them an appearance on American Bandstand.
After high school, they followed separate paths: Garfunkel went to college, and Simon pursued a singing/songwriting career. They reunited briefly in 1964 as Simon and Garfunkel, giving concerts and recording Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m., an album of folk songs. The album flopped, but its acoustical version of “Sounds of Silence” became the key to their future success. Parting ways again, Simon moved to London where he recorded a solo album, The Paul Simon Song Book, which provided material for later Simon and Garfunkel albums. Their breakthrough came in 1966 when a producer released “Sounds of Silence” overdubbed with “electric” music; it became their first number-one hit. Simon returned to the United States, and they began working together full-time.
In March, 1966, they released an album with the new “Sounds of Silence” as the title track; another album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, followed in November. The success of both albums thrust them into the national spotlight. In 1967, they were invited to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival, and in 1968, they were asked to record the soundtrack for The Graduate. The soundtrack won three Grammy awards, and “Mrs. Robinson” became their second number-one hit. They released Bookends, another successful album, later that year. They released their final and most popular album, Bridge over Troubled Water, in February, 1970, and won six Grammy Awards.
Impact
In the late 1960’s, Simon and Garfunkel had three number-one hits and won top music honors: two songs of the year, an album of the year, and nine Grammy Awards. Their highly thoughtful and creative music, coupled with their commercial success, placed them among the most compelling apostles of the spirit of the 1960’s. Their appearances for political and social causes and their intimate concert tours inspired audiences with a personal manifestation of that spirit.
Subsequent Events
After the release of Bridge over Troubled Water, Garfunkel left the duo to pursue an acting career and develop other creative interests, and Simon went on to a successful solo career. In 1981, Simon and Garfunkel gave a reunion concert in Central Park to an audience of more than five hundred thousand. In 1990, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Additional Information
See Victoria Kingston’s Simon and Garfunkel: The Definitive Biography (1996), and Simon and Garfunkel: Old Friends (1991), by Joseph Morella and Patricia Barey.