Simon and Garfunkel was one of the most successful duos in recent music history. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met as classmates in Queens, NY, and in 1957, at 16 years old, they released their first chart hit. After splitting for a couple years, in 1...more Simon and Garfunkel was one of the most successful duos in recent music history. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met as classmates in Queens, NY, and in 1957, at 16 years old, they released their first chart hit. After splitting for a couple years, in 1964 Simon and Garfunkel regrouped to record "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." which captured their definitive sound with the haunting tune "The Sound of Silence". Their producer, Tom Wilson, took the album and ran with it, penetrating the folk-rock force that was so visible in the 1960's. The collaboration of eloquent songwriter Simon and Garfunkel's voice was a recipe for commercial and artistic success, and their songs set high standards for articulate composition. Simon continued to refine his songwriting throughout the decade, and the duo's contribution to "The Graduate" soundtrack not only shaped the tone of the classic film but extended lasting artistic credibility to Simon and Garfunkel. By 1970, some internal strife had permeated their relationship and the reflexive album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" turned out to be their most successful, but final, studio recording. They reunited several times over the past two decades, most notably for a free 1981 concert in Central Park and a highly publicized reunion tour in 2003, aptly titled "Old Friends." Both reunions led to the release of live records....less |
