Author Bio

Making a Bridge over Troubled Water

A Simon and Garfunkel Story

Simon and Garfunkel are #40 on Rolling Stones list of 100 greatest artists of all time. They started out in 1957 but are known for their popularity in the 1960's. They have been know as Tom and Jerry and both Simon and Garfunkel have had successful independent careers. Many of their songs have made it to #1, including Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), Sounds of Silence (1966), Mrs. Robinson (1968).

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were born 3 weeks apart from each other in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. They met when they were kids and went to school together. That is where they learned how to harmonize. They spent a short time singing doo-wop, a style of music sung with repeated nonsense syllables and a vocal lead. They were signed to Big Records at that time. There first hit was “Hey, Schoolgirl ” in 1957. Their songs were mostly folk rock, they wrote many songs about love, , friendship, and solving world conflict. Influenced by the Everly brothers there songs were slow and graceful but in the later times the music started to become more upbeat.

The most unique thing about them is that they've broken up so many times and been brought together again and again. They were active in 1957-1970, 1975, 1981-1983, 2003-2004. But in all the other years they were pursuing their personal careers. Simon has done helped many other bands, he writes and sells songs to other people too. Garfunkel went after a dream he had when he was young. He acted in many movies: Catch 22, Knowledge, Bad Timing, Good to Go, and Boxing Helena.

The last time they performed was in 2004 for a reunion concert, they did many concerts for charity and one for free in Central Park. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. And until they die they will remain “Old Friends.”