Kristen Shaeffer
9
April 2003
Dr.
Rohler
COM
290
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel are known as one of the best folk-rock groups on the 1960’s. The two met as boys in New York City. After becoming friends, the two started a group together called Tom and Jerry. In 1957 the boys made their first album that had an Everly Brothers sound to it. Their first single, “Hey, Schoolgirl”, ranked 57 on the billboard charts. The boys continued to record and try for another hit throughout their high school years, but they were not successful.
After graduation, Art Garfunkel decided to attend Columbia University as mathematics major. Paul Simon became a professional songwriter and wrote under the pseudonym Paul Kane. In 1963, the two reunited to work on their next album this time recording under the name Simon and Garfunkel. The album, Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m., had a gospel sound to it and contained a combination of cover songs and original songs that Paul had written. The sound of the album was raw and was not an immediate success. Again the duo parted ways. Art went back to school while Paul moved to England.
In 1965, the sound of folk-rock was becoming increasingly popular. Producer Bob Johnston decided to take Simon and Garfunkel’s first album Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m., and embellish the songs with drums, bass and electric guitar because this equation had worked to help continue Bob Dylan’s success. The single “Sounds of Silence” became an instant radio success. Paul returned to the United States to reunite with Art to work on new material.
Simon and Garfunkel appealed to a variety of people and they had a “clean and tasteful” sound. The duo was now showing maturity in their music and became more consistent. The album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, “truly cemented their image as intellectual folk singers.” The album got the attention of many people. The duo was asked to record a song for the upcoming movie The Graduate. The movie was an instant success and so was the duo’s song “Mrs. Robinson.” The song became one of the biggest singles of the 1960’s.
Paul and Art were now becoming more comfortable in their music. Art’s voice was now becoming much more prominent in the songs because of his extensive vocal range. Paul harmonized amazingly with Art and was become very well known for his songwriting. Soon Art started to feel “overshadowed” by Paul because of his songwriting and the two started arguing. Around this time, Art was offered an acting role in the movie Catch 22. It had been Art’s childhood dream to be an actor so he jumped at the opportunity. Paul was not happy with Art’s decision and began to feel that Art lacked dedication to the group.
Paul continued to work on their new album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, while Art filmed his movie. Art later came in and recorded his vocals for the album after the completion of the film. The album was acclaimed as a “masterpiece” and was the duo’s most ambitious album. Some songs that were on the album were “The Boxer”, “Cecilia” and “El Condor Pasa.” Unfortunately this would be the last album the duo would ever make together. Simon and Garfunkel broke up in 1972.
Paul continued his career as a singer and songwriter and gained a lot of fame and success with his solo career. Art continued acting, singing and teaching. The group did later reunite on many occasions. In 1981, the duo performed a free concert in Central Park that had an astounding 500,000 people attend. In 1997, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Roy Halee and Bob Irwin collaborated to make the album Old Friends. They also recently reunited on the 45th Annual Grammy Awards where they received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
As a duo, they have won 6 Grammy Awards for the 5 albums that they have made as well as being inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll hall of fame in 1990. Simon and Garfunkel were one of the most successful duos during the 1960’s. They had multiple top hits and albums. Simon and Garfunkel have received much acclaim and fame and it was well earned. Hopefully they will reunite again.
Simon and Garfunkel Pictures
Bibliography
http://dredd.aaahosting.net/Sghistory.html
http://entertainment.msn.com/Artist/?artist=101659
http://rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=1244&cf=1244
http://www.songfta.com/bio.htm