Paul Simon Biography
Born on October 13, 1941 in Newark New Jersey, Paul Simon is one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. In 1957 he and high school pal
Art Garfunkel wrote and recorded the single "Hey Schoolgirl" under the name 'Tom and Jerry'. After some failures they broke up. Simon still wrote and recorded music as 'Tico and The Triumps' and 'Jerry Landis'. He also attended Queens College and got a B.A. in English. He studied law also but quit to pursue a music career in 1964.
He and
Art Garfunkel got back together as Simon and Garfunkel and recorded "Wednesday Morning 3 a.m.". After the commercial failure of the album they broke up again. Simon left America to go to England where he played in folk circuits and He made a solo album. Back in America the producer of their first album, Tom Wilson, dubbed bass, electric guitar, and drums to the all acoustic song, 'Sound of Silence', which propelled them into the folk-rock scene. Simon and Garfunkel were back and in 1966 they had popularity with the album "The Sound of Silence" which features songs such as "I am a Rock", "Richard Cory" and "Kathy's Song". Their next album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme had songs such as "Homeward Bound" "The 59th Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)".
In 1967
Mike Nichols asked Simon to write a score for his upcoming movie
The Graduate. Their next album "Bookends" which is considered one of the greatest albums of the sixties, featured songs such as "Mrs. Robinson" from
The Graduate, "Hazy Shade of Winter", "At The Zoo", "America". Their last album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" featured songs such as the title song, "The Boxer", "Cecilia".
In the seventies Simon emerged as a singer/songwriter with albums such as Paul Simon, Still Crazy After All These Years, Hearts and Bones, Graceland, and Songs from the Capeman. Aside from music he wrote and starred in the movie
One Trick Pony and reunited with friend
Art Garfunkel in 1981 to give a concert in Central Park.
Trivia

Paul Simon and
Art Garfunkel sung and wrote songs under the name 'Tom and Jerry' in the late 1950s.

Released non-charting singles using the stage names "True Taylor" (in 1958) and "Paul Kane" (in 1963).

Before finding fame as a singer/songwriter under his real name, Paul Simon had a handful of minor hit singles under two psuedonyms. The best known psuedonym is "Jerry Landis", a name Simon initially used as a member of the duo "Tom and Jerry"; he also issued some solo material under this name. When the hits as "Landis" stopped coming, he changed his stage name to "Tico", and made some very minor chart entries as a member of "Tico & The Triumphs".

Paul Simon co-wrote the song "Red Rubber Ball" with
Bruce Woodley of
The Seekers. The song was recorded by the United States' group,
The Cyrkle - as well as by
The Seekers. Was in Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity in college with
Art Garfunkel.

Married and has two children Adrain Edward and Lulu.

Was slated to play Dunbar in
Catch-22 before the character was dropped.

After his breakup with
Carrie Fisher, he was depressed for 2 years. In 1985, his comeback album 'Graceland', included songs about her.

He and
Art Garfunkel sang as "Simon & Garfunkel" in the 60s and part of 70s

His third child with
Edie Brickell is named Gabriel.

Ex-son-in-law of
Eddie Fisher.

Ex-son-in-law of
Debbie Reynolds.

Ex-brother-in-law of
Todd Fisher.

Half-brother-in-law of
Joely Fisher and
Tricia Leigh Fisher.

Father of
Harper Simon, from his first marriage.

Once co-hosted
SNL 25 with like-named U.S. Senator
Paul Simon.

Generally considers his solo work, especially the albums 'Graceland' (1986) and 'The Rhythm of the Saints' (1990), to be superior to his work with Simon & Garfunkel.

Asked if there were any songs he'd written that he now regrets recording, he said no. However, he does say he'd hate to be remembered for the song "Feelin' Groovy".

Is good friends with
Chevy Chase. The two worked together on
SNL 25. Chase has appeared in
The Paul Simon Special and Simon's music videos "You Can Call Me Al" and (alongside
Steve Martin) "Proof".

Designated a Kennedy Center Honors recipient for 2002 to replace
Paul McCartney. McCartney had originally accepted the award, but later withdrew because of a 'personal scheduling conflict.' The conflict was the wedding of his neice.

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Simon & Garfunkel) in 1990.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (as a solo artist).

Is a Life member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity

One of the few artists from his generation to own all the songs he's written.

Wrote the song "The Only Living Boy In New York" about
Art Garfunkel getting his role in
Catch-22.

Didn't want to return to the US from England, where he was enjoying success with his solo album there, but Columbia Records invoked the letter of his and
Art Garfunkel's recording contract, forcing him to come back. (His UK album went out of print, and was only reissued in 2004.)

Attended a recording session in 1974 with
Art Garfunkel, former
The Beatles John Lennon, and singer
Harry Nilsson. Lennon directed the session, and he and Simon reportedly clashed on Simon's cue in the song, leading to Simon's walking out (with Garfunkel close behind, making apologies) before anything was recorded.

Is left handed, but plays guitar right handed.

Simon & Garfunkel were voted the 40th Greatest Artists in Rock 'n' Roll by Rolling Stone.

Opened the first
SNL 25 episode after the September 11th attacks, with his song "The Boxer", following this was the infamous exchange between
Rudolph W. Giuliani and
Lorne Michaels, where Michaels asked if it was okay to be funny.

Is a long-time friend of fellow New Yorker
Lorne Michaels, which has led to Simon and/or his songs appearing in numerous Michaels productions, including
SNL 25 (several appearances as both host and musical guest);
All You Need Is Cash (brief appearance); and
Coneheads (song "Kodachrome"). Michaels has also produced several of Simon's specials, including:
The Paul Simon Special;
Simon and Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park_; and
Paul Simon: Born at the Right Time.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1998 Tony Award as Best Original Musical Score for "The Capeman," his music with lyrics by
Derek Walcott.

The "sleepy boy" he sings about in his song St. Judy's Comet (from the album There Goes Rhymin' Simon) is his son Harper.

Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for International Solo Artist in 1987.
Source provided by imdb (Copyright) - The Internet Movie Database.