Paul Simon, the renowned singer-songwriter, was born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey. He began his musical journey in 1957, teaming up with his high school friend, Art Garfunkel, to form the duo "Tom and Jerry," releasing their debut single, "Hey Schoolgirl." Despite some initial failures, the duo broke up, only for Simon to continue writing and recording music under various pseudonyms, including "Tico and The Triumphs" and "Jerry Landis."
Simon's academic pursuits did not deter him from his passion for music. He attended Queens College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and even briefly studied law before deciding to pursue a career in music full-time in 1964.
Simon and Garfunkel reunited in the early 1960s, releasing their debut album "Wednesday Morning 3 a.m." in 1964. Although the album was commercially unsuccessful, they broke up again, only to reunite in 1965. This time, their partnership yielded the critically acclaimed album "The Sound of Silence," which catapulted them to fame and introduced their distinctive folk-rock sound to the masses.
Their subsequent albums, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" and "Bookends," solidified their position as one of the most popular and influential musical duos of the 1960s. The latter album, released in 1968, featured the iconic song "Mrs. Robinson," which was written specifically for Mike Nichols' film "The Graduate."
Simon's solo career took off in the 1970s, with the release of albums such as "Paul Simon," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "Hearts and Bones," "Graceland," and "Songs from the Capeman." In addition to his musical endeavors, Simon has also ventured into acting, starring in the 1980 film "One-Trick Pony" and reuniting with Garfunkel in 1981 for a historic concert in Central Park.
