Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Paul Simon
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Paul Simon made an impact.
Paul Simon is an American singer-songwriter, most famously known as one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel. Meeting in elementary school, Simon and Art Garfunkel rose to fame in the 1960s. Their folk-rock sound, characterized by hits like "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "America," and "The Boxer," resonated with the counterculture movement. Their final album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), became one of the best-selling albums ever, solidifying their place in music history.
1953: Meeting Art Garfunkel
In 1953, Paul Simon met Art Garfunkel in elementary school. This meeting would later lead to their successful musical partnership as Simon & Garfunkel.
1957: Recording of "Hey, Schoolgirl"
In 1957, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, under the name "Tom & Jerry", recorded the song "Hey, Schoolgirl".
1957: Early Songwriting and Recording
Starting in 1957, Paul Simon began writing, recording, and releasing songs, occasionally reuniting with Garfunkel as Tom & Jerry.
1962: Writer/Producer for Amy Records Artists
By 1962, Paul Simon, working as Jerry Landis, was a frequent writer/producer for several Amy Records artists.
1962: Moderate Success with Tico and the Triumphs and as Jerry Landis
In 1962, Paul Simon had moderate success with the single "Motorcycle" as part of Tico and the Triumphs, and reached number 97 as Jerry Landis with "The Lone Teen Ranger".
October 19, 1964: Release of "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M."
On October 19, 1964, Simon & Garfunkel's first LP, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.", was released, initially flopping.
1964: Continued Songwriting and Recording until 1964
Until 1964, Paul Simon continued writing, recording, and releasing over 30 songs, sometimes using pseudonyms like "Jerry Landis".
1965: Move to London and Performance in Folk Clubs
In 1965, Paul Simon moved to London and performed in folk clubs, where he was welcomed by the bohemian folk scene.
1965: "The Sound of Silence" Release
In 1965, Simon & Garfunkel released "The Sound of Silence", which became a hit and contributed to their rise to prominence.
March 1966: The Seekers release "Someday One Day"
In March 1966, The Seekers released "Someday One Day", charting around the same time as Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound".
1966: Success of "The Sound of Silence" and recording albums
In 1966, "The Sound of Silence" became a number 1 hit, leading Paul Simon to return to the US and reunite with Art Garfunkel to record albums.
1967: Contribution to "The Graduate" Soundtrack
In 1967, Simon & Garfunkel contributed to the soundtrack of the Mike Nichols film "The Graduate".
1968: Recording of "Bookends"
In 1968, Simon & Garfunkel recorded the album "Bookends".
1968: Release of "Mrs. Robinson" and "America"
In 1968, Simon & Garfunkel released the songs "Mrs. Robinson" and "America", contributing to the soundtrack of the 1960s counterculture.
1969: "The Boxer" Release
In 1969, Simon & Garfunkel released "The Boxer", continuing their string of successful hits.
1970: Holds Young Songwriters' Workshop
In 1970, Paul Simon held auditions for a young songwriters' workshop at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, aiming to mentor emerging talent.
1970: Teaching Songwriting at New York University
In 1970, Paul Simon taught songwriting at New York University, aiming to help others avoid his past mistakes.
1970: Release and Success of "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
In 1970, Simon & Garfunkel released "Bridge over Troubled Water", which became the bestselling album of all time at that point.
1970: Simon & Garfunkel Breakup
In 1970, Simon & Garfunkel's relationship became strained, leading to their split.
January 1972: Release of "Paul Simon" album
In January 1972, Paul Simon's album "Paul Simon" was released, featuring the Jamaican-inspired song "Mother and Child Reunion".
April 1972: Solo performance at Cleveland Arena
In April 1972, Paul Simon gave a solo performance at the Cleveland Arena in a benefit concert for the George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign.
1972: Release of "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
In 1972, Paul Simon released the hits "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" as a solo artist.
May 1973: Release of "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"
In May 1973, Paul Simon's album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" was released, featuring the hit single "Kodachrome".
1973: Guitar on Angel Clare
In 1973, Paul Simon provided guitar on Garfunkel's album Angel Clare, and added backing vocals to the song "Down in the Willow Garden".
1973: Release of "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"
In 1973, Paul Simon released the album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon", which continued his solo success.
1973: Founds Guitar Study Center
Sometime before 1973, Paul Simon and his brother Eddie founded the Guitar Study Center.
1974: Release of "Live Rhymin'"
In 1974, a live album titled "Live Rhymin'" was released, featuring elements of world and religious music.
October 1975: Release of "Still Crazy After All These Years"
In October 1975, the album "Still Crazy After All These Years" produced by Simon and Phil Ramone, was released.
October 18, 1975: Host of Saturday Night Live
On October 18, 1975, Paul Simon hosted the second episode of Saturday Night Live.
1975: Release of "My Little Town"
In 1975, Garfunkel joined Simon on "My Little Town", a Top 10 single, which was included on Simon's album "Still Crazy After All These Years" and Garfunkel's album "Breakaway".
1975: Release of "Still Crazy After All These Years" and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
In 1975, Paul Simon released the album "Still Crazy After All These Years", featuring the hit "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
May 3, 1976: Benefit Show at Madison Square Garden
On May 3, 1976, Paul Simon organized a benefit show at Madison Square Garden for the New York Public Library, raising over $30,000.
November 20, 1976: Thanksgiving Day SNL Appearance
On November 20, 1976, Paul Simon appeared alongside George Harrison on SNL, performing "Here Comes the Sun" and "Homeward Bound", and performed "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", and was in a comedy sketch.
1977: Appearance in Annie Hall
In 1977, Paul Simon played music producer Tony Lacey in Woody Allen's Annie Hall and performed "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" on Sesame Street.
1977: Release of "Greatest Hits, Etc."
In 1977, Paul Simon's compilation album "Greatest Hits, Etc." was released, featuring the hit single "Slip Slidin' Away".
1977: "Slip Slidin' Away" on Greatest Hits, Etc.
In 1977, the song "Slip Slidin' Away" first appeared on the compilation album Greatest Hits, Etc.
1980: Release of "One-Trick Pony" Album and Movie
In 1980, Paul Simon released "One-Trick Pony", his first album with Warner Bros. Records and the movie of the same name, which he wrote and starred in.
1980: Starring role in One Trick Pony
In 1980, Paul Simon wrote and starred in One Trick Pony as Jonah Levin, and wrote all the songs in the film.
1981: Appearance on The Muppet Show
In 1981, Paul Simon appeared in an episode of The Muppet Show, the only episode to use the songs of one songwriter.
1981: Simon and Garfunkel Concert in Central Park
In 1981, Paul Simon reunited with Art Garfunkel for a concert in Central Park.
1983: Writes About Relationship in 'Train in the Distance'
In 1983, Paul Simon wrote about his relationship with Peggy Harper in the song "Train in the Distance" from his album Hearts and Bones.
January 1985: Performed for USA for Africa
In January 1985, Paul Simon performed for USA for Africa and on the relief fundraising single "We Are the World".
1986: Sesame Street Cameo
In 1986, Paul Simon made a cameo appearance in the song "Put Down the Duckie!" on Sesame Street.
1986: SNL Skit Promoting Graceland
In 1986, Paul Simon played himself in an SNL skit promoting Graceland, where he remembered details about others but not Art Garfunkel.
1986: Release of "Graceland"
In 1986, Paul Simon released "Graceland", his most successful and acclaimed album, which incorporated South African influences.
1986: Recorded with African Musicians
In 1986, Paul Simon traveled to Johannesburg and recorded with African musicians for the album Graceland. He also contributed to "We Are the World".
1986: Awarded Honorary Degree from Berklee College of Music
In 1986, Paul Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, where he had served on the board of trustees.
January 1987: Removed from United Nations Blacklist
In January 1987, Paul Simon was removed from the United Nations blacklist following the controversy surrounding his work in South Africa.
1987: Graceland Wins Grammy
In 1987, Paul Simon's album Graceland won the Grammy for Album of the Year, marking a significant achievement in his career.
1988: SNL Episode During Democratic Primaries
In 1988, Paul Simon hosted an SNL episode during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, appearing with Senator Paul Simon.
1988: "Slip Slidin' Away" included in Negotiations and Love Songs
In 1988, the song "Slip Slidin' Away" was included in the compilation album Negotiations and Love Songs.
December 1989: Began Recording "The Rhythm of the Saints"
In December 1989, Paul Simon began recording sessions for "The Rhythm of the Saints" in Rio de Janeiro and New York.
1989: Appeared on Dion's Song
In 1989, Paul Simon appeared on Dion's song "Written on the Subway Wall"/"Little Star" from Yo Frankie.
October 1990: Dion's Song Peaked
In October 1990, Dion's song "Written on the Subway Wall"/"Little Star" from Yo Frankie which featured Paul Simon, peaked at number 97.
October 1990: Released "The Rhythm of the Saints"
In October 1990, Paul Simon released the album "The Rhythm of the Saints", which received excellent reviews and achieved commercial success.
1990: Release of "The Rhythm of the Saints"
In 1990, Paul Simon released the album "The Rhythm of the Saints", following the success of Graceland.
1990: Simon and Garfunkel Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1990, Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing their significant contributions to music history.
August 15, 1991: Second Concert in Central Park
On August 15, 1991, Paul Simon staged a second concert in Central Park with African and South American bands, drawing an audience of over 750,000 people.
1991: Second Concert in the Park
In 1991, Paul Simon held a second Concert in the Park, without Art Garfunkel, attended by approximately 500,000 people.
March 4, 1992: Performed on MTV Unplugged
On March 4, 1992, Paul Simon performed in his own episode of MTV Unplugged, showcasing his music in an intimate setting.
September 1993: Simon & Garfunkel Reunion and Compilation Release
In September 1993, Paul Simon & Garfunkel reunited and Columbia released Paul Simon 1964/1993, a compilation album of his work.
1995: Appearance on Oprah and Featured on Annie Lennox's Song
In 1995, Paul Simon appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show performing "Ten Years" and featured in Annie Lennox's version of his 1973 song "Something So Right".
November 1997: Album of Songs From 'The Capeman' Released
In November 1997, Paul Simon released an album of songs from the show "The Capeman" which received mixed reviews.
January 29, 1998: The Capeman Opened
On January 29, 1998, Paul Simon's musical, The Capeman, opened. It told the story of Salvador Agron and was not a success.
1998: Premiere of "The Capeman"
In 1998, Paul Simon wrote a Broadway musical, "The Capeman", which was poorly received.
1998: The Capeman Broadway Debut
In 1998, Paul Simon's Broadway musical 'The Capeman' debuted, but lost $11 million during its run.
1999: North American Tour with Bob Dylan
In 1999, Paul Simon embarked on a three-month North American tour with Bob Dylan.
2000: Released 'You're the One'
In 2000, Paul Simon released his album 'You're the One', which received favorable reviews and a Grammy nomination.
2002: Wrote and Recorded "Father and Daughter"
In 2002, Paul Simon wrote and recorded "Father and Daughter", the theme song for The Wild Thornberrys Movie, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
2002: Guitar Study Center Becomes Part of The New School
Sometime before 2002, the Guitar Study Center became part of The New School in New York City.
2003: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and US Tour
In 2003, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed together again after receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which led to a US tour.
2003: Supports Little Kids Rock
In 2003, Paul Simon became a supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit providing free musical instruments and lessons to children in public schools.
2004: Re-release of Studio Albums
In 2004, Paul Simon's studio albums were re-released, both individually and as a collection in a limited-edition boxed set.
2004: "Old Friends" International Encore
In 2004, Simon and Garfunkel's "Old Friends" concert series was followed by an international encore, including a free concert in Rome.
2005: Performed at Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert
In 2005, Paul Simon sang with Art Garfunkel and Aaron Neville at the benefit concert From the Big Apple to The Big Easy for Hurricane Katrina victims.
May 2006: Released 'Surprise'
In May 2006, Paul Simon released the album 'Surprise', which was inspired by the September 11 attacks and reached commercial success.
2006: Graceland Added to National Recording Registry
In 2006, Paul Simon's album Graceland was added to the United States' National Recording Registry for its cultural and historical importance.
2007: Inaugural Gershwin Prize Recipient
In 2007, Paul Simon was the inaugural recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, awarded by the Library of Congress.
April 2008: Brooklyn Academy of Music Celebrates Paul Simon
In April 2008, the Brooklyn Academy of Music celebrated Paul Simon's works, dedicating a week to Songs From the Capeman.
February 2009: Back-to-Back Shows at Beacon Theatre
In February 2009, Paul Simon performed back-to-back shows in New York City at the Beacon Theatre, joined by Art Garfunkel and the cast of The Capeman.
May 2009: Tour with Garfunkel in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan
In May 2009, Paul Simon toured with Art Garfunkel in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
October 2009: Appeared Together at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert
In October 2009, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel appeared together at the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in New York City.
April 2010: Performed Together at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
In April 2010, Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel performed together again at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
August 2010: The Capeman Staged in Central Park
In August 2010, The Capeman was staged for three nights in the Delacorte Theatre in New York's Central Park.
September 10, 2010: Performed on the Final Season of The Oprah Winfrey Show
On September 10, 2010, Paul Simon performed a song commemorating the show's 25 years on the first show of the final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
November 10, 2010: Released "Getting Ready for Christmas Day"
On November 10, 2010, Paul Simon released a new song called "Getting Ready for Christmas Day".
December 16, 2010: Performed on The Colbert Report
On December 16, 2010, Paul Simon performed "Getting Ready for Christmas Day" live on The Colbert Report.
2010: Moved Catalog to Sony/Columbia Records
In mid-2010, Paul Simon moved his catalog of solo work from Warner Bros. Records to Sony/Columbia Records.
July 2011: Appeared at Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel
In July 2011, Paul Simon appeared at Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel, his first concert appearance in Israel since 1983.
2011: Collaboration with Clap! Clap!
In 2011, Paul Simon collaborated with Italian electronic dance music artist Clap! Clap! on three songs after being introduced by his son Adrian.
2011: Release of "So Beautiful or So What"
In 2011, Paul Simon released the album "So Beautiful or So What".
May 2012: Performs at Turkana Basin Institute Benefit Dinner
In May 2012, Paul Simon performed at a benefit dinner for the Turkana Basin Institute in New York City.
2012: Discussion of Songwriting Craft
In 2012, Paul Simon discussed his songwriting craft with music journalist Tom Moon, including themes like love, family, social commentary, religion, spirituality, and God.
June 14, 2013: Performance with Sting
On June 14, 2013, Paul Simon performed "The Boxer" and Sting's "Fields of Gold" with Sting on Sting's Back to Bass Tour.
September 2013: Richard Ellmann Lecture at Emory University
In September 2013, Paul Simon delivered the Richard Ellmann Lecture in Modern Literature at Emory University.
2014: On Stage Together Tour with Sting
In 2014, Paul Simon embarked on a joint 21-date concert tour of North America, titled On Stage Together, with Sting.
February 15, 2015: SNL 40th Anniversary Show
On February 15, 2015, Paul Simon closed the 40th anniversary SNL show with a performance of "Still Crazy After All These Years".
2015: On Stage Together Tour continuation
In 2015, Paul Simon and Sting continued their 'On Stage Together' tour with ten shows in Australia and New Zealand, and 23 concerts in Europe.
January 30, 2016: Theme Song for Horace and Pete
On January 30, 2016, Paul Simon's theme song for Louis C.K.'s show Horace and Pete debuted.
June 3, 2016: Release of Stranger to Stranger album
On June 3, 2016, Paul Simon released his thirteenth solo studio album, Stranger to Stranger, through Concord Records.
2016: Release of "Stranger to Stranger"
In 2016, Paul Simon released the album "Stranger to Stranger".
February 5, 2018: Announcement of Retirement from Touring
On February 5, 2018, Paul Simon announced his intention to retire from touring, citing family time and the death of Vincent Nguini.
May 2018: Homeward Bound - The Farewell Tour Begins
In May 2018, Paul Simon began his farewell concert tour, Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour, starting in Vancouver, Canada.
September 22, 2018: Final Concert on Farewell Tour
On September 22, 2018, Paul Simon played his final concert in Queens, New York, as part of his Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour.
October 13, 2018: SNL Appearance on 77th Birthday
On October 13, 2018, Paul Simon was the musical guest on SNL on his 77th birthday.
2018: Release of In the Blue Light Album
In 2018, Paul Simon released his fourteenth solo studio album, In the Blue Light, which featured re-recordings of lesser-known songs.
August 11, 2019: Performance at Outside Lands Festival
On August 11, 2019, Paul Simon returned to live performance at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival, donating his net proceeds to local environmental non-profits.
2019: Donates Performance Fee to San Francisco Parks
For his 2019 performance at San Francisco's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Paul Simon donated his appearance fee to the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Friends of the Urban Forest.
2020: Inspiration for "Seven Psalms" Album
In 2020, Paul Simon had a dream that inspired him to create "Seven Psalms", a 33 minute musical meditation album.
March 2021: Sale of Music Publishing Catalog to Sony
In March 2021, Paul Simon sold his music publishing catalog to Sony Music Publishing.
April 2023: Release of Seven Psalms Album
In April 2023, Paul Simon released his new album, Seven Psalms, accompanied by a documentary, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
December 2023: Rehearsals for Seven Psalms
In early December 2023, Paul Simon rehearsed Seven Psalms with two acoustic guitarists and expressed his desire to perform the album live.
2023: Release of "Seven Psalms"
In 2023, Paul Simon released his most recent album, "Seven Psalms".
February 2025: Performance with Sabrina Carpenter on SNL
In February 2025, Paul Simon performed "Homeward Bound" with Sabrina Carpenter at a 50th-anniversary special for Saturday Night Live.
February 16, 2025: SNL 50th Anniversary Special Performance
On February 16, 2025, Paul Simon performed "Homeward Bound" with Sabrina Carpenter for the opening of the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special.
