Early Life and Education of Paul Simon: A Complete Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Paul Simon. From birth to education, explore key events.
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.
1910: Birth of Belle Simon
In 1910, Belle Simon, Paul Simon's mother, was born. She later became an elementary school teacher.
1916: Birth of Louis Simon
In 1916, Louis Simon, Paul Simon's father, was born. He later became a professor of education and a musician.
October 13, 1941: Paul Simon's Birth
On October 13, 1941, Paul Frederic Simon was born. This event marks the beginning of the life of the singer-songwriter.
1945: Family Moved to Queens
In 1945, Paul Simon's family moved to the Kew Gardens Hills section of Flushing, Queens, in New York City.
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.
1963: Graduation from Queens College and brief law school attendance
In 1963, Paul Simon graduated from Queens College with a degree in English and attended Brooklyn Law School for one semester.
1964: Meets Kathy Chitty in England
In 1964, Paul Simon met Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Chitty at the Railway Inn Folk Club in Brentwood, Essex, beginning a relationship.
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: Featured on Album Cover with Kathy
In 1965, a photo of Simon and Kathy together was on the cover of Simon's album The Paul Simon Songbook.
1969: Marriage to Peggy Harper
In 1969, Paul Simon married Peggy Harper, marking the beginning of their relationship.
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: Reflection on Time in England
In 1970, Paul Simon reflected on his time in England, noting the welcoming music scene and the friendships he made.
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: Simon & Garfunkel Breakup
In 1970, Simon & Garfunkel's relationship became strained, leading to their split.
1972: Birth of Son Harper Simon
In 1972, Paul Simon and Peggy Harper welcomed their son, Harper Simon, into the world.
1973: Founds Guitar Study Center
Sometime before 1973, Paul Simon and his brother Eddie founded the Guitar Study Center.
1975: Divorce from Peggy Harper
In 1975, Paul Simon divorced Peggy Harper. This event inspired the song "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.
1976: Meets Shelley Duvall
In 1976, Paul Simon met actress Shelley Duvall while filming Annie Hall.
1978: Begins Dating Carrie Fisher
In 1978, Paul Simon began dating actress Carrie Fisher, after being introduced by Shelley Duvall.
1981: Simon and Garfunkel Concert in Central Park
In 1981, Paul Simon reunited with Art Garfunkel for a concert in Central Park.
1983: Marriage to Carrie Fisher
In 1983, Paul Simon married Carrie Fisher.
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.
1984: Divorce from Carrie Fisher
In 1984, Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher divorced.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
May 30, 1992: Marries Edie Brickell
On May 30, 1992, Paul Simon married singer Edie Brickell.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
December 19, 2012: Performance at Funeral of Victoria Leigh Soto
On December 19, 2012, Paul Simon performed at the funeral of Victoria Leigh Soto, a teacher who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
September 2013: Richard Ellmann Lecture at Emory University
In September 2013, Paul Simon delivered the Richard Ellmann Lecture in Modern Literature at Emory University.
April 26, 2014: Domestic Dispute with Edie Brickell
On April 26, 2014, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell were involved in a domestic dispute, resulting in disorderly conduct charges.
October 13, 2018: SNL Appearance on 77th Birthday
On October 13, 2018, Paul Simon was the musical guest on SNL on his 77th birthday.
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.
May 2023: Hearing Loss Revelation
In May 2023, Paul Simon revealed during an interview with The Times that he had lost most of the hearing in his left ear.
