View source for Paul Simon

{{short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1941)}}
{{distinguish|Paul Simonon|Paul Symon}}
{{Other people|Paul Simon}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Paul Simon
| image             = Paul Simon at the 9-30 Club (b).jpg
| caption           = Simon in 2011
| birth_name        = Paul Frederic Simon
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1941|10|13}}
| birth_place       = [[Newark, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| death_place       = 
| origin            = New York City, U.S.
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
*Vocals
*guitar
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*singer
*songwriter
*actor
}}
| years_active      = 1956–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
*[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
*[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
*[[Concord Records|Concord]]
}}
| past_member_of    = [[Simon & Garfunkel]]
| website           = {{URL|paulsimon.com}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Folk music|Folk]]
*[[Rock music|rock]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]
*[[world music|world]]
}}
| spouse            = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Peggy Harper|1969|1975|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Carrie Fisher]]|1983|1984|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Edie Brickell]]|1992}}
}}
| partner           = [[Shelley Duvall]] (1976–1978)
| module            = {{Infobox person|child=yes
| signature        = Paul Simon signature.svg}}
}}

'''Paul Frederic Simon''' (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his solo work and his collaborations with [[Art Garfunkel]]. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as [[Simon & Garfunkel]]. Their blend of [[folk music| folk]] and rock, including hits such as "[[The Sound of Silence]]" (1965), "[[Mrs. Robinson]]" (1968), "[[America (Simon & Garfunkel song)|America]]" (1968), and "[[The Boxer]]" (1969), served as a soundtrack to the [[Counterculture of the 1960s|1960s counterculture]]. Their final album, ''[[Bridge over Troubled Water]]'' (1970), is among [[List of best-selling albums|the best-selling of all time]].

As a solo artist, Simon has explored genres including [[gospel music|gospel]], [[reggae]], and [[soul music|soul]]. His albums ''[[Paul Simon (album)|Paul Simon]]'' (1972), ''[[There Goes Rhymin' Simon]]'' (1973), and ''[[Still Crazy After All These Years]]'' (1975) kept him in the public eye and drew acclaim, producing the hits "[[Mother and Child Reunion]]" (1972), "[[Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard]]" (1972), and "[[50 Ways to Leave Your Lover]]" (1975). Simon reunited with Garfunkel for several tours and the 1981 [[The Concert in Central Park|Concert in Central Park]]. Simon has performed on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' several times and hosted it four times from 1975 to 1987. He made his acting debut in [[Woody Allen]]'s romantic comedy ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977).

In 1986, Simon released his most successful and acclaimed album, ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]'', incorporating South African influences. "[[You Can Call Me Al]]" became one of Simon's most successful singles. ''Graceland'' was followed by ''[[The Rhythm of the Saints]]'' (1990) and a second [[Paul Simon's Concert in the Park|Concert in the Park]] in 1991, without Garfunkel, which approximately 500,000 people attended. In 1998, Simon wrote a [[Broadway musical]], ''[[The Capeman]]'', that was poorly received. He continued to record and tour in the 21st century. His later albums, such as ''[[You're the One (Paul Simon album)|You're the One]]'' (2000), ''[[So Beautiful or So What]]'' (2011), and ''[[Stranger to Stranger]]'' (2016), introduced him to new generations. His most recent album, ''[[Seven Psalms]]'', was released in 2023.

Simon has twice been inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] and has won 16 [[Grammy Award]]s, including three for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]. Two of his works, ''[[Sounds of Silence]]'' (1966) (as part of Simon & Garfunkel) and ''Graceland'', were inducted into the [[National Recording Registry]] for their cultural significance. He was honored with the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2001 and the [[Library of Congress]]'s [[Gershwin Prize for Popular Song|Gershwin Prize]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Simon: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song|publisher=[[PBS]]|url=https://www.pbs.org/previews/paulsimon/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629063509/http://www.pbs.org/previews/paulsimon/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2009}}</ref><ref name=Library>{{cite web| title=Paul Simon| publisher=[[Library of Congress]]| url=https://www.loc.gov/events/gershwin-prize/honorees/2007-paul-simon/}}</ref> He is a co-founder of the [[Children's Health Fund]], a nonprofit organization that provides medical care to children.

== Early life and education ==
Simon was born on October 13, 1941, in [[Newark, New Jersey]], to [[Hungarian-Jewish]] parents.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/218363/heres-paul-simon-skirball-showcases-words-music-2/|title=Here's to you, Paul Simon: Skirball showcases his 'Words & Music'|last=Torok|first=Ryan|date=April 26, 2017|work=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles|Jewish Journal]]|access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Monitor|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=Oct 14–21, 2011|issue=1176/1177|page=34}}</ref> His father, Louis (1916–1995), a professor of education at the [[City College of New York]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1995 |title=Paul Simon's Father Dies |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/19/obituaries/paul-simon-s-father-dies.html |access-date=July 5, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> was a double bass player and dance bandleader who performed under the name Lee Sims. His mother, Belle (1910–2007), was an elementary-school teacher. In 1945, his family moved to the [[Kew Gardens Hills, Queens|Kew Gardens Hills]] section of [[Flushing, Queens]], in New York City.{{sfn|Kingston|1996|p=1}}

[[Steely Dan]]'s [[Donald Fagen]] described Simon's childhood as that of "a certain kind of New York Jew, almost a stereotype really, to whom music and baseball are very important. I think it has to do with the parents. The parents are either immigrants or first-generation Americans who felt like outsiders, and assimilation was the key thought—they gravitated to black music and baseball, looking for an alternative culture."<ref name="Dawidoff 2011">{{cite magazine |last=Dawidoff |first=Nicholas| author-link=Nicholas Dawidoff|date=May 12, 2011 |title=Paul Simon's Restless Journey |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simons-restless-journey-240593/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |page= |language=en-US |pages=54–63}}</ref> Simon said Fagen's description was not far from the truth.<ref name="Dawidoff 2011" /> He described his father as funny and smart, but said he worked late and did not see his children much.<ref name="Dawidoff 2011" /> He recalls hearing "[[Gee (The Crows song)|Gee]]" by [[The Crows]] on ''[[Make Believe Ballroom]]'': "It was really the first thing I heard on there that I liked. And it was really the first time I heard [[rock and roll]]."<ref name=Colbert/> He tried to explain to his father the feeling he got hearing "[[Earth Angel]]": "My father was a very good musician. And he comes from an era of very sophisticated music. Big bands, and [[Sinatra]] ... He didn't buy it. But I love that record".<ref name=Colbert>{{cite interview| interviewer=[[Stephen Colbert]]| title="Life is Incredible" - Stephen Colbert's FULL EXTENDED interview with Paul Simon| work=[[The Late Show With Stephen Colbert]]| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmP3rzBeXkw}}</ref>

Simon met [[Art Garfunkel]] when they were 11 years old and performed together in a production of ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]'' for their sixth-grade graduation. The two began singing together at age 13,<ref>[[Old Friends: Live on Stage]] live concert DVD and CD, the spoken introduction to "Hey Schoolgirl".</ref> occasionally performing at school dances. At age 12 or 13, Simon wrote his first song, "The Girl for Me", for him and Garfunkel to perform. According to Simon, it became the "neighborhood hit".<ref name=Girl/> His father wrote the words and chords on paper for the boys to use, and that paper became the first officially copyrighted Simon and Garfunkel song. It is now in the [[Library of Congress]].<ref name=Library/> In 1957, in their mid-teens, they recorded the song "Hey, Schoolgirl" under the name "Tom & Jerry", a name given to them by their label, Big Records. The single reached number 49 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' charts]].<ref name=":0" />

After graduating from [[Forest Hills High School (New York)|Forest Hills High School]], Simon majored in English at [[Queens College]] and graduated in 1963. Garfunkel studied mathematics education at [[Columbia University]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/ph-new-hit-paul-simon-article-1.756872|title=PhD is new hit for Paul Simon |website=[[New York Daily News]]|date=June 5, 1997 |location=New York| access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Dawidoff 2011" /> Simon was a brother in the [[Alpha Epsilon Pi]] fraternity<ref>{{cite web|title=Notable Alumni|url=http://www.aepi.org/about-aepi/notable-alumni/|publisher=Alpha Epsilon Pi|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219154241/http://www.aepi.org/about-aepi/notable-alumni/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and attended [[Brooklyn Law School]] for one semester in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seniorcitylocal.com/celebrating-seniors-paul-simon-turns-75/|title=Celebrating Seniors – Paul Simon Turns 75 – 50 Plus World|website=seniorcitylocal.com|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074932/http://seniorcitylocal.com/celebrating-seniors-paul-simon-turns-75/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZ_YBAAAQBAJ&q=paul+simon+brooklyn+law+school&pg=PR14|title=Paul Simon: An American Tune|first=Cornel|last=Bonca|date=October 10, 2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9780810884823|access-date=March 19, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date = August 2024}}
[[File:Paul Simon in 1966.jpg|thumb|upright|Simon in 1966]]

Between 1957 and 1964, Simon wrote, recorded, and released more than 30 songs.<ref name=Girl>{{cite news| last=Benitez-Eves| first=Tina| title=The First Song Paul Simon Wrote at 13 To Perform With Art Garfunkel Became a 'Neighborhood Hit'| date=November 4, 2024| work=[[American Songwriter]]| url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-first-song-paul-simon-wrote-at-13-to-peform-with-art-garfunkel-became-a-neighborhood-hit/}}</ref> He and Garfunkel occasionally reunited as Tom & Jerry to record singles, including "Our Song" and "That's My Story".<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine| last=Rungath| first=Jordan| title=Paul Simon's Early Years: 10 Fascinating Pre-Simon and Garfunkel Songs| date=October 13, 2016|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/paul-simons-early-years-10-fascinating-pre-simon-and-garfunkel-songs-189901/}}</ref> Most of the songs Simon recorded during that time he performed alone or with musicians other than Garfunkel. They were released on minor record labels including Amy, Big, Hunt, [[King Records (United States)|King]], Tribute and Madison. Simon used several pseudonyms for these recordings, including "Jerry Landis", "Paul Kane", and "True Taylor".<ref name=":0" /> By 1962, working as Jerry Landis, he was a frequent writer/producer for several [[Amy Records]] artists, overseeing material released by Dotty Daniels, the Vels and [[Ritchie Cordell]].<ref name=":0" /> He and Garfunkel were influenced by the harmonies of the [[Everly Brothers]].<ref name=Burns>{{cite web| title=Paul Simon Biography| work=[[PBS]]| url= https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/paul-simon-biography/}}</ref>

Simon enjoyed moderate success with singles as part of the group Tico and the Triumphs, including "Motorcycle", which reached number 99 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts in 1962.<ref name=Kennedy>{{cite web| title=Paul Simon| publisher=[[The Kennedy Center]]| url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/sa-sn/paul-simon/}}</ref> Tico and the Triumphs released four 45s. Marty Cooper, known as Tico, sang lead on several of these releases, but "Motorcycle" featured Simon's vocal.<ref name=":0" /> Also in 1962, Simon reached number 97 on the pop charts as Jerry Landis, with the [[novelty song]] "The Lone Teen Ranger".<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine| title=Paul Simon Chart History| magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-simon/chart-history/hsi/}}</ref>

===1960s: Simon & Garfunkel===
{{Main|Simon & Garfunkel}}

In early 1964, Simon and Garfunkel auditioned for [[Columbia Records]], whose executive [[Clive Davis]] signed them to produce an album. Columbia decided to call them Simon & Garfunkel instead of Tom & Jerry, and according to Simon, this was the first time artists' surnames had been used in pop music without their first names.<ref>Paul Simon, Speech given upon induction to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], [[Cleveland]], 2003.</ref> Simon and Garfunkel's first LP, ''[[Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.]]'', was released on October 19, 1964. It consisted of 12 songs, five of which were written by Simon. The album initially flopped.<ref name="Alterman-1970">{{cite magazine|last=Alterman|first=Lorraine|date=May 28, 1970|title=Paul Simon: the ''Rolling Stone'' interview|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-the-rolling-stone-interview-190306/|access-date=January 15, 2022|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:SimonandGarfunkel.jpg|thumb|left|Garfunkel, left, with Paul Simon, right, performing outside at a concert in [[Dublin]] as [[Simon & Garfunkel]]]]

In 1965, after the album's release, Simon moved to London<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/> and performed in folk clubs. He enjoyed his time in England and said in 1970, "I had a lot of friends there and a girlfriend. I could play music there. There was no place to play in New York City. They wouldn't have me."<ref name="Alterman-1970"/> He was welcomed by England's bohemian folk scene. He recalled, "I learnt how to finger-pick acoustic guitar from [[Martin Carthy]], who was connected to [[the Watersons]] from [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], which of course led to '[[Scarborough Fair (ballad)|Scarborough Fair]]', and I had never heard anything like those old English songs. The closest I got was the Everly Brothers, who borrowed from Appalachian melodies, so that period was very powerful for me ... I was 21, 22, and emotionally open to everything."<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023">{{cite news| work=[[The Times]]|date=December 8, 2023| last=Hodgkinson| first=Will| author-link=Will Hodgkinson|title=Paul Simon at 82: 'Must I live every day like it's my last?'|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/paul-simon-seven-psalms-interview-g0frtkbdl}}</ref> He wrote "[[Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)|Homeward Bound]]" and "[[I Am a Rock]]", and learned [[Davey Graham]]'s guitar instrumental "[[Anji (instrumental)|Anji]]".<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023" />

In England, Simon recorded a solo album, ''[[The Paul Simon Songbook]]'', featuring just his voice and guitar accompaniment; it was released only in the UK at the time, but later released elsewhere.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bennighof |first1=James |title=The Words and Music of Paul Simon |date=2007 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9780313082795 |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7fOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 |access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> He also produced [[Jackson C. Frank]]'s [[Jackson C. Frank (album)| only album]] and co-wrote several songs with [[Bruce Woodley]] of the Australian pop group [[the Seekers]], including "I Wish You Could Be Here", "Cloudy" and "[[Red Rubber Ball]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Benitez-Eves| first=Tina| title=5 Songs You Didn't Know Paul Simon Wrote For Other Artists| date=December 28, 2022| work=[[American Songwriter]]| url=https://americansongwriter.com/5-songs-you-didnt-know-paul-simon-wrote-for-other-artists/}}</ref> Simon penned "Someday, One Day" for the Seekers, which charted around the same time as "Homeward Bound".

Radio stations on the American East Coast began receiving requests for the ''Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.'' track "[[The Sound of Silence]]". Simon & Garfunkel's producer, [[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]], overdubbed the track with electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums, and it was released as a single, eventually reaching number 1 on the U.S. pop charts.<ref name=S&G>{{cite magazine| title=Simon & Garfunkel| magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/simon-garfunkel/chart-history/hsi/}}</ref><ref name='How "The Sound of Silence" Became a Surprise Hit'>{{cite magazine|last1=Himes|first1=Geoffrey|title=How 'The Sound of Silence' Became a Surprise Hit|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/sound-silence-surprise-hit-180957672/|magazine=[[Smithsonian Magazine]]|access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref> Wilson did not inform the duo of his plan, and Simon was "horrified" when he first heard it.<ref name="Eliot65">{{harvnb|Eliot|2010|p=65}}</ref> The single's success drew Simon back to the U.S. to reunite with Garfunkel, and they recorded the albums ''[[Sounds of Silence (album)|Sounds of Silence]]'' (1966), ''[[Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme]]'' (1966) and ''[[Bookends (album)|Bookends]]'' (1968).

Simon & Garfunkel also contributed to the soundtrack of [[Mike Nichols]]'s film ''[[The Graduate]]'' (1967). While writing "[[Mrs. Robinson]]", Simon toyed with the title "Mrs. Roosevelt". When Garfunkel reported this indecision over the song's name to the director, Nichols replied, "Don't be ridiculous! We're making a movie here! It's Mrs. Robinson!"<ref>[[David Fricke]], in the leaflet accompaniment to the Simon and Garfunkel 1997 album ''[[Old Friends (1997 Simon and Garfunkel album)|Old Friends]]''</ref>

Simon and Garfunkel's relationship became strained and they split in 1970.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=[https://archive.org/details/paulsimonlife0000elio/page/n128 111]}} At the urging of his wife, Peggy Harper, Simon called Davis to confirm the duo's breakup.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=[https://archive.org/details/paulsimonlife0000elio/page/n131 114]}} For the next several years, they spoke only two or three times a year.<ref name="RS82">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Holden| author-link=Stephen Holden| date=March 18, 1982|title=Class Reunion: It Looks Like a Lasting Thing|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=New York City|issue=365|pages=26–28|issn=0035-791X| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/simon-and-garfunkel-class-reunion-95667/}}</ref> Their last album, ''[[Bridge over Troubled Water]]'' (1970), was [[List of best-selling albums|the bestselling album to date]].<ref name="Ebel68">{{cite book|first=Roswitha|last=Ebel|title=Paul Simon: seine Musik, sein Leben|date=2004|publisher=epubli|isbn=978-3-937729-00-8|page=68|language=de|trans-title=Paul Simon: His Music, His Life}}</ref> The [[Bridge Over Troubled Water (song)|title track]] was inspired by a line from the [[Swan Silvertones]] version of "Mary Don't You Weep".<ref>{{cite news| title=Claude Jeter, Gospel Singer With Reach, Dies at 94| last=Sisario| first=Ben| author-link=Ben Sisario| date=January 10, 2009| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/arts/music/11jeter.html}}</ref>  
The title track reached number one, and [[Cecilia (Simon & Garfunkel song)| "Cecilia"]] and "[[The Boxer]]" made the top ten.<ref name=S&G/>

===1970–1976: Solo and ''Still Crazy After All These Years''===
In 1970, Simon taught songwriting at [[New York University]]. He said he had wanted to teach for a while, and hoped to help people avoid some of the mistakes he had made: "You can teach somebody about writing songs. You can't teach someone how to write a song ... I'd go to a course if the Beatles would talk about how they made records because I'm sure I could learn something."<ref name="Alterman-1970"/> He contributed the lyrics of "Half of the People" to [[Leonard Bernstein]]'s [[Mass (Bernstein)| ''Mass'']] (1971).<ref>{{cite news| last1=Simon| first1=Scott| author-link1=Scott Simon| last2=Alsop| first2=Marin| author-link2=Marin Alsop| title=Revisiting Leonard Bernstein's Immodest 'Mass'| date=September 27, 2008| work=[[NPR]]| url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/94965140}}</ref>

Simon pursued solo work while occasionally reuniting with Garfunkel for various projects. In April 1972, he performed at the [[Cleveland Arena]] alongside [[Joni Mitchell]] and [[James Taylor]] in a benefit concert for [[George McGovern]]'s [[George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign|1972 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|date=April 29, 1972|title=Candidate's Day: McGovern Fund Gala Is Sold Out|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/mcgovern-fund-concert-in-cleveland-is-sold-out.html}}</ref> He and Garfunkel reunited in mid-June that year at [[Madison Square Garden]] in another concert for McGovern.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=McCandlish|author-link=McCandlish Phillips|date=June 15, 1972|title=Rock 'n' Rhetoric Rally in the Garden Aids McGovern|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/15/archives/rock-n-rhetoric-rally-in-the-garden-aids-mcgovern.html}}</ref>

Simon's next album, ''[[Paul Simon (album)|Paul Simon]]'', was released in January 1972. It featured an early experiment with [[world music]], the [[reggae]]-inspired "[[Mother and Child Reunion]]", recorded with [[Jimmy Cliff]]'s band. It reached both the American and British Top 5. The album received universal acclaim and critics praised its variety of styles and confessional lyrics. ''Paul Simon'' reached number 4 in the U.S. and number 1 in the UK and Japan, and produced another Top 30 hit, "[[Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard]]".<ref name=Billboard/> Simon also provided guitar on Garfunkel's 1973 album ''[[Angel Clare]]'', and added backing vocals to the song "[[Down in the Willow Garden]]".<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Angel Clare |date=1973 |publisher=[[Columbia Records]] |type=album credits}}</ref>

Simon's next project, the pop-folk album ''[[There Goes Rhymin' Simon]]'', was released in May 1973. The lead single, "[[Kodachrome (song)|Kodachrome]]", was a number 2 hit in the U.S.<ref name=Billboard/> The follow-up, the [[gospel music|gospel]]-flavored "[[Loves Me Like a Rock]]", topped the ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' charts. Other songs like "[[American Tune]]" and "[[Something So Right (song)|Something So Right]]" (a tribute to Simon's first wife, Peggy) became part of his repertoire. The album reached number 1 on the ''Cashbox'' album charts. In March 1974 he released a live album, ''[[Live Rhymin']]'', containing elements of [[Latin music| Latin]] and religious music.

His next album, produced by Simon and [[Phil Ramone]], was ''[[Still Crazy After All These Years]]'', released in October 1975. The mood of the album, written after Simon's divorce, was darker. It contains "[[Gone at Last]]", a duet with [[Phoebe Snow]], and the Simon & Garfunkel reunion track "[[My Little Town]]" (a number 9 on ''Billboard''). Simon wrote the song for Garfunkel, whose solo output Simon felt lacked "bite", and it was included on Garfunkel's album ''[[Breakaway (Art Garfunkel album)|Breakaway]]''. Contrary to popular belief, the song was not based on Simon's early life in New York City.<ref>Humphries, Patrick. ''The Boy in the Bubble'', p. 96.</ref> The album is his only number 1 on the ''Billboard'' charts to date. The [[18th Grammy Awards]] named it the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], and his performance on it the year's [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal]]. The third single from the album, "[[50 Ways to Leave Your Lover]]", reached the top spot on the ''Billboard'' charts.<ref name=Billboard/> On May 3, 1976, Simon put together a benefit show at [[Madison Square Garden]] for the [[New York Public Library]] that raised over $30,000.<ref>{{cite news| title=Briefs on the Arts| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=April 7, 1976| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/04/07/archives/briefs-on-the-arts-benefit-at-garden-for-arts-library-mccartney.html}}</ref>

===1977–1985: ''One-Trick Pony'' and ''Hearts and Bones''===
After releasing three successful studio albums, Simon worked on various projects. He wrote music for [[Hal Ashby]]'s ''[[Shampoo (film)|Shampoo]]'' (1975). "[[Slip Slidin' Away]]", the lead single of his 1977 compilation ''[[Greatest Hits, Etc.]]'', reached number 5 in the U.S.<ref name=Billboard/> Simon has also had several acting roles in films and television shows. He played music producer Tony Lacey, a supporting character in [[Woody Allen]]'s film ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977) and made a cameo appearance in the movie ''[[The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash]]'' the following year. In 1981 he appeared in an episode of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', the only episode of the series to use the songs of one songwriter. He appeared in several episodes of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s, including in a memorable performance of "[[Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard]]" in 1977, and a cameo appearance in the song "Put Down the Duckie!" in 1986.

In 1980, Simon released ''[[One-Trick Pony (album)|One-Trick Pony]]'', his first album with [[Warner Bros. Records]] and his first in almost five years. The album was paired with the [[One-Trick Pony (film)|motion picture of the same name]], which Simon wrote and starred in. The single "[[Late in the Evening]]" reached number 6 on ''Billboard'',<ref name=Billboard/> but the album did not sell well. In 1981, Simon & Garfunkel included eight songs from Simon's solo career in the set list of their [[The Concert in Central Park|September 19 concert in Central Park]].<ref name="RS82"/> Five were rearranged as duets and Simon performed the other three solo. The resulting live album, TV special, and videocassette (later DVD) releases were all major hits. 

After the success of ''The Concert in Central Park'', Simon & Garfunkel returned to the studio, planning to record an album of new material. This would have been their first new recordings as a duo since their "My Little Town" and their first album of new material since ''Bridge over Troubled Water''. Simon ultimately decided to wipe Garfunkel's vocals from the mix, and in 1983, he released ''[[Hearts and Bones]]'' as a solo album. It is a polished, confessional album that was eventually viewed as one of his best works, but it achieved the lowest sales of his career.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=186}} ''Hearts and Bones'' included "[[The Late Great Johnny Ace]]", a song about the deaths of American R&B singer [[Johnny Ace]] and [[John Lennon]]. It featured an orchestral coda by [[Philip Glass]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Simon| first=Paul| url=https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2017/01/26/511659534/-swimming-in-a-trance-like-state-paul-simon-on-philip-glass |title='Swimming In A Trance-Like State': Paul Simon On Philip Glass |work=[[National Public Radio]] |date=January 26, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref> In January 1985, Simon performed for USA for Africa and on the [[Humanitarian aid|relief]] fundraising single "[[We Are the World]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Edwards |first=Gavin |date=March 6, 2020 |title='We Are the World': A Minute-by-Minute Breakdown |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/we-are-the-world-a-minute-by-minute-breakdown-54619/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===1986–1992: ''Graceland'' and ''The Rhythm of the Saints''===
[[File:Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon, musicians gtfy.02537.jpg|thumb|The South African singer [[Miriam Makeba]] and Simon (1986)]]

In 1986, Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from [[Berklee College of Music]], where he had served on the board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hochschild|first=Rob|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|url=https://www.berklee.edu/about/honorary.html|access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Berklee Board of Trustees|url=http://www.berklee.edu/bios/trustees/|access-date=May 17, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511182914/http://www.berklee.edu/bios/trustees|archive-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> Simon decided to record an album of South African music after hearing a [[Bootleg recording|bootlegged]] tape of ''[[mbaqanga]]'', South African street music,<ref name="10 Things2">{{cite magazine |last1=Runtagh |first1=Jordan |date=August 25, 2016 |title=Paul Simon's ''Graceland'': 10 Things You Didn't Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/paul-simons-graceland-10-things-you-didnt-know-105220/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> and in 1986 he traveled to [[Johannesburg]] and recorded with African musicians. Additional sessions were held in New York.<ref name="sos">{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Buskin |date=September 2008 |title=Paul Simon 'You Can Call Me Al' – Classic Tracks |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/classictracks_0908.htm |access-date=November 21, 2014 |work=[[Sound on Sound]]}}</ref> The sessions featured many South African acts, notably [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]], and Simon also collaborated with several American artists, duetting with [[Linda Ronstadt]] on "[[Under African Skies]]" and playing with [[Los Lobos]] on "All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints".<ref name="nyt862">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Holden| author-link=Stephen Holden|date=August 24, 1986 |title=Paul Simon Brings Home the Music of Black South Africa |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/24/arts/paul-simon-brings-home-the-music-of-black-south-africa.html |access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref>

The resulting album, ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]'', became Simon's most successful studio album. Simon recalled that "I improvised in two ways — by making up melodies in falsetto, and by singing any words that came to mind down in my lower and mid range. I tried not to censor the words and to keep an ear cocked to see if a phrase came out that was interesting enough to suggest that my subconscious had allowed something significant to bubble out. Though I had no intentions of writing about [[Elvis Presley]], the word 'Graceland' came very early. While writing the lyrics, I always tried to stay true to the mood of the music, which was flowing, pleasant and easy."<ref name="nyt862"/> [[Stephen Holden]] wrote "Listening to ''Graceland,'' one gets the sense of an artist submitting to, and being swept up by, musical forces he does not totally understand. Adding a crucial extra dimension to the album is Mr. Simon's very urbane literary sensibility, which pulls against the simplicity of the music and lends the songs a kind of double vision. The music extends and enriches the language while the lyrics meditate on the music."<ref name="nyt862"/> It is estimated to have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.<ref name="salon">{{cite news |first=Ethan |last=Zuckerman |date=November 29, 2014 |title=The internet is not enough: Paul Simon's ''Graceland'', Malcolm Gladwell and the importance of real connections |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |url=https://www.salon.com/2014/11/29/the_internet_is_not_enough_paul_simons_graceland_malcolm_gladwell_and_the_importance_of_real_connections/ |access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref> ''Graceland'' won the [[1987 Grammy Awards|1987 Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]. In 2006, it was added to the United States' [[National Recording Registry]] as "culturally, historically or aesthetically important".<ref>{{cite web |title=Complete National Recording Registry Listing |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/complete-national-recording-registry-listing/ |access-date=May 16, 2020 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

Simon was accused of breaking the [[Apartheid#Cultural boycott|cultural boycott]] imposed by the rest of the world against South Africa's [[apartheid]] regime<ref name="tg12">{{cite news |first=Robin |last=Denselow |date=April 19, 2012 |title=Paul Simon's Graceland: the acclaim and the outrage |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/19/paul-simon-graceland-acclaim-outrage |access-date=November 21, 2014}}</ref> by organizations such as [[Artists United Against Apartheid]],<ref name="jones2">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Lucy |date=May 31, 2012 |title=Should Paul Simon have defied a UN boycott to make Graceland in South Africa under apartheid? |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100063781/should-paul-simon-have-defied-a-un-boycott-to-make-graceland-in-south-africa-under-apartheid/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601104926/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100063781/should-paul-simon-have-defied-a-un-boycott-to-make-graceland-in-south-africa-under-apartheid/ |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |access-date=September 28, 2013 |website=[[telegraph.co.uk]]}}</ref> anti-apartheid musicians (including [[Billy Bragg]], [[Paul Weller]] and [[Jerry Dammers]]),<ref name="denselow">{{cite news |last=Denselow |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Denselow |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Paul Simon brings Graceland back to London, 25 years after apartheid boycott row |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/16/paul-simon-graceland-london |access-date=September 28, 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and [[James Victor Gbeho]] (Ghana's [[Ambassador to the United Nations]]).<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=November 16, 1989 |title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties: Paul Simon "Graceland" |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/paul-simon-graceland-20110330 |access-date=September 28, 2013 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Simon denied that he had gone to South Africa to "take money out of the country" and said he paid the black artists and split royalties with them and was not paid to play to a white-only audience.<ref name="10 Things2"/> The United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee supported ''Graceland'', as it showcased black South African musicians and offered no support to the South African government, but the [[African National Congress]] protested that it was a violation of the boycott.<ref name="jones2"/> The Congress voted to ban Simon from South Africa and he was added to the United Nations blacklist,{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=190}} from which he was removed in January 1987.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=195}} In 1989, Simon appeared on [[Dion DiMucci|Dion]]'s song "Written on the Subway Wall"/"Little Star" from ''[[Yo Frankie (album)|Yo Frankie]]'', which peaked at number 97 in October 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/written-on-the-subway-wall_slash_little-star-ep/|title=written on the subway wall/little star ep &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1992, Simon and his band were invited to play in South Africa by [[Nelson Mandela]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Simon| first=Paul| date=December 3, 2013| title=Remembering Days of Miracle and Wonder| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/arts/music/paul-simon-on-mandelas-role-in-graceland.html#:~:text=Mandela%20replied.,is%20a%20singer%20and%20songwriter.}}</ref>

After ''Graceland'', Simon extended his roots with the [[Culture of Brazil|Brazilian]]-flavored ''[[The Rhythm of the Saints]]''. Sessions for the album began in December 1989 in [[Rio de Janeiro]] and New York and featured guitarist [[J. J. Cale|J.J. Cale]] and Brazilian and African musicians. The album's tone is more introspective and low-key than that of ''Graceland''. Released in October 1990, the album received excellent reviews and sold well, peaking at number 4 in the U.S. and number 1 in the UK. The lead single, "[[The Obvious Child]]", featuring the Grupo Cultural [[Olodum]], became Simon's last Top 20 hit in the UK and appeared near the bottom of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name=Billboard/> Although not as successful as ''Graceland'', ''The Rhythm of the Saints'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Simon's ex-wife [[Carrie Fisher]] wrote in her autobiography ''[[Wishful Drinking]]'' that the song "[[She Moves On]]" is about her: "If you can get Paul Simon to write a song about you, do it. Because he is so brilliant at it."<ref>{{cite book | title=[[Wishful Drinking]] | isbn=9781439153710| last1=Fisher | first1=Carrie| author-link=Carrie Fisher |date=September 8, 2009 | publisher=Simon and Schuster}}</ref>

The success of both albums allowed Simon to stage another concert in New York. On August 15, 1991, he gave a second concert in Central Park, with African and South American bands. The concert's success surpassed all expectations, and 48,500 people are estimated to have attended.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Giles|first1=Jeff|title=The Story of Paul Simon's Massive Central Park Concert|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-simon-central-park/|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=August 15, 2015 |accessdate=August 8, 2017}}</ref> He later remembered the concert as "the most memorable moment in my career". Its success led to a [[Paul Simon's Concert in the Park| live album]] and an [[Emmy]]-winning TV special. Simon embarked on the "Born at the Right Time" tour and promoted the album with further singles, including "[[Proof (Paul Simon song)|Proof]]", which was accompanied by a humorous video featuring [[Chevy Chase]] and [[Steve Martin]]. On March 4, 1992, Simon performed on an episode of ''[[MTV Unplugged]].'' Simon & Garfunkel were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1990.<ref name="rockhall1" />

===1993–1998: ''Paul Simon 1964/1993'' and ''The Capeman''===
Another Simon & Garfunkel reunion took place in September 1993, and Columbia released ''[[Paul Simon 1964/1993]]''. Originally a three-disc compilation, it became a reduced version on the two-disc album ''[[The Paul Simon Anthology]]'' one month later. In 1995, Simon appeared on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' and performed the song "Ten Years", which he had composed for the show's tenth anniversary. Also in 1995 he featured in the [[Annie Lennox]] version of his 1973 song "Something So Right", which appeared briefly on the UK Top 50 after it was released as a single.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Something So Right {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/annie-lennox-ft-paul-simon-something-so-right/ |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}</ref>

Simon collaborated with poet [[Derek Walcott]] on a musical, ''[[The Capeman]]'', that opened on January 29, 1998. He worked enthusiastically on the project for many years, and described it as "a New York Puerto Rican story based on events that happened in 1959—events that I remembered." The musical told the story of a real-life Puerto Rican youth, [[Salvador Agron]], who wore a cape while committing two murders in New York in 1959. He became a writer while in prison. Featuring [[Marc Anthony]] as the young Agron and [[Rubén Blades]] as the older Agron, the play was not a success, receiving mixed reviews and poor box-office receipts.<ref name=Playbill>{{cite news|last1=Viagas| first1=Robert| last2=Lefkowitz| first2=David| title=Paul Simon's ''Capeman'' Opens to Protests| date=January 30, 1998| work=[[Playbill]]| url=https://playbill.com/article/paul-simons-capeman-opens-to-protests-com-329293}}</ref> [[Clive Barnes]] wrote "Here is the most bewitching and bewitched Broadway score in years -- music that, in a quite different way, only [[Stephen Sondheim]] has equaled," but that "it was ''[[West Side Story]]'' particularized, de-prettified and de-balleticized. A tough call for entertainment."<ref name=Playbill/>

Simon recorded an album of songs from the show which was released in November 1997. The album received mixed reviews. Some critics praised its combination of [[doo-wop]], [[rockabilly]], and [[Caribbean music]], but ''[[Songs from The Capeman]]'' was a failure, and for the first time in Simon's career he did not reach the Top 40 of the ''Billboard'' charts.<ref>{{cite news| last=Wawzenek| first=Bryan| date=November 17, 2017| title=How Paul Simon's 'Songs From the Capeman' Became Such a Failure| work=Ultimate Classic Rock| url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-simon-songs-from-the-capeman/}}</ref> The cast album was never released on CD but eventually became available online.

===1999–2007: ''You're the One'' and ''Surprise''===
In the 1990s and 2000s, Simon played the character of Simple Simon in the [[Disney Channel]] TV movie ''[[Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme]]'', and provided cameos in ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'' and ''[[The Great Buck Howard]]''. In the late 1990s, Simon wrote and produced a [[Broadway musical]] called ''[[The Capeman]]'', which lost $11&nbsp;million during its 1998 run. After ''The Capeman'', Simon's career was in an unexpected crisis, but he continued to record new material. In 1999, he embarked on a three-month North American tour with [[Bob Dylan]], in which he and Dylan alternated as the headline act with a middle section where they performed together. The collaboration was generally well-received, with just one critic, Seth Rogovoy of the ''Berkshire Eagle'', questioning the collaboration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berkshireweb.com/rogovoy/interviews/dylan716.html |title=Bob Dylan and Paul Simon: A mismatch made in heaven? by Seth Rogovoy |publisher=Berkshireweb.com |access-date=July 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720080030/http://www.berkshireweb.com/rogovoy/interviews/dylan716.html |archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>

In 2000, Simon wrote and recorded a new album, ''[[You're the One (Paul Simon album)|You're the One]]'', very quickly. The album was released in October and consisted mostly of folk-pop writing combined with foreign musical sounds, particularly grooves from North Africa.<ref>{{cite web| title=You're the One| last=Erlewine| first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine| work=[[AllMusic]]| url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/youre-the-one-mw0000099754}}</ref> The album received favorable reviews, reached both the British and American Top 20, and received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Simon toured extensively to promote it, and one performance in Paris was released to home video. In the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]] in America, Simon sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on ''[[America: A Tribute to Heroes]]'', a multi-network broadcast to benefit the September 11 Telethon Fund, and performed "The Boxer" at the start of the first episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' after September 11. In 2002, he wrote and recorded "[[Father and Daughter]]", the theme song for the animated family film ''[[The Wild Thornberrys Movie]]''. The track was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Song]].

In 2003, Simon and Garfunkel performed together again when they received a [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. This reunion led to a U.S. tour, the acclaimed "Old Friends" concert series, followed by a 2004 international encore, culminating in a free concert at the [[Colosseum]] in Rome that attracted an audience of 600,000.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 31, 2004|title=Paul Simon News on Yahoo! Music|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12175339|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404201404/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12175339|archive-date=April 4, 2005|access-date=July 15, 2011|publisher=Yahoo! Music}}</ref> In 2005, they sang "Mrs. Robinson" and "Homeward Bound" together, plus "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with [[Aaron Neville]], in the benefit concert ''From the Big Apple to The Big Easy – The Concert for New Orleans'' (eventually released as a DVD) for [[Hurricane Katrina]] victims. In 2004, Simon's studio albums were re-released both individually and as a collection in a limited-edition, nine-CD boxed set, ''Paul Simon: The Studio Recordings 1972–2000''. Simon was then working with [[Brian Eno]] on a new album, ''[[Surprise (Paul Simon album)|Surprise]]'', which was released in May 2006. Most of its songs were inspired by the September 11 attacks and the [[Iraq War]]. Simon also took inspiration from having turned 60 in 2001, which he humorously referred to in "Old" from ''You're the One''. ''Surprise'' was a commercial hit, reaching number 14 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number 4 in the UK. Most critics praised the album. [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] wrote, "Simon doesn't achieve his comeback by reconnecting with the sound and spirit of his classic work; he has achieved it by being as restless and ambitious as he was at his popular and creative peak."<ref>{{cite web| last=Erlewine| first=Stephen Thomas| author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine| title=Surprise| work=[[AllMusic]]| url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/surprise-mw0000411916}}</ref> The album was supported by the [[Surprise (Paul Simon album)#The Surprise Tour|Surprise Tour]] in 2006.

In March 2004, Walter Yetnikoff published ''Howling at the Moon'', a book in which he criticized Simon and his previous business partnership with [[Columbia Records]].<ref name="Yetnikoff">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/04/books/sex-drugs-ego-music-mogul-s-swath-destruction-deposed-president-cbs-records.html |title=Sex, Drugs and Ego: A Music Mogul's Swath of Destruction; A Deposed President of CBS Records Chronicles His Debauchery and Detox |access-date=October 27, 2015 |date=March 4, 2004 |first=Lola |last=Ogunnaike |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 2007, Simon was the inaugural recipient of the [[Library of Congress]]'s [[Gershwin Prize]] for Popular Song, and he later performed as part of a gala of his work.<ref name="LOC-Release">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2007/07-010.html |title=Paul Simon To Be Awarded First Annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by Library of Congress |access-date=March 2, 2007 |date=July 2, 2007 |author=Public Affairs Office |publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2007/07-085.html |title=Star-Studded Lineup Confirmed for Library of Congress Concert Honoring Gershwin Prize Recipient Paul Simon |date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=July 2, 2007 |author=Public Affairs Office |publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref>

===2008–2013: ''So Beautiful or So What'' and touring===
[[File:Paul Simon 25-07-2008 1.jpg|thumb|240px|Simon performing live in [[Mainz]], Germany, July 25, 2008]]

After living in [[Montauk, New York]], for many years, Simon relocated to [[New Canaan, Connecticut|New Canaan]], Connecticut.<ref>Lorentzen, Amy. "Simon campaigns in Iowa for Dodd," [[Associated Press]] news article as printed in ''[[The Advocate (Stamford)|The Advocate]]'' of [[Stamford, Connecticut]], with the words "Simon, who lives in New Canaan" added by editors at ''The Advocate''. The words are not found in other versions of the article printed elsewhere, July 7, 2007</ref> He is one of a small number of performers who are named as the [[copyright]] owner on their recordings (most records have the recording company as the named owner). This development followed the [[Bee Gees]]' successful $200-million lawsuit against [[RSO Records]], the largest successful suit against a record company by an artist or group. All of Simon's solo recordings, including those originally issued by [[Columbia Records]], are distributed by [[Sony Records]]' [[Legacy Recordings]] unit. His albums were issued by [[Warner Music Group]] until mid-2010, when Simon moved his catalog of solo work from [[Warner Bros. Records]] to Sony/Columbia Records, which holds the Simon & Garfunkel catalog.

In April 2008, ''[[The Capeman|Songs From the Capeman]]'' played at the [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]] with original cast members and the [[Spanish Harlem Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Ratliff| first=Ben| date=April 3, 2008 |title='The Capeman' Revisited, Far From Broadway Lights| work=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/arts/music/03simo.html}}</ref> Simon appeared during the BAM shows, performing "Trailways Bus" and "[[Late in the Evening]]". In February 2009, Simon performed back-to-back shows in New York City at the recently renovated [[Beacon Theatre, New York|Beacon Theatre]]. He was joined by Garfunkel and the cast of ''The Capeman'' in the first show. The band included ''Graceland'' bassist [[Bakithi Kumalo]]. In May 2009, Simon toured with Garfunkel in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and in October they appeared together at the [[25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts]]. At that concert, Simon duetted with Dion on [[The Wanderer (Dion song)|"The Wanderer"]] and with [[Graham Nash]] and [[David Crosby]] on "[[Here Comes the Sun]]".<ref>{{cite web| title=Paul Simon Concert Setlist at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary On October 29, 2009| website=setlist.fm| url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-simon/2009/madison-square-garden-new-york-ny-23d73457.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Pareles| first=Jon| author-link=Jon Pareles| title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert: Set List| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=October 30, 2009| url=https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-concert-set-list/}}</ref> In April 2010, Simon & Garfunkel performed together again at the [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McCusker|first=John|title=The sun shined at New Orleans Jazz Fest, even if Simon and Garfunkel's harmonies didn't|url=http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/simon_and_garfunkel.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428220847/http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/simon_and_garfunkel.html|archive-date=April 28, 2010|access-date=July 15, 2011|work=[[The Times-Picayune]]|publisher=NOLA.com}}</ref> In August 2010, ''The Capeman'' was staged for three nights in the [[Delacorte Theatre]] in New York's Central Park. The production was directed by [[Diane Paulus]] and produced in conjunction with [[the Public Theater]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/theater/18capeman.html|title='Capeman' Outdoors, Starring the City|work=The New York Times|date=August 18, 2010|first=Ben|last=Brantley|access-date=November 24, 2014}}</ref>

Simon released a new song, "Getting Ready for Christmas Day", on November 10, 2010. The song sampled a 1941 sermon by [[Reverend J. M. Gates|J. M. Gates]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oldweirdamerica.wordpress.com/2010/11/06/42-43-must-be-born-again-and-oh-death-where-is-thy-sting-by-rev-j-m-gates/ |title=Includes complete recording of 'Getting Ready for Christmas Day' |publisher=Oldweirdamerica.wordpress.com |date=November 6, 2010 |access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> and premiered on [[National Public Radio]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Boilen |first=Bob |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2010/11/15/131334776/paul-simon-s-new-christmas-song |title=Premiere: New Music From Paul Simon : All Songs Considered Blog |publisher=[[NPR]]|date=November 16, 2010 |access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> Simon performed the song on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' on December 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cc.com/episodes/8air2f/the-colbert-report-december-16-2010-paul-simon-season-6-ep-161 |title=The Colbert Report – Amy Sedaris/Paul Simon |publisher=Comedy Central |date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2021}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In the first show of the final season of ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' on September 10, 2010, Simon performed a song that commemorated the show's 25 years, an update of a song he wrote for its 10th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oprah.com/own-oprahshow/paul-simon-surprise-oprah-with-a-special-performance-video|title=Paul Simon Surprise Oprah with a Special Performance – Video|publisher=Oprah.com|date=September 13, 2010|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> Simon's next album, ''[[So Beautiful or So What]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/books/review/Simon-t.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Paul|last=Simon|title=Book Review – Finishing The Hat – By Stephen Sondheim|date=October 27, 2010}}</ref> was released on the [[Concord Music Group]] label on April 12, 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/albums/So-Beautiful-Or-So-What/|title=Paul Simon, catalog and track list|publisher=Concordmusicgroup.com|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> and Simon said it was the best work he had done in 20 years. It was reported that he had wanted to have [[Bob Dylan]] perform on the album. At the end of his 2011 World Tour, which included the U.S., the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, Simon appeared at [[Ramat Gan Stadium]] in Israel in July 2011, his first concert appearance in Israel since 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paulsimon.com/news/paul-simon-concert-tour-starts-april-15th |title=Paul Simon Concert Tour Starts April 15th! &#124; The Official Paul Simon Site |date=April 14, 2011 |publisher=Paulsimon.com |access-date=June 5, 2012}}</ref> On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, he performed "[[The Sound of Silence]]" at the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum]] in New York, on the site of the destroyed [[World Trade Center site|World Trade Center]].

[[File:Paul Simon in 2012 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|240px|Simon paying tribute to musicians [[Leonard Cohen]] and [[Chuck Berry]], the recipients of the first annual PEN Awards for songwriting excellence, at the [[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]] on February 26, 2012]]

On February 26, 2012, Simon paid tribute to fellow musicians [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Leonard Cohen]], who had received the first annual PEN Awards for songwriting excellence at the [[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum|JFK Presidential Library]].<ref name="PEN Awards 2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/02/26/leonard-cohen-and-chuck-berry-celebrated-at-the-jfk-library/ |title=Leonard Cohen and Chuck Berry celebrated at the JFK Library |last1=Shanahan |first1=Mark |last2=Goldstein |first2=Beth |date=February 26, 2012 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229224324/http://www.boston.com/Boston/names/2012/02/leonard-cohen-and-chuck-berry-celebrated-the-jfk-library/pme86jnpLDKP4XYIMJi3XN/index.html |archive-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Simon released a 25th-anniversary box set of ''Graceland'' that included a remastered edition of the original album; the 2012 documentary film ''Under African Skies;'' the original 1987 "African Concert" from [[Zimbabwe]]; an audio narrative, ''The Story of Graceland'', related by Simon; and other interviews and memorabilia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Simon's Graceland – official website |url=https://www.paulsimon.com/us/graceland25/music|access-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> He played a few concerts in Europe with the original musicians to commemorate the anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Simon looks back on the anniversary of the amazing "Graceland" |url=http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/11/paul-simon-looks-back-on-the-anniversary-of-the-amazing-graceland/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015001811/http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/11/paul-simon-looks-back-on-the-anniversary-of-the-amazing-graceland/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2012|access-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> On December 19, 2012, Simon performed at the funeral of [[Victoria Leigh Soto]], a teacher killed in the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]].<ref name="NYDailyNews">{{cite news|title=Paul Simon sings at funeral of Sandy Hook heroine teacher Victoria Leigh Soto as Newtown lays to rest another hero school staffer and four slain students|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/day-mourning-newtown-article-1.1223676|access-date=December 19, 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|date=December 19, 2012|first1=Barry|last1=Paddock|first2=Chelsia Rose|last2=Marcius|first3=Corky|last3=Siemaszko|quote=Simon sang 'The Sound of Silence', the favorite song of Soto, who was the teacher who shielded students from [[Adam Lanza]]'s bullets.}}</ref> In September 2013, he delivered the Richard Ellmann Lecture in Modern Literature at [[Emory University]].<ref name=Ellmann >{{cite news| last=Williams| first=Kimber| title=Songwriter Paul Simon brings a new verse to the Ellmann Lectures| work=Emory News Center| url=https://news.emory.edu/stories/2013/09/er_paul_simon_coverage/campus.html}}</ref>

===2014–2022: ''Stranger to Stranger'' and ''In the Blue Light''===
In 2014, Simon embarked on a joint 21-date concert tour of North America, [[On Stage Together Tour|On Stage Together]], with English musician [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].<ref name="On Stage Together Billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-sting-interview-tour-collaborating-new-music-5901154/ |title=Paul Simon and Sting Q&A: Tour Mates on Shared Music DNA and Future 'Writing' |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |first=Gary |last=Graff |date=February 10, 2014 |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> The tour continued in 2015 with ten shows in Australia and New Zealand<ref name="On Stage Together AUS NZL">{{cite web|url=https://www.sting.com/news/title/sting-paul-simon-on-stage-together-second-final-perth-show-added |title=Sting & Paul Simon: On Stage Together – Second & Final Perth Show Added! |publisher=Sting.com |date=July 10, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sting.com/news/title/sting-paul-simon-on-stage-together-final-new-zealand-show-confirmed |title=Sting & Paul Simon: On Stage Together – Final New Zealand Show Confirmed! |publisher=Sting.com |date=August 25, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2014}}</ref> and 23 in Europe.<ref name="On Stage Together Europe">{{cite web|url=https://www.paulsimon.com/us/news/belfast-date-added-paul-simon-sting-stage-together-2015-european-tour |title=Belfast date added for 'Paul Simon & Sting: On stage together' 2015 European toue |publisher=PaulSimon.com |date=November 13, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2014}}</ref>

Simon made a surprise appearance in ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' on September 11, 2015. He performed "[[Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard]]" with Colbert, having been billed before the show as a Simon & Garfunkel Tribute Band.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-stephen-colbert-paul-simon-form-troubled-waters-on-late-show-55486/ |title=Watch Stephen Colbert, Paul Simon Perform as Troubled Waters |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> He also performed "American Tune", which was posted on the show's YouTube channel. In 2015, Dion released the single "[[Stranger to Stranger#Track listing|New York Is My Home]]" with Simon.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Grow |first=Kory |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-dion-paul-simon-duet-on-heartfelt-new-york-is-my-home-20151112 |title=Hear Dion, Paul Simon Duet on Heartfelt 'New York Is My Home' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=February 28, 2016}}</ref>

Simon wrote and performed the theme song for comedian [[Louis C.K.]]'s show ''[[Horace and Pete]]'', which debuted on January 30, 2016. The song is heard during the show's opening, intermission, and closing credits and features Simon's voice and acoustic guitar. Simon made a cameo appearance onscreen in the series' final episode. On June 3, 2016, he released his 13th solo studio album, ''[[Stranger to Stranger]]'', on Concord Records''.''<ref name="simontour">{{cite news |last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-plots-expansive-tour-ahead-of-new-album-stranger-to-stranger-114526/ |title=Paul Simon Plots Expansive Tour Ahead of New Album 'Stranger to Stranger' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 22, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>

In 2011, Simon was introduced to Italian [[electronic dance music]] artist [[Clap! Clap!]] by his son, Adrian, who was a fan of his work. They met in 2011 when Simon was touring ''So Beautiful or So What'' in Italy. Simon collaborated with him on three songs, and also worked with longtime friend [[Roy Halee]], who co-produced the album. After the release of the album, Simon said he was no longer interested in showbiz and talked about retirement. He said, "I am going to see what happens if I let go".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-hints-retirement-7423319/|title=Paul Simon Hints at Retirement: 'I Am Going to See What Happens If I let Go'|last=Brandle|first=Lars|date=June 30, 2016|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/nyregion/paul-simon-retirement-stranger-to-stranger.html|title=Could This Be the End of Paul Simon's Rhymin'?|last=Dwyer|first=Jim| author-link=Jim Dwyer (journalist)|date=June 28, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref> In the 2010s he appeared briefly in shows such as ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]'', ''[[Welcome to Sweden (2014 TV series)|Welcome to Sweden]]'' and ''[[Horace & Pete]]''. He appeared as an interviewee and as a musical guest on talk shows such as ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'', ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', ''[[The Late Show with David Letterman]]'', ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', ''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'' and ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''. He was the subject of two films by [[Jeremy Marre]] on the making of ''Graceland'' and ''The Capeman''.

Simon performed "Bridge over Troubled Water" at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] on July 25, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Ted|title=Paul Simon, Demi Lovato to Perform on Opening Night of Democratic Convention|url=https://variety.com/2016/music/news/paul-simon-demi-lovato-democratic-national-convention-1201822403/|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=July 25, 2016| work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> He debuted a new version of "Questions for the Angels" with jazz guitarist [[Bill Frisell]] on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' on May 24, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wjbdradio.com/music-news/2017/05/25/paul-simon-stephen-colbert-update-the-59th-street-bridge-song-feelin-groovy-for-2017|title=Paul Simon & Stephen Colbert update "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" for 2017|publisher=ABC Radio|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527174737/http://www.wjbdradio.com/music-news/2017/05/25/paul-simon-stephen-colbert-update-the-59th-street-bridge-song-feelin-groovy-for-2017|archive-date=May 27, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 5, 2018, Simon announced his intention to retire from touring, citing time away from his family and the death of longtime guitarist [[Vincent Nguini]]. He did not rule out performing live again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paulsimon.com/news/statement-from-paul-simon/|title=Statement from Paul Simon|date=February 5, 2018|work=[paulsimon.com]|access-date=February 5, 2018}}</ref> He began a farewell concert tour, Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour, in May 2018 in Vancouver, Canada, and performed shows across North America and Europe.<ref>{{cite news| last=Empire| first=Kitty| author-link=Kitty Empire| title=Paul Simon review - a poet and his 15-man band| date=July 14, 2018| work=[[The Guardian]]| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/14/paul-simon-homeward-bound-farewell-tour-manchester-observer-review}}</ref> He played his final concert in Queens, New York, on September 22, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nextavenue.org/simon-without-garfunkel-says-goodbye/|title=Simon (Without Garfunkel) Says Goodbye|date=February 16, 2018|work=Next Avenue|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528090054/https://www.nextavenue.org/simon-without-garfunkel-says-goodbye/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, Simon released his 14th solo studio album, ''[[In the Blue Light]]'', which consisted of re-recordings of lesser-known songs from his catalog, some with altered arrangements, harmonic structures and lyrics.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-reworks-old-favorites-on-new-album-in-the-blue-light-698298/|title=Paul Simon Reworks Old Favorites on New Album 'In the Blue Light'|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=July 12, 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref> On August 11, 2019, he returned to live performance when he closed San Francisco's ''Outside Lands'' festival in Golden Gate Park. He said he planned to donate his net proceeds to local environmental nonprofit organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2019/03/paul-simon-to-return-to-stage-for-augusts-outside-lands-fest.html|title=Paul Simon To Return to Stage for August's Outside Lands Fest|website=Music News Net|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322163346/https://www.musicnewsnet.com/2019/03/paul-simon-to-return-to-stage-for-augusts-outside-lands-fest.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[American Songwriter]]'' honored Dion's "[[Sam Cooke#Posthumous honors|Song for Sam Cooke (Here in America)]]", featuring Simon, as the "Greatest of the Great 2020 Songs".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://americansongwriter.com/greatest-of-the-great-2020-songs-dion-with-paul-simon-song-for-sam-cooke-here-in-america/|title=Greatest of the Great 2020 Songs: Dion with Paul Simon, "Song for Sam Cooke (Here In America)."|date=November 22, 2020|work=American Songwriter|access-date=March 18, 2022}}</ref> Simon sold his music publishing catalog to [[Sony Music Publishing]] in March 2021. He was previously signed to [[Universal Music Publishing Group]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/paul-simon-sells-song-catalog-sony-music-publishing/|title=Paul Simon Sells Song Catalog to Sony Music Publishing|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> He appeared in [[Ken Burns]]'s [[Country Music (miniseries)| ''Country Music'']] discussing the influence of the Everly Brothers.<ref name=Burns/>

===2023–present: ''Seven Psalms'' and return to touring===
Simon released a new album, ''[[Seven Psalms]]'', in April 2023. A documentary of the project, ''[[In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon]]'', was made by [[Alex Gibney]].<ref name="Nast 2023">{{cite web | title=Paul Simon Announces New Album Seven Psalms | website=Pitchfork | date=April 12, 2023 | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/paul-simon-announces-new-album-seven-psalms/ | access-date=April 12, 2023}}</ref> The album was described as 33 minutes of uninterrupted musical meditation, consisting of seven pieces performed on acoustic guitar, linked by a motif derived from "Anji", with elements of folk, blues, and jazz, and lyrics that reflect on life, death, and faith.<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/> The inspiration for the album came to Simon in 2020. He recalled, "I had a dream so vivid it made me get up in the middle of the night and write it down ... a voice said 'You are meant to be working on a piece called 'Seven Psalms'."<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/> For the next few months, isolated by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] on a Texas ranch, Simon worked on a series of guitar pieces and added sounds like distant church bells produced by amplified upside-down wine glasses. He said, "I envisioned ''Seven Psalms'' as one long thought, combined with sounds powerful enough to make the thought come alive."<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/> In December 2023, Simon rehearsed ''Seven Psalms'' with two acoustic guitarists. He said he missed performing and hoped that it might be possible to play the album live.<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/>

Simon had planned to retire from music, but after the success of ''Seven Psalms'', he completed another song, composed four more guitar pieces, and was planning an album of duets with his wife, singer [[Edie Brickell]]. He was also in the early stages of working on a musical.<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023"/> In a May 2023 interview with ''[[The Times]]'', he said he had lost most of the hearing in his left ear.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cairns |first1=Dan |title=Paul Simon: losing my hearing — and why I'm writing songs again |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/paul-simon-losing-my-hearing-and-why-im-writing-songs-again-3c65mms7n?ts=1684867178524 |website=The Times |date=May 20, 2023 |publisher=Times Media Limited |access-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref> In February 2025, Simon performed "Homeward Bound" with [[Sabrina Carpenter]] at a 50th-anniversary special for ''Saturday Night Live''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=February 17, 2025 |title=Sabrina Carpenter & Paul Simon Open 'SNL50' Anniversary Special With 'Homeward Bound' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/snl-50-sabrina-carpenter-paul-simon-homeward-bound-1235903757/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref> That month, he announced the Quiet Celebration Tour, comprising performances in smaller venues in 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada and multiple nights in a row in most cities. The tour began with two shows at the Saenger Theater on April 4 and 5 in [[New Orleans]] and ended with two filmed shows at McCaw Hall in [[Seattle]] on August 5 and 6, 2025.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 18, 2025 |title=Paul Simon Un-Retires, Announces Dates for 2025 Spring/Summer 'A Quiet Celebration Tour' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/paul-simon-dates-2025-spring-summer-quiet-celebration-tour-1235904376/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oates |first=Avery |date=July 15, 2025 |title=Paul Simon Announces Filming of his "Quiet Celebration Tour" |url=https://www.paulsimon.com/news/paul-simon-announces-filming-of-his-quiet-celebration-tour/ |access-date=October 16, 2025 |website=The Paul Simon Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref> Simon has since announced an extension to the tour, a European leg and a second North American leg of the tour for 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2025 |title=Paul Simon Announces 2026 European, UK & Ireland Dates for A Quiet Celebration Tour |url=https://www.paulsimon.com/news/paul-simon-announces-2026-european-uk-ireland-dates-for-a-quiet-celebration-tour/ |access-date=February 6, 2026 |website=The Paul Simon Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2026 |title=Paul Simon Announces Summer Tour 2026 in the US and Canada |url=https://www.paulsimon.com/news/paul-simon-announces-summer-tour-2026-in-the-us-and-canada/ |access-date=February 6, 2026 |website=The Paul Simon Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Songwriting==
In 2012, in an interview reprinted in ''[[American Songwriter]]'', Simon discussed the craft of songwriting and talked about the basic themes in his lyrics—love, family, social commentary, religion, spirituality, and God. He said: "The music always precedes the words. The words often come from the sound of the music and eventually evolve into coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Rhythm plays a crucial part in the lyric-making as well. It's like a puzzle to find the right words to express what the music is saying."<ref name="American Songwriter">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/10/interview-paul-simon-discusses-songwriter-and-songwriting/|title=Interview: Paul Simon Discusses Songwriter And Songwriting|magazine=[[American Songwriter]]|access-date=June 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022051428/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/10/interview-paul-simon-discusses-songwriter-and-songwriting/|archive-date=October 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2023, Simon said his "two big influences" were New York City [[doo-wop]] and [[English folk music]].<ref name="Will Hodgkinson-2023" />

== ''Saturday Night Live'' ==
Simon was the host of the second episode of ''[[SNL]]'', on October 18, 1975. Simon appeared alongside [[George Harrison]] on the [[Thanksgiving Day]] episode of ''SNL'' on November 20, 1976, and they performed "[[Here Comes the Sun]]" and "[[Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)|Homeward Bound]]" together. Simon opened the show in a comedy sketch in which he performed "Still Crazy After All These Years", in a turkey outfit, Thanksgiving being the following week. Halfway through the song, he told the band to stop playing because he was embarrassed, gave a speech to the audience and left the stage. [[Lorne Michaels]] greeted him backstage, but Simon, still acting upset, yelled at him because of the humiliating turkey outfit. This was one of ''SNL''{{'}}s most replayed sketches.<ref>{{cite news| last=Konicki| first=Lisa| title=Paul Simon Dressed as a Turkey Should Be Remembered This Thanksgiving| date=November 25, 2024| work=[[American Songwriter]]| url=https://americansongwriter.com/paul-simon-dressed-as-a-turkey-should-be-remembered-this-thanksgiving/}}</ref>

In one ''SNL'' skit from 1986, when he was promoting ''Graceland'', Simon played himself waiting in line with a friend to get into a movie. He amazed his friend by remembering intricate details about prior meetings with passers-by, but drew a complete blank when he was approached by [[Art Garfunkel]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=October 7, 2014 |title=Flashback: Paul Simon Forgets Art Garfunkel on 'SNL' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-paul-simon-forgets-art-garfunkel-on-saturday-night-live-184826/ |access-date=June 29, 2022 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> When Simon hosted an ''SNL'' episode during the [[1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], Simon walked out with Illinois Senator and presidential candidate [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]], and argued about which Paul Simon was supposed to have hosting duties.<ref name="PS Winners">{{cite book |last1=Simon |first1=Paul | author-link=Paul Simon (politician)| title=Winners and Losers: The 1988 Race for the Presidency - One Candidate's Perspective |date=1989 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=0826404286 |page=135}}</ref>

On September 29, 2001, Simon played "[[The Boxer]]" as the [[cold open]] for the first episode of ''SNL'' to air after the [[September 11 attacks]], also the first episode of its [[Saturday Night Live season 27|2001-2002 season]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dickson |first1=EJ |last2=Greene |first2=Andy |title='In Bad Times, People Turn to the Show': Inside the 9/11 Episode of 'SNL'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/saturday-night-live-9-11-oral-history-1221336/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=October 9, 2025}}</ref>

Simon closed the 40th anniversary ''SNL'' show on February 15, 2015, with a performance of "Still Crazy After All These Years". He played a snippet of "[[I've Just Seen a Face]]" with Sir [[Paul McCartney]] during the introductory sequence. Much of the Thanksgiving episode from 1976 was shown during this prime-time special. On October 13, 2018, he was the musical guest on his 77th birthday.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=October 14, 2018 |title=Paul Simon Performs 'Can't Run But', 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' for 'SNL' Send-Off |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-snl-performance-737552/ |access-date=June 29, 2022 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> His most recent ''SNL'' appearance was on February 16, 2025, Paul Simon performed [[Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)|"Homeward Bound"]] alongside [[Sabrina Carpenter]] for the opening of the ''[[Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Franklin |first1=McKinley |title=Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon Perform "Homeward Bound" to Open 'SNL' 50th Anniversary Special |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sabrina-carpenter-paul-simon-snl-50th-anniversary-special-1236138495/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250217125349/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sabrina-carpenter-paul-simon-snl-50th-anniversary-special-1236138495/ |archive-date=February 17, 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 17, 2025 |access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

== Credits ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Title
!scope="col" | Credit(s)
!scope="col" | Role
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1967
!scope="row"| ''[[The Graduate]]''
|Songs by
|{{n/a}}
|With [[Art Garfunkel]]
|-
|1975
!scope="row"| ''[[Shampoo (film)|Shampoo]]''
|Composer
|{{n/a}}
|
|-
|1977
!scope="row"| ''[[Annie Hall]]''
|Actor
|Tony Lacey
|Acting debut
|-
|1980
!scope="row"| ''[[One-Trick Pony (film)|One-Trick Pony]]''
|Actor, writer, composer
|Jonah Levin
|
|-
|1985
!scope="row"| ''[[The Statue of Liberty (film)|The Statue of Liberty]]''
|Composer
|{{n/a}}
|
|-
|1996
!scope="row"| ''[[Mother (1996 film)|Mother]]''
|Composer
|{{n/a}}
|Mrs. Robinson – Movie Theme Song
|-
|2002
!scope="row"| ''[[The Wild Thornberrys Movie]]''
|Composer
|{{n/a}}
|Wrote and Performed: "[[Father and Daughter]]"
|-
|2008
!scope="row"| ''[[The Great Buck Howard]]''
|Actor
|Grateful Old Performer
|Actor
|-
|2014
!scope="row"| ''[[Henry & Me]]''
|Actor
|[[Thurman Munson]] 
|Voice; Animated film 
|-
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Title
!scope="col" | Credit(s)
!scope="col" | Role
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1975–2018
!scope="row"| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
|Performer
|Himself / Various
|18 episodes
|-
|1978
!scope="row"| ''[[All You Need Is Cash]]''
|Actor
|Paul Simon
|Television film
|-
|1990
!scope="row"| ''[[Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme]]''
|Actor
|Simple Simon
|Television film
|-
|1999
!scope="row"| ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]''
|Actor
|John Dryden
|Episode: "Via Dolorosa"
|-
|2008
!scope="row"| ''[[Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg|The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg Deluxe Set]]''
|Composer
|{{n/a}}
|Documentary
|-
|2015
!scope="row"| ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]''
|Actor
|{{n/a}}
|Episode: "You Can Call Me Al"
|-
|2015
!scope="row"| ''[[Welcome to Sweden (2014 TV series)|Welcome To Sweden]]''
|Actor
|{{n/a}}
|Episode: "American Club"
|-
|2015
!scope="row"| ''[[Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special]]''
|Himself
|{{n/a}}
|Performed: "[[Still Crazy After All These Years (song)|Still Crazy After All These Years]]"
|-
|2016
!scope="row"| ''[[Horace and Pete]]''
|Composer, actor
|Customer
|Composed show's opening theme music
|-
|2023
!scope="row"| ''In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon''
|Himself
|{{n/a}}
|Documentary
|-
|2025
!scope="row"| ''[[Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special]]''
|Himself
|{{n/a}}
|Performed: "[[Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)|Homeward Bound]]"
|-
|}

=== Theater ===
* ''Rock 'n Roll! The First 5,000 Years'' (1982) – [[revue]] – featured songwriter for "[[Mrs. Robinson]]"
* ''Asinamali!'' (1987)&nbsp;– play&nbsp;– co-producer
* ''[[Mike Nichols]] and [[Elaine May]]: Together Again on Broadway'' (1992)&nbsp;– concert&nbsp;– performer
* ''[[The Capeman]]'' (1998)&nbsp;– composer, co-lyricist and music arranger&nbsp;– [[Tony Award|Tony]] Nomination for [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
* ''[[The Graduate]]'' (2002)&nbsp;– play&nbsp;– featured songwriter

== Awards, legacy and honors ==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Paul Simon}}

[[File:Gershwin Simon 2007 Rev.png|thumb|upright|Reverse of the 2007 [[Library of Congress]] [[Gershwin Prize]] for Popular Song medal awarded to Paul Simon]]

Simon has earned sixteen [[Grammy Award]]s for his solo and collaborative work, including three for Album of the Year (''Bridge Over Troubled Water'', 1971; ''Still Crazy After All These Years'', 1976'';'' and ''Graceland'', 1988), and a Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref name = "Grammy">{{cite web | title = Grammy Award Winners | publisher = National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx | access-date = December 6, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209065656/http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx | archive-date=December 9, 2009}}</ref> He is one of only eight artists to have won the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] more than once as the main credited artist. In 1998, Simon was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] for the Simon & Garfunkel album ''[[Bridge over Troubled Water]]''. In 2002, he received an [[Academy Award|Oscar]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] for his song "Father and Daughter".

Simon has twice been inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]: in 1990 as a member of Simon & Garfunkel; and in 2001 for his solo career.<ref name="rockhall1">{{cite web | title = Biography and Timeline: Paul Simon | department = Inductees | publisher = [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] | url = http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/paul-simon}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named him one of the 100 greatest guitarists,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-guitarists-153675/paul-simon-41289/ | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | title=100 Greatest Guitarists – 93: Paul Simon | date=November 23, 2011|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> and in 2015 he was ranked 8th in their list of the [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time|100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-songwriters#paul-simon | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | title=8: Paul Simon | date=August 2015}}</ref> In 2023, he was ranked the 246th greatest guitarist of all time by ''Rolling Stone''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 13, 2023 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=October 14, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2001, Simon was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year. In 2002 he was one of five recipients of the annual [[Kennedy Center Honors]], the nation's highest tribute to performing and cultural artists. In 2005, Simon was honored at the [[BMI Pop Awards]]. His songwriting catalog had earned 39 BMI Awards, including numerous citations for "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Mrs. Robinson", "Scarborough Fair" and "The Sound of Silence".{{efn|By 2005, he had amassed nearly 75 million broadcast airplays, according to BMI surveys.}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234450 |title=3 Doors Down, Lil Jon, EMI Top BMI Pop Awards; Paul Simon Honored as Icon|date=May 17, 2005|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=September 27, 2010}}</ref> In 2006, he was selected by ''[[Time Magazine]]'' as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World".<ref>{{cite news|last=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|title=Paul Simon|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1975813_1975847_1976759,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903180733/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1975813_1975847_1976759,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=April 4, 2011|date=May 8, 2006}}</ref>

In 2007, Simon received the first annual [[Library of Congress]] [[Gershwin Prize]] for Popular Song. Named in honor of [[George Gershwin|George]] and [[Ira Gershwin]], this award recognized the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world's culture. Simon said, "I am grateful to be the recipient of the Gershwin Prize and doubly honored to be the first. I look forward to spending an evening in the company of artists I admire at the award ceremony in May. I can think of a few [artists] who have expressed my words and music far better than I [have]. I'm excited at the prospect of that happening again. It's a songwriter's dream come true." Among the performers who paid tribute to Simon were [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Alison Krauss]], [[Jerry Douglas]], [[Lyle Lovett]], [[James Taylor]], [[Dianne Reeves]], [[Marc Anthony]], [[Yolanda Adams]] and [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]].<ref name=Library/> The event was professionally filmed and broadcast and was released as ''Paul Simon and Friends''. In 2012, Simon was awarded the [[Polar Music Prize]].<ref name="PMP">{{cite web |url=http://www.polarmusicprize.org/home/paul-simon/ |title=Paul Simon : Polar Music Prize |publisher=[[Polar Music Prize]] |access-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103235123/http://www.polarmusicprize.org/home/paul-simon/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
=== Relationships and marriages ===
When Simon moved to England in 1964, he met Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Chitty at the first English folk club he played, the Railway Inn Folk Club in [[Brentwood, Essex]], where Chitty worked part-time selling tickets. She was 18 and he was 22 when they began a relationship. Later that year they visited the U.S. together, mainly touring by bus.<ref>Jackson, Laura. ''Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography'' ([[Citadel Press]], 2004), {{ISBN|978-0-8065-2539-6}}, p. 65.</ref> Kathy returned to England and Simon followed some weeks later. When he returned to the U.S. with the growing success of "The Sounds of Silence",{{which|reason=is it the album 'Sounds of Silence' or the song 'The Sound of Silence?'|date=May 2025}} Kathy, who was quite shy,<ref>Jackson (2004). ''Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography'', p. 58.</ref> wanted no part in success and fame, and they ended their relationship.<ref name="Jackson, Laura p.95">Jackson (2004). ''Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography'', p. 95.</ref> She is mentioned by name in at least two of Simon's songs, "[[Kathy's Song (Simon & Garfunkel song)|Kathy's Song]]" and "[[America (Simon & Garfunkel song)|America]]". She is also referred to in "[[Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)|Homeward Bound]]" and "[[The Late Great Johnny Ace]]". A photo of Simon and Kathy is on the cover of Simon's 1965 album ''[[The Paul Simon Songbook]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scoppa |first=Bud |date=March 29, 2004 |title=The Paul Simon Songbook |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-paul-simon-songbook-187834/ |access-date=May 17, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Peggy Harper ====
Simon has been married three times, first to Peggy Harper in 1969. They had a son, [[Harper Simon]], in 1972, and divorced in 1975, inspiring the song "[[50 Ways to Leave Your Lover]]". Simon wrote about this relationship in the song "Train in the Distance" from his 1983 album ''[[Hearts and Bones]]''.<ref name="biography">{{cite web|url=https://www.paul-simon.info/PHP/biography.php|title=The Paul Simon biography|website=paul-simon.info|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040449/https://www.paul-simon.info/PHP/biography.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the late 1970s, Simon lived in New York City next door to ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' creator [[Lorne Michaels]], who has been described as Simon's "best friend" during the period.<ref name="Vulture-Fisher">{{cite news |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/carrie-fisher-book-excerpt-john-belushi-relationship.html |title=When Carrie Fisher Hung with the SNL Crowd |first=Sheila |last=Weller|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref>

==== Carrie Fisher ====
Simon met actress [[Shelley Duvall]] while filming ''[[Annie Hall]]'' in 1976.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NfeVDwAAQBAJ&dq=paul+simon+shelley+annie+hall&pg=PA211 |title=Paul Simon: The Life |date=May 28, 2019 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5011-1213-3 |pages=211 |language=en}}</ref> They lived together as a couple for two years until Duvall introduced him to her friend, actress [[Carrie Fisher]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Lois |date=March 16, 1981 |title=Olive's Wasn't the Only 'Popeye' Love Story—Shelley Duvall Snagged a Prince Charming Too |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20078824,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180000/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20078824,00.html |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> Simon and Fisher began dating in 1978, and were married from 1983 to 1984.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Suzy |date=December 3, 1978 |title=Private lives: who's together & not |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-paul-simon-dating-carrie-fish/165197426/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=Daily News |pages=C6}}</ref><ref name="Vulture-Fisher"/> He proposed to her after a [[New York Yankees]] game.<ref name="biography" /> The song "[[Hearts and Bones]]" is about their time together, and the song "Graceland" is believed to be about seeking solace from the end of the relationship by taking a road trip.<ref name="TFP-Fisher">{{cite news |url=http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/04/13/fisher-takes-audience-on-journey-of-%E2%80%98wishful-drinking%E2%80%99/ |title=Carrie Fisher: Self-acceptance run wild |newspaper=[[Toledo Free Press]] |first=Michael |last=Miller |date=April 13, 2012 |access-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022080524/http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/04/13/fisher-takes-audience-on-journey-of-%E2%80%98wishful-drinking%E2%80%99/ |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A year after they divorced, Simon and Fisher resumed their relationship, which lasted several years.

==== Edie Brickell ====
Simon married singer [[Edie Brickell]] on May 30, 1992. Brickell and Simon have three children, Adrian, Lulu, and Gabriel.<ref name="express">{{cite web |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/914761/Paul-Simon-tour-2018-retirement-wife-Simon-and-Garfunkel-tickets-Hyde-Park |title=Paul Simon tour 2018: Who is the Simon & Garfunkel star's wife? |work=[[Daily Express|Express]]|date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Agrawal 2022 o918">{{cite web |last=Agrawal |first=Vandita |title=Who Are Paul Simon's Children? |website=Grunge |date=September 5, 2022 |url=https://www.grunge.com/990062/who-are-paul-simons-children/ |access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name="today">{{cite web |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37336500/displaymode/1247?beginSlide=34 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002062701/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37336500/displaymode/1247?beginSlide=34 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |title=Celebrity daddies 2010 |department=[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]] |work=[[MSNBC]] |date=January 3, 2011}}</ref> On April 26, 2014, Simon and Brickell were involved in a domestic dispute in which police responded to their Connecticut residence. Each was issued a summons to appear in court on disorderly conduct charges.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Paul Simon, Edie Brickell Arrested for Disorderly Conduct |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-simon-edie-brickell-arrested-for-disorderly-conduct-88273/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref>

=== Family and interests ===
All four of his children are now adults and are musicians.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/all-about-paul-simon-kids-7963432 |title=Paul Simon's 4 Children: All About Harper, Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel |magazine=People |date=March 8, 2024 |access-date=March 19, 2024 |first=Jessica |last=Booth}}</ref> Simon and his younger brother, Eddie Simon, founded the Guitar Study Center sometime before 1973.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5-YCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=guitar+study+center "The Guitar Study Center"], ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'', September 17, 1973.</ref> The Guitar Study Center became part of [[The New School]] in New York City, sometime before 2002.<ref>[https://www.local802afm.org/2002/11/guitar-study-center-contract-guarantees-unions-health-plan/ "Guitar Study Center Contract Guarantees Union's Health Plan"], ''Allegro'' magazine, Volume CII No. November 11, 2002, Local 802, [[American Federation of Musicians]]</ref>

Simon is an avid fan of the [[New York Rangers]] ice hockey team, the [[New York Knicks]] basketball team and the [[New York Yankees]] baseball team.<ref>[https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/804939-video-let-s-go-islanders-chant-breaks-out-as-billy-joel-closes-out-nassau-coliseum "VIDEO: 'Let's go Islanders' chant breaks out as Billy Joel closes out Nassau Coliseum] ''TheScore.com'' August 5, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/sports/kate-upton-paul-simon-much-behaved-new-york-knicks-game/ |title=Kate Upton And Paul Simon Were Much More Behaved At The New York Knicks Game|website=uproxx.com|first=Ashley|last=Burns|date=January 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/sports/baseball/21simon.html?referer=https://www.google.ca/ |title=Songs Open Doors to the Inner Sanctum|first=Paul|last=Simon|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Simon is an advocate of music education for children. In 1970, after recording "Bridge Over Troubled Water", he held auditions for a young songwriters' workshop at the invitation of the NYU's [[Tisch School of the Arts]]. The auditions were advertised in ''[[The Village Voice]]'', and brought hundreds of hopefuls to perform. Among the six teenage songwriters selected for tutelage were [[Melissa Manchester]], [[Tommy Mandel]] and rock/beat poet Joe Linus. [[The Roches|Maggie and Terre Roche]] (the Roche Sisters), who later sang back-up for Simon, joined the workshop in progress in an impromptu appearance.

Simon invited the six teenagers to experience the recording process at Columbia studios with engineer [[Roy Halee]]. During these sessions, [[Bob Dylan]] was downstairs recording his album ''[[Self Portrait (Bob Dylan album)|Self-Portrait]]'', which included a version of Simon's "[[The Boxer]]". Violinist [[Isaac Stern]] visited the group with a [[CBS]] film crew and spoke to the young musicians about lyrics and music. Manchester later paid homage to Simon with her recorded song "Ode to Paul". Other musicians Simon mentored include [[Nick Laird-Clowes]], who co-founded the band [[the Dream Academy]]. Laird-Clowes credited Simon with helping to shape the band's biggest hit, "[[Life in a Northern Town]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theacf.com/dreamac/article_latimes86.html |title=at |publisher=Theacf.com |access-date=July 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725071606/http://theacf.com/dreamac/article_latimes86.html |archive-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref>

In 2003, Simon became a supporter of [[Little Kids Rock]], a nonprofit organization that provided free musical instruments and free lessons to children in public schools in the U.S. He sits on the organization's board of directors as an honorary member. Simon is also a major benefactor and one of the co-founders, with [[Irwin Redlener]], of the Children's Health Project and The Children's Health Fund<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/ |title=CHF – The Children's Health Fund |publisher=Childrenshealthfund.org |access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/052597/mobile.htm |title=Mobile health units bring medical care to homeless |publisher=Lubbockonline.com |access-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320090429/http://lubbockonline.com/news/052597/mobile.htm |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which began by creating specially equipped buses to take medical care to children in medically under-served areas, both urban and rural. Their first bus was placed in the impoverished [[South Bronx]] of New York City, but the buses now operate in 12 states, including on the [[Gulf Coast]]. The project has expanded greatly and partners with major hospitals, local public schools and medical schools, and advocates policy for children's health and medical care.

In May 2012, Paul Simon performed at a benefit dinner for the Turkana Basin Institute in New York City, raising more than $2&nbsp;million for [[Richard Leakey]]'s research institute in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|first=Frank |last=Eltman |url=https://news.yahoo.com/scientist-evolution-debate-soon-history-155252505.html |title=Scientist: Evolution debate will soon be history|publisher=Yahoo! News |date=May 26, 2012 |access-date=June 5, 2012}}</ref> For his 2019 performance at San Francisco's [[Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival]], Simon donated his appearance fee to the [[San Francisco Parks Alliance]] and [[Friends of the Urban Forest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13863711/toro-y-moi-shows-oakland-love-paul-simon-dazzles-outside-lands-day-3-highlights |title=Toro y Moi Shows Oakland Love, Paul Simon Dazzles: Outside Lands Day 3 Highlights |first=Nastia |last=Voynovskaya |date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=August 12, 2019 |publisher=KQED}}</ref> After reading [[Peter Singer]]'s book ''[[The Life You Can Save]]'', Simon became a supporter of [[effective altruism]], a movement that uses evidence to determine where charitable giving has the greatest impact. He reflects, "You really have to know what and to whom you're giving this money. All these years I had been doing these benefit concerts with all my friends and musicians. We'd come. We'd play. We pack up our guitars. We leave. And nobody ever says, 'Where'd that money go?'"<ref name=EA>{{cite news| title=Paul Simon and Peter Singer discuss 'The Life You Can Save'| last=Italie| first=Hillel| date=December 3, 2019| work=[[Associated Press]]| url=https://apnews.com/general-news-9109488334d84c829ebc917564fdb191}}</ref> In 2015, he performed a benefit concert for the [[Fistula Foundation]].<ref name=Foundation>{{cite news| title=Peter Singer and Paul Simon Team Up To Fight Fistula| date=November 4, 2015| publisher=[[Fistula Foundation]]| url=https://fistulafoundation.org/news/peter-singer-and-paul-simon-team-up-to-fight-fistula/}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Paul Simon discography}}

{{See also|Simon & Garfunkel discography}}

This discography does not include compilation albums, concert albums or work with [[Simon & Garfunkel]].
Simon's solo concert albums often have songs he originally recorded with Simon & Garfunkel, and many Simon & Garfunkel concert albums contain songs Simon first recorded on solo albums.<ref>{{cite web|author=Simon & Garfunkel |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simon-garfunkel-mn0000038936 |title=Simon & Garfunkel Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-simon-mn0000031685/discography |title=Paul Simon Albums and Discography |website=AllMusic |date=October 13, 1941 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>

Simon has a few songs that appear on compilation albums and nowhere else, such as "[[Slip Slidin' Away]]", which first appeared on the compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits, Etc.]]'' (1977) and has since been included in subsequent compilations such as ''[[Negotiations and Love Songs]]'' (1988).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-simon-mn0000031685/songs |title=Paul Simon Best Songs List: Top, New, & Old |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=October 13, 1941 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>

'''Solo studio albums'''
{{col div}}
* ''[[The Paul Simon Songbook]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Paul Simon (album)|Paul Simon]]'' (1972)
* ''[[There Goes Rhymin' Simon]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Still Crazy After All These Years]]'' (1975)
* ''[[One-Trick Pony (album)|One-Trick Pony]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Hearts and Bones]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Graceland (album)|Graceland]]'' (1986)
* ''[[The Rhythm of the Saints]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Songs from The Capeman]]'' (1997)
* ''[[You're the One (Paul Simon album)|You're the One]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Surprise (Paul Simon album)|Surprise]]'' (2006)
* ''[[So Beautiful or So What]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Stranger to Stranger]]'' (2016)
* ''[[In the Blue Light]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Seven Psalms]]'' (2023)<ref name="Seven Psalms">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/paul-simon-announces-new-album-seven-psalms/ |website=Pitchfork |title=Paul Simon Announces New Album Seven Psalms |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510093142/https://pitchfork.com/news/paul-simon-announces-new-album-seven-psalms/amp/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{col div end}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Kingston |first=Victoria |title=Simon and Garfunkel: The Definitive Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1i0UAQAAIAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |location=London |isbn=9780283062674 |page=308}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bronson |first=Fred |title=The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits |publisher=Billboard Books |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&q=billboard&pg=PT12 |isbn=0-8230-7677-6}}

==See also==
* [[List of songs written by Paul Simon]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{noteslist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/paulsimonlife0000elio |url-access=registration |date=2010 |first=Marc |last=Eliot |title=Paul Simon: A Life |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-43363-8}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Paul Simon}}
* {{Official website}}
*{{AllMusic}}
*{{Discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}

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