Rhymin’ Paul Simon At 77: An Icon Slip Slidin’ Along

By JC Villamere. 13 Oct 2018 7:40 AM

As the famous New York City songwriter prepares to celebrate his 77th birthday with a stint on ‘Saturday Night Live’, we’re looking back at some of the many highlights of his long career.

Jasmine

Sony Music

HBO

NBC

Paul Simon

NBC

Paul Simon

Sticks and Stones and 'Hearts and Bones'

Warner Bros.

Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA)

Warner Bros.

Paul Simon

NBC

Paul Simon

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Tom And Jerry
Jasmine
Paul Simon first found fame as half of Simon & Garfunkel, the duo he formed with pal Art Garfunkel in 1956, initially under the name Tom and Jerry. After the name change, the pair had a string of hits in the 1960s, including "Mrs. Robinson", "The Sound of Silence", and "Scarborough Fair". Simon wrote all the duo's songs, including their classic, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which Garfunkel sang.
Simon And Garfunkel
Sony Music
Their clear-as-a-bell vocal delivery and folk music inflections set them apart from the snarling rock of contemporaries such as the Rolling Stones or the Doors. Their unique sound and appearance remain iconic.
See?
HBO
Here's a 2009 episode of "Flight of the Conchords" where Bret and Jemaine play a gig as Simon and Garfunkel impersonators.
... Meanwhile on "The Tonight Show"
NBC
Questlove and Captain Kirk Douglas of the Roots have been paying homage to the iconic duo since 2011 with a recurring segment in which they perform as Black Simon and Garfunkel.
Only One Way To Leave Your Bandmate
Paul Simon
Simon and Garfunkel famously hate each other, splitting up in 1970 at the height of their popularity. It has been reported their rift is so vicious "they could've stabbed each other." Luckily, there were no stabbings, just solo records, including this one, pictured. That's his self-titled debut solo album (on this side of the Atlantic) from 1972, which includes the hits "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard".
Rhymin' Simon
Paul Simon
This record cover is an eyesore that is easily overlooked once the contents are heard. Simon's pop-folk album with the corny/twee name that we are forever on the fence about, 'There Goes Rhymin' Simon', was released in 1973. Among the big hits on the album are the lead single "Kodachrome", plus "Loves Me Like a Rock", and "American Tune".
Simon's 'SNL' Debut
NBC
As a way to promote his third solo album, 1975's 'Still Crazy After All These Years,' Simon hosted season 1, episode 2 — yep, the second episode ever — of "Saturday Night Live" on October 18, 1975.
Only One Way To Rock That Hat
Paul Simon
'Still Crazy After All These Years' was a darker album and it reflected Simon's mood as his first marriage, to Peggy Harper, broke down in 1975. It included the #1 smash hit "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Keeping Busy
Paul Simon
Simon wrote music for the 1975 Warren Beatty movie 'Shampoo'. In 1976, he hosted a benefit concert for the New York Public Library. He played the role of Tony Lacey in the 1977 movie 'Annie Hall'. Also in 1977, he released a greatest-hits compilation featuring the new hit single "Slip Slidin' Away".
Sticks and Stones and 'Hearts and Bones'
Warner Bros.
Simon wrote and starred in the music industry satire film "One-Trick Pony" (pictured). He released the accompanying album 'One-Trick Pony' in 1980 but it fared poorly in a market dominated by disco hits. In 1981, Simon briefly reunited with Garfunkel; the outcome was their epic concert in NYC's Central Park, which became the hit live album 'Concert in Central Park'. The pair performed in front of more than 500,000 people at the concert, which is a lot of people. To put it in context, that's about the same amount of people that attended Woodstock. The difference here is that these 500,000 folks are showing up to see just one act: Simon and Garfunkel.
Marries A Princess

In 1983, Simon married the late, great Carrie "Princess Leia" Fisher but they divorced the following year. His next record, 1983's 'Hearts and Bones' has been critically acclaimed but was a flop when it was released. Simon was reportedly so bummed at the time that he thought his career was over.
Get Out Of Town
Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA)
In 1985, Simon was working on a bold new work, a daring album inspired by South African township music and recorded in Johannesburg. It was a mixture of pop, a cappella, the Zulus singing style called isicathamiya, rock, Louisiana-flavoured zydeco, and rural Zulu roots music called mbaqanga. He recorded collabs with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Linda Ronstadt, and Los Lobos.
We're Going To Graceland
Warner Bros.
The album became 'Graceland' and it would become Simon's most popular solo work. Upon its release, it was a commercial and critical smash hit around the world and has sold more than 14 million copies. In fact, it was the world's bestselling album in 1987. The record's lead single was "You Can Call Me Al" and the video (the second of two), featuring then-beloved comedian Chevy Chase, was in heavy rotation on MuchMusic. Simon received Grammys for Album of the Year and Record of the Year for 'Graceland'. He followed it up with the well-received and Grammy-nominated record 'The Rhythm of the Saints' in 1990.
Park Life
Paul Simon
With two hit albums behind him, Simon staged another massive concert in Central Park in 1991, almost exactly a decade after his performance with Garfunkel. This time, African and South American bands accompanied him. Garfunkel complained to the press that he hadn't been invited. #drama
September 11th
NBC
Simon performed "The Boxer" at the opening of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" after the September 11th attacks. In 2002, he wrote and recorded "Father and Daughter", the theme song for 'The Wild Thornberrys Movie'. The track was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. In 2003, he participated in another Simon & Garfunkel reunion. His 2006 collab with Brian Eno, the album 'Surprise', was a hit and then in 2007,
'Graceland' was added to the prestigious National Recording Registry, having been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."
So Beautiful
Paul Simon
In February 2009, Simon reunited with Art Garfunkel for a New York City show that also featured the cast of 'The Capeman' and 'Graceland' bassist Bakithi Kumalo. Simon and Garfunkel toured internationally in 2009. Simon's next solo album, 'So Beautiful or So What' was warmly received. On June 3, 2016, Simon released his thirteenth (spooky!) album, 'Stranger to Stranger'; it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart.
Saturday Night
Paul Simon
Earlier this year, Simon announced his plan to retire from performing. His farewell tour kicked off in May in Vancouver and wrapped up last month in NYC, just a few weeks after Simon dropped his fourteenth record, 'In the Blue Light'. On October 13, his 77th birthday, Simon will return to 'Saturday Night Live' as the musical guest, with SNL alum Seth Meyers as host. Simon is the oldest musical guest to appear on 'SNL'. He's a year older than fellow friend-of-'SNL' Paul McCartney. The early 1940s was a great era for Pauls. And the era since 1960 has been a great time for music, thanks in no small part to Simon's capacity to take risks to create work that resonates. Happy birthday, Rhymin' Simon!

Rhymin’ Paul Simon At 77: An Icon Slip Slidin’ Along

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