Little-Known Details About Paul Simon's Private Life
Paul Simon's long and remarkable career has provided many soundtracks for America. While the industry titan is best known as half of Simon & Garfunkel, the poetic songwriter transitioned into a smash-hit solo artist after the duo broke up. There were a lot of hiccups along the road to glory, but all these years later, Paul has come forward with his wild story.
Paul's legacy is meaningless to him
Looking back on his folk-rock stardom and high-profile relationships, Paul Simon is surprisingly unsentimental. "I’m not that interested in my legacy. I didn’t do this so everyone would applaud for me when I’m dead," he told Vice in 2016.
It was some spark inside him that drove him to create music and allowed him to captivate so many people. "I didn’t do it for you, but I’m glad you like it," he added.
He was only one part of the success
It's fair to say that people did like it — and they liked it a lot. You don’t need to be a die-hard fan of his to recognize Paul Simon’s musical genius.
His 13 Grammys, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame prove it. Not to mention the sheer ubiquity of his music. But he didn’t reach that success on his own.
Moving to Queens and meeting his match
You could give part of the credit to his parents. After all, Louis and Belle Simon gave birth to him on October 13, 1941, but more importantly, they moved the family from New Jersey to Kew Gardens, Queens.
That was four years later, and it practically set their son on the future path to stardom. In Queens, Paul Simon met his classmate Art Garfunkel in the fourth grade.
A fateful meeting with Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel performed at a talent show, and Simon noted that a female classmate was impressed by guys who sang. So Simon found a new hobby! As high schoolers, Simon and Garfunkel teamed up as a singing duo.
Back then, though, they chose to call themselves Tom and Jerry. It was their attempt to distance themselves from their Jewish names. Still, the teens managed to snag a huge opportunity.