Simon & Garfunkel are the iconic American folk-rock duo known for their close vocal harmonies and timeless songs like The Sound of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water; their influential catalog continues to shape singer-songwriter and folk music today. With Paul Simon’s songwriting and Art Garfunkel’s angelic tenor, the pair defined 1960s folk-pop and left a lasting legacy in music history.
The duo’s breakthrough came partly because folk clubs and college audiences loved their close vocal harmonies trained on doo-wop and high-school pop as much as on traditional folk
Practice Questions
Q:Which album is their most celebrated release?
A:Bridge over Troubled Water
Released in 1970, the album showcased emotional depth, strong production, and commercial success, earning critical praise and becoming their best-selling and most awarded record.
Q:Which famous live performance boosted their profile?
A:Central Park Concert, 1981
Their free 1981 Central Park reunion performance drew an estimated half-million people, reaffirming their cultural impact and renewing widespread public interest in the duo.