Paul Simon’s solo album “Graceland” came during a dark time in the history of South Africa. Many artists opted to boycott the country, but surprisingly, Paul Simon wasn’t one of them. In fact, he recorded the album in the country.
However, he was still a vocal opponent of the oppression taking place there and recorded with numerous black artists for the record, including a duet with Linda Ronstadt in “Under African Skies” and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Simon was briefly listed on the U.N. Boycott list. He was later removed, though.
He Almost Got Dylan
While working on material for his "So Beautiful or So What" solo album, Simon reached out to fellow folk-rock legend Bob Dylan to record a duet. Despite the fact that the two toured together in 1999, Simon's request went unanswered for unknown reasons.
In an interview with "Uncut", Simon said that since Dylan's voice had become so weathered, that the singer would sound like a sage delivering life's wisdom to the listener. Simon is unsure why he didn't hear back, and so is, most likely, every folk-rock fan in the world. I guess we'll just have to dream.
Other Names
Before the two settled on Simon and Garfunkel as their moniker, and after abandoning Tom and Jerry, both members of the band found some success under different names. Simon reached the charts with the group Tico and the Triumphs with the song “Motorcycle,” and again with “The Lone Teen Ranger” under the name Jerry Landis.
Garfunkel released folk songs while he was in college under the name of Artie Garr. Of course, once they finished school and found their way back to each other, these temporary names fell by the wayside.
Beginning of the End
During a show in 2010, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Garfunkel began to have vocal problems. He was quickly diagnosed with vocal cord paresis, which is damage to the nerves that control the vocal cords. The rest of the tour dates were sadly canceled.
His camp informed Simon's camp that he would be ready within a year, but the time came and went and Garfunkel still wasn't well. Relationships were once again damaged, and it took several years for Garfunkel's voice to return to fullness – he strengthened himself with small audiences in a Harlem theater.
The Final Retirement
In 2014, Garfunkel told "Rolling Stone" that he believed he and Simon would tour again, acknowledging that audiences would want to see them again, and that he agrees, but that Simon might not. In 2016 he said they simply didn't get along anymore, and that touring wasn't fun. The relationship seemed on its last leg.
With the addition of Garfunkel's vocal problems, and the advancing ages of both members of the band, it seems likely we've seen the last of Simon and Garfunkel. In February of 2018, Simon announced his retirement from touring.