Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is a musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He is a 1958 graduate of Forest Hills High School, in Forest Hills, NY. Simon met future partner Art Garfunkel in 1953 and wrote his first song (“The Girl for Me”) for the pair soon after that. When in high school, the two boys recorded another song under the name Tom & Jerry. After going off to college, the young men reunited as Simon & Garfunkel and became one of the most popular recording acts of the 1960s, with Simon writing almost all their songs. The two split in 1970, although they have reunited to perform on a number of occasions. Simon has gone on to have a hugely successful solo career. His most popular album to date is Graceland (1986), although he has received accolades for much of his work. He also wrote and starred in 1980’s One-Trick Pony (for which he also wrote all the songs). Simon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and is on two Rolling Stone “100 Greatest” lists: Guitarists (2011) and Songwriters (2015). His latest album is 2016’s Stranger to Stranger, which has received widespread positive reviews.
Awards (partial list):
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Bridge over Troubled Water. 1971
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year for “Bridge over Troubled Water.” 1971
- Grammy Award for Song of the Year for “Bridge over Troubled Water.” 1971
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Still Crazy After All These Years. 1976
- Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Still Crazy After All These Years. 1976
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Graceland. 1987
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year for “Graceland.” 1988
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (for Simon & Garfunkel). 2003
- Kennedy Center Honors Award. 2002
- Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. 2007
Source: Wikipedia