Simon & Garfunkel Singer Art Garfunkel Discloses Reason The Two Split

Aug 11, 2021 by apost team

Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk-rock duo who went on to become one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s. With hits like "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," and "Bridge over Troubled Water," they found great success after many years of hard work and struggling. However, it was far from smooth sailing for the pair over the years together.

Consisting of members singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel, the duo were longtime friends as they had met back in elementary school in Queens, New York. They went on to win a handful of Grammy Awards and were even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

However, fame, fortune, and personal insecurities got in the way of their trajectory to even more success, resulting in the two feuding and ultimately splitting up. They had struggled with being seen as equal in their partnership, both personally and professionally. Both Simon and Garfunkel embarked on solo careers following the duo's split.

Although they had reunited a handful of times, the musical pair eventually called it quits for good in 2010. As working musicians, they had officially ended their time together back in 1970 but had reunited periodically over the next 40 years. Coming back together for a concert in Central Park back in 1981 was one of the most notable reunions for the pair. Coming forward to explain the real reason behind the duo's ultimate decision to end it for good, Garfunkel opened up about just how the unfortunate events transpired.

After meeting in elementary school in Queens, New York, in 1953, Simon and Garfunkel discovered that they both shared musical abilities that complemented one another. After learning how to harmonize and writing material together, they decided to embark on a journey toward making music their career. In 1957, under the name Tom & Jerry, the pair found their first minor success with the release of "Hey Schoolgirl," a song that imitated their idols, the Everly Brothers.

Moving forward with their backup plan, the two enrolled in college following their high school graduation in 1958. While Simon studied English at Queens College, City University of New York, Garfunkel studied art history at Columbia University, according to Far Out Magazine. Although they were both signed to Big Records as a unit, Simon released a solo single titled "True or False" under the moniker True Taylor. According to Far Out Magazine, this was the first of a long list of betrayals and issues between Simon and Garfunkel. 

After their debut album sold poorly, they disbanded, and Simon embarked on a solo career in England. However, a new version of "The Sound of Silence" was released in June 1965, overdubbed with electric guitar and drums. It ultimately became a commercial success in the United States and even reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. 

Simon and Garfunkel reunited to ride their new wave of success and released their sophomore album, "Sounds of Silence," before embarking on a nationwide tour to various colleges and universities. The pair found more creative control with their third album, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme," released in 1966. Their music, including the single "Mrs. Robinson," was also featured in the 1967 film "The Graduate," leading them to further exposure. 

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Their final album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," was released in 1970 and went on to become one of the world's best-selling albums. However, throughout their time together as a musical duo, Simon and Garfunkel struggled to be seen as equals in the public eye and to each other. Far Out Magazine explained that Garfunkel believed Simon was the more powerful one in the duo, as he could sing and write music, while Garfunkel was just seen as the singer. This toxic rivalry continued to transpire over the course of their career.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that working on the film "Catch-22" was the start of the pair's breakup. Charles Grodin, director, and producer of the documentary "Simon and Garfunkel: Songs of America," pointed the finger at director Mike Nichols. At first, both Simon and Garfunkel had been cast in Nichols' adaptation of "Catch-22," but Simon's role was later cut. "This was the beginning of their split-up," Grodin explained, calling the entire ordeal "outrageous."

Speaking with the Guardian, Garfunkel explained that he was "shocked and hurt" by Simon's actions in secretly recording and releasing a solo album, which was the reason behind the duo's initial split. Mort Lewis, the band's manager, expressed that "they both envied the other's place in the team," but it was ultimately Garfunkel's insecurities and struggles with getting over what happened during their Tom & Jerry days. 

In 2017, Garfunkel confirmed Lewis' thoughts in his memoir "What Is It All But Luminous: Notes from an Underground Man." In the memoir, Garfunkel wrote, "I concluded in an eighth of a second, and the friendship was shattered for life… I never forget, and I never really forgive." 

What do you think about the reason behind Simon & Garfunkel's breakup? Are you still a fan of their music? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family, too!