Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the legendary folk-rock duo behind hits like Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Sound of Silence, captivated audiences with their harmonious melodies.
However, their successful partnership came to an end in 1970 due to personal tensions, creative differences, and conflicts over individual ambitions. While they reunited sporadically over the years, their relationship remained strained.
Childhood Friendship and Early Music Career
Simon and Garfunkel’s partnership began long before they became global music icons. They met in fourth grade and quickly bonded over their shared love for music.
By age 13, they had already written their first song, The Girl for Me. In 1957, they performed under the name Tom & Jerry and even scored a minor hit with Hey Schoolgirl.
However, their early career was not without obstacles. According to Garfunkel, their initial success was short-lived, leading to a temporary fallout between them.
Despite their differences, they eventually reunited and, in 1966, skyrocketed to fame with The Sound of Silence. Their music continued to dominate the charts, with hits like Mrs. Robinson, which was featured in the film The Graduate in 1968.
Growing Tensions: Ego and Resentment
Even at the height of their success, tensions between Simon and Garfunkel were brewing. Their manager, Mort Lewis, revealed that Simon often felt overshadowed by Garfunkel, who was the lead vocalist.
Meanwhile, Garfunkel was aware that Simon, as the primary songwriter, held more creative control over their music. This power imbalance led to a growing sense of resentment on both sides.
The Breaking Point: Garfunkel’s Acting Career
The final blow to their partnership came when Garfunkel pursued an acting career. Both musicians had been cast in Mike Nichols’ 1970 film Catch-22, but Simon’s role was ultimately cut.
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While Simon was left disappointed, Garfunkel moved forward with his acting ambitions and secured a role in Nichols’ next film, Carnal Knowledge (1971), alongside Jack Nicholson and Candice Bergen.
What upset Simon most was that Garfunkel never told him about Carnal Knowledge until after committing to the project.
Feeling betrayed, Simon confronted Garfunkel, who admitted that he feared Simon would stop working on their music if he had known. Simon saw this as a breaking point and decided to end their musical partnership.
Ironically, years earlier, Simon had similarly recorded solo songs behind Garfunkel’s back, which had also caused tension.
However, by 1970, Simon had realized he could successfully continue his career without Garfunkel, and their final concert as a duo took place in July of that year.
Reunion Attempts and Lingering Tensions
Despite their falling out, Garfunkel found it difficult to accept the breakup, later questioning why Simon would walk away from such a successful collaboration.
In a 2015 interview, he even accused Simon of having a “Napoleon complex,” implying that his short stature contributed to his controlling nature.
Despite these harsh words, the duo reunited on a few occasions. In 1981, they performed a free concert in New York City’s Central Park, which attracted over 500,000 fans.
In 2002, they reunited at the Grammy Awards to perform The Sound of Silence, which led to a successful reunion tour from 2003 to 2004.
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Plans for another tour in 2010 were scrapped when Garfunkel developed vocal cord issues, forcing him to step away from performing.
By the time Simon embarked on his farewell tour in 2018, many hoped for a final reunion, but Simon declined to bring Garfunkel on stage.
