2008

Legendary New York Disc Jockey Pete Fornatale has just completed, "Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends." Fornatale traces the social climate and popular culture of 1968 that created what he says was one of rock's ultimate "concet' albums. Fornatale, a dedicated archivist, was not only present at the creation, he took notes and made tapes. Purchase it online

The Starbucks coffee chain released a new Simon & Garfunkel CD "Live 1969", a disc drawn from previously unreleased recordings from the duo's November 1969 U.S. tour.

Charles Grodin, long-time friend of Art Garfunkel's from their days working together on the movie "Catch-22," published "If I Only Knew Then... Learning from Our Mistakes." Mr. Grodin asked 82 celebrity contributors to write about their biggest mistakes and the lessons learned from them. Art Garfunkel contributes a piece on finishing vocals for the "Bookends" album and the first concert in support of the LP. Royalties will be donated to HELP USA, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant.

Art attends the 36th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Warren Beatty at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on June 12, 2008

ART ANSWERS FAN QUESTIONS:

In the 1975 BBC Radio 1 special Paul Simon had contributed some rare tracks and demos of his own to the radio series and the one rare AG track that I recall was a solo demo of "Scarborough Fair". It had a slightly different melody than the released version and a totally different guitar accompaniment. Do you have anything else "laying around" that could be used to make a box set for the hardcore fans along the lines of Dylan's "Bootleg" series? (Submitted by Roy D. from Illinois)

• I'm sure I do. It's down to how hard I scour the house and how deep is the interest.

At the time you and Paul recorded your albums did you know that young people today would still relate to your songs? Are you surprised when you see teenagers sing along to your songs? (Submitted by E. Pedersen from Denmark)

• I remember standing in front of the mic in the recording studio in the 60s asking of myself a performance level that was worth a Record for time. How much time? Well I thought, if it's superfine it may mean something in the next century.

Do you have any memories of recording with Jerry Garcia? And which track did he play guitar on "Angel Clare?"
(Submitted by Roy D. from Illinois)

• "Down In the WIllow Garden". I remember him saying "this is the kind of song I like." Roy (Halee) and I overdubbed him at the Columbia - Folsom St. studio in San Francisco. He was real nice, "one of us" musicians.

If you could travel back in time and solve an unsolved murder case which one would you choose?
(Submitted by J. Carter from Spain)

• How exactly did Napoleon die.

Do you watch television? What shows?
(Submitted by N. Mason from Canada)

• I watch sports. NBA play-offs, baseball, some CNN, evening news, Letterman. Never 7pm-11pm TV.

Do you ever play Sudoku and do you find it difficult or easy?
(Submitted by Marcia from Ireland)

• Don't play.

Rolling Stone Magazine polled over 170 singers, producers, music journalists and industry executives to list his or her 20 favorite vocalists from the rock era. The top selections were tabulated for Rolling Stone Magazine's "Top 100 Singers of All Time." "He is a pure and beautiful tenor voice, and there really is no one like him," says James Taylor about Art Garfunkel.

2009

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon performed together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary celebration at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 29th. The duo performed; "Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "Cecelia," "The Boxer" and a powerful version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" to a rousing ovation. Other performers included; Bruce Springsteen, U2, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin and Metallica. All proceeds go to an endowment for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and museum in Cleveland. HBO aired the show on November 29, 2009.

Larry Knechtel, pianist on "BOTW" died at age 69 on August 20, 2009. Larry Knechtel earned a Grammy award for his arrangement of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." He worked closely with Art on several solo albums, including, "Angel Clare," "Breakaway," "Fate for Breakfast" and "Scissors Cut."

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon completed a critical and commercially successful 2-month tour of New Zealand, Australia and Japan. This time around, Garfunkel and then Simon each played a mini-set of their solo work. BILLBOARD'S Lars Brandle wrote of Art's performance, "with Garfunkel’s ethereal “Bright Eyes” both a surprise and a high point." Art also performed "Perfect Moment" and "A Heart In New York."

Joanne Woodward, Robert Redford and Julia Roberts hosted a Celebration of Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps on June 8 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York. At Joanne Woodward's request, Art Garfunkel performed Bright Eyes and Goodnight, My Love. Also appearing: Harry Connick, Jr., Yo-Yo Ma, Jerry Seinfeld, James Taylor and the Hole in the Wall Campers.

Art Garfunkel made a special guest appearance as himself on the March 1 episode of HBO's comedy, "Flight of the Conchords." Conchords' Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie wrote the episode, titled "Prime Minister," around him, and then prayed he'd say yes to a cameo. Garfunkel says he took "a leap a faith" and signed on without seeing a script.

In the episode, Jemaine and Bret book a gig as Simon and Garfunkel lookalikes, where they meet Karen (guest star Mary Lynn Rajskub, 24's Chloe), a woman who asks Jemaine on a date. The catch: He has to wear his Garfunkel costume, even when they have sex — she calls it "Garfunkling."

The beautifully restored Beacon Theatre in New York City re-opened after a seven month, $16 million renovation on February 13, 2009 with Paul Simon as the only scheduled artist for the evening. After nearly 90 minutes of a great show, the audience heard the words: "Ladies and gentlemen, my old friend Art Garfunkel." The pair performed “The Sound of Silence,” “The Boxer” and “Old Friends” during the encore. Garfunkel had flown in from Florida, where he played in Key Largo the night before.

"The fact that you still care is tremendous," Art said, during the standing ovation that followed "The Sound of Silence". The duo then sang (as did the audience) "The Boxer" and closed with a stirring medley of "Old Friends" and "Bookends." In the audience were; Mayor Michael Bloomberg, James Gandolfini, Harvey Weinstein, Paul McCartney, the Jonas Brothers and Jon Bon Jovi.

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 20, 2008.

On October 23rd, Art Garfunkel visited Yale for a Master’s Tea to field questions about his most successful songs, his artistic relationship with Paul, and his favorite “guilty pleasures.” The Tea had been very well-attended, with a line for seats stretching out the Swing Space door outside the office, fans mingled and waited for autographs.