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Art Garfunkel
Voice of Generations
2026 — 70 years since Art Garfunkel’s first contract signing as Tom Graph with Tom & Jerry
Career Milestones
This page documents the career milestones of Art Garfunkel, from the most recent to the earliest beginnings. It provides a structured overview of the key stages of his artistic work, from early solo and duo projects through Simon & Garfunkel to current projects like Garfunkel & Garfunkel. All milestones are explored in detail on the subpages.
2024 – First Album „Father and Son“ 2024 saw the release of the first joint album by Garfunkel & Garfunkel, Father and Son. It unites decades of collaboration between Art Garfunkel and his son Art Garfunkel Jr., presenting new songs as well as reinterpretations of classic tracks. The album marks a significant milestone in Garfunkel’s career and inaugurates a new duo.
2017 – Book „What is All About the Luminous“ In 2017, Art Garfunkel published his second book, What is All About the Luminous. It contains personal reflections, poetic texts, and insights into his artistic world. The work complements his career and shows Garfunkel as a versatile artist beyond music.
From 2017 – „In Close-Up“ Tour From 2017, Art Garfunkel started the In Close-Up tour, an intimate concert format with stories and singing. European dates originally planned for 2020/2021 were completely cancelled due to COVID-19; other dates were later rescheduled. He was sometimes accompanied by his son Art Garfunkel Jr.
31 July 2004 – „Old Friends“ Tour, Rome Finale The European finale of the Old Friends tour took place on 31 July 2004 in front of the Colosseum in Rome. Around 600,000 spectators attended, demonstrating the enduring popularity and success of the duo.
2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award Simon & Garfunkel received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2003. The award recognized their career achievements and lasting contributions to music history.
19 September 1981 – Central Park Benefit Concert Simon & Garfunkel performed at Central Park in New York in front of over 500,000 spectators. The benefit concert became one of the largest live music events in history and was released as a double LP.
1989 – Book „Still Water Prose“ Art Garfunkel published his first book, Still Water Prose, in 1989. It contains autobiographical texts, reflections, and lyrical elements, complementing his artistic career.
1975 – Song „My Little Town“ (collaboration with Paul Simon) Simon & Garfunkel recorded My Little Town, appearing on both Paul Simon’s album Still Crazy After All These Years and Garfunkel’s Breakaway. This collaboration highlights their artistic connection after the duo’s separation.
1973 – First Solo Album „Angel Clare“ Art Garfunkel released his first solo album, Angel Clare, in 1973. The album marked the beginning of his independent career and presented him as a solo artist.
1971–1972 – Teacher at Litchfield Academy Art Garfunkel taught geometry to tenth graders at the Litchfield Academy in Connecticut. This period represents an unusual station in his life outside of music.
16 March 1971 – Grammys for „Bridge Over Troubled Water“ Bridge Over Troubled Water won five Grammys out of six nominations, including Album of the Year. The awards highlight the duo’s outstanding artistic achievement.
1970 – Acting Debut „Catch-22“ Art Garfunkel appeared in Catch-22 in 1970, marking the beginning of his film career. The role demonstrates his versatility beyond music.
1967 – Film „The Graduate“ and Song „Mrs. Robinson“ Mrs. Robinson became the title song of the film The Graduate and a worldwide hit, cementing Garfunkel’s international reputation.
1 January 1966 – Breakthrough with „The Sound of Silence“ The electrified version of The Sound of Silence reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the international breakthrough of Simon & Garfunkel.
1964 – First Album „Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.“ The debut album by Simon & Garfunkel established the roles of Simon as composer and Garfunkel as singer, laying the foundation for their musical career.
1961 – First Solo Single as Artie Garr Garfunkel’s first solo single under the name Artie Garr marked the beginning of his independent musical steps.
1957 – First Single „Hey, Schoolgirl“ as Tom & Jerry Tom & Jerry released Hey, Schoolgirl, selling over 150,000 copies. The single marks the early beginnings of Garfunkel’s career.
1956 – First Recording Contract as Tom & Jerry Garfunkel and Simon signed their first recording contract as Tom & Jerry, marking the official start of their professional music career.
Early Summer 1953 – First Meeting with Paul Simon Art Garfunkel met Paul Simon during rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland. From this school friendship emerged one of the most influential duos in the folk and pop-rock scene, shaping Simon & Garfunkel.
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