Art Garfunkel
Voice of generations
Art Garfunkel – An Artist and His Journey
Art Garfunkel is one of the most extraordinary voices of our time. From his early years in New York to his legendary partnership with Paul Simon to his impressive solo career, his story tells of artistic passion, personal growth, and musical mastery. This biography provides an authentic insight into the life and development of an artist who touched millions of people with his music.
Profile
Name
Stage name
birth date
Place of birth
Zodiac sign
Parents
Ancestry
Siblings
Wife
Children
Place of residence
Professional qualification
Occupations practiced
Arthur Ira Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
November 5, 1941
Forest Hills
New York
Scorpion
Jacob (Jack) Garfunkel
Rose Garfunkel
Moldovan (Romanian) Jews
Jules Garfunkel
Jerome Garfunkel
1972 - 1975
Linda Grossman
since September 18, 1988
Kathryn Luce (Kim) Cermak
Arthur Jr
(born December 15, 1990)
Beau Daniel
(* October 5, 2005)
Manhattan/Upper East Side
Bachelor of Arts
Master in didactics
Masters in Mathematics
Singer
Actor
poet
Mathematics teacher
Early Life and First Musical Steps
Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born on November 5, 1941, in Forest Hills, New York. He is the son of Rose and Jack Garfunkel and grew up with his two brothers, Jules (older) and Jerôme (younger), in a Jewish family with Moldavian roots.
He discovered his love for music early on. At the age of four, his father gave him a tape recorder — a gift that laid the foundation for his artistic development. The young Art would spend hours recording his voice, listening back, analyzing, and honing his sense of sound, expression, and technique. "Singing and especially being able to record is simply wonderful," he later recalled.
At Forest Hills Elementary School, Garfunkel quickly became known for his exceptional tenor voice. He sang in the school hallways, acted in plays — and in sixth grade, appeared in a school production of Alice in Wonderland alongside a classmate named Paul Simon.
Meeting Paul Simon
Paul Simon grew up just a few blocks away. When he first heard Art Garfunkel sing, it was immediately clear they were musically destined for each other.
They began rehearsing together, performed at school talent shows, and spent countless evenings in a basement perfecting harmonies, songwriting, and stage presence.
During high school, they called themselves Tom & Jerry, fearing their real names might be seen as "too Jewish" in the music industry. In 1957, they recorded Simon's original song Hey Schoolgirl, which became a minor hit. Soon after, they signed with Big Records and appeared on the Dick Clark television show.
The duo worked as demo singers at the legendary Brill Building and gained early studio experience. However, their musical career stalled, and they began to wonder if they had already peaked at 16.
Studies and Return to Music
After graduating high school, they initially went separate ways.
Art Garfunkel stayed in New York and studied art history, architecture, and later mathematics at Columbia University, where he earned a master's degree. He continued singing during his studies and released early solo recordings under the name Artie Garr.
In 1962, Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon reunited — this time as a deliberate folk-oriented duo. They used their real names, Simon & Garfunkel, and set out to conquer the music scene with renewed artistic ambition.
International Breakthrough
In the years that followed, Simon & Garfunkel became one of the most influential duos in music history. Their songs — The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, The Boxer, and Scarborough Fair — became anthems of a generation.
The album Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) was their greatest success both artistically and commercially. The title track, sung by Art Garfunkel, became one of the most played songs of the 20th century. The album won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
Despite their success, the duo began to drift artistically. Garfunkel took on a film role in Mike Nichols' Catch-22, while Simon was already writing new material. Studio work was delayed and tensions grew.
After Bridge Over Troubled Water, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel officially parted ways.
Solo Career
Despite the split, they remained connected both professionally and personally. "I am proud to sing those wonderful songs. Now they are even sung in schools and churches," Garfunkel reflected.
In 1973, he released his first solo album Angel Clare, featuring Jimmy Webb's song All I Know. This was followed by successful albums such as Breakaway (1975), which included the hit I Only Have Eyes for You and the new track My Little Town, a duet with Paul Simon — their first collaboration since the split.
On the album Watermark (1977), Garfunkel worked again with Jimmy Webb. A highlight was What a Wonderful World, recorded with Paul Simon and James Taylor. The song Bright Eyes, from the animated film Watership Down, became a worldwide success.
Scissors Cut (1981) received critical praise but was commercially less successful.
Reunion at Central Park
In 1981, Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon returned to the stage together for the legendary Central Park concert in New York, in front of over 500,000 people. This was followed by a world tour, a double album, and a television special. A new album was planned but never completed — Paul Simon later used the songs for his solo work.
Garfunkel continued his solo career and also began acting — appearing in Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge and TV shows such as Laverne & Shirley. In 1998, he surprised audiences with a guest appearance as a singing moose in the children’s show Arthur.
Actor and Writer
Alongside his musical career, Art Garfunkel pursued acting and writing. He took a notable role in Mike Nichols' film Catch-22 (1970), followed by Carnal Knowledge (1971), showcasing his ability to portray deep and complex characters beyond his identity as a singer.
He also appeared in television series including Laverne & Shirley and made a memorable guest appearance in the children’s program Arthur as the "Singing Moose."
In 2017, he published his memoir What Is It All but Luminous, a personal and poetic collection of memories, reflections, and insights that reveals the depth of his artistic vision.
Later Years and Literary Work
During the 1990s, he released further albums including Up 'Til Now (1993) and the children’s album Songs from a Parent to a Child (1997), inspired by his son. In 1998, Everything Waits to Be Noticed marked his debut as a songwriter.
In 2003, Simon & Garfunkel reunited once more to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and performed The Sound of Silence live — a highlight of their musical reunion.
In 2017, Garfunkel’s memoir What Is It All but Luminous was published, providing a lyrical and intimate look at his life and art.
Garfunkel and Garfunkel
On November 8, 2024, Art Garfunkel and his son Arthur Garfunkel Jr. released their joint album "Garfunkel and Garfunkel – Father and Son."
The album showcases an impressive range: It includes both reinterpreted classics and original new compositions that interweave elements of folk, pop, and contemporary music. The harmonious fusion of their voices, characterized by depth and clarity, gives the work a distinctive emotional power.
For Art Garfunkel, this project is not only a musical collaboration, but also a personal journey. It reflects the pride of passing on his musical passion to the next generation and the joy of the creative partnership with his son. Arthur Garfunkel Jr. brings fresh ideas and modern influences that make the album particularly appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners.
Family and Personal Life
Art Garfunkel was married to Linda Grossman from 1972 to 1975. In the late 1970s, he was in a relationship with actress Laurie Bird, whose tragic death in 1979 profoundly affected him and led to a period of withdrawal from public life.
Since 1988, he has been married to Kim Cermak — a model, singer, and actress who occasionally performs as a background vocalist during his concerts. The couple has two sons:
Arthur Garfunkel Jr. (born December 15, 1990), also a singer,
Beau Daniel Garfunkel (born October 5, 2005).
Artistic Legacy
Art Garfunkel remains one of the most distinctive voices of his generation. As a singer, actor, lyricist, and thinker, his clarity, depth, and sensitivity have made him a defining artist of the 20th and 21st centuries.