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Highlands Today

Art Garfunkel On Music And His Career

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: December 14, 2007

SEBRING — Art Garfunkel is playing two dates, Jan. 15-16, at the Lyric Theatre in Stuart. The next morning, he'll rent a car and drive across the Florida plains to Avon Park, where he'll play at South Florida Community College.

It was snowing in Manhattan when he answered the phone Thursday.

"I'm going to warn you. It's a very laid-back day. The Christmas tree just came."

Is he taking the time, while he's here, to bring his children to Disneyland and enjoy the 80-degree temperature?

"I won't have my son Beau with me," Garfunkel replied. "He's 2."

Garfunkel was born Nov. 5, 1941 in New York City, so he's 66. He and his wife, Kim, had Beau through a surrogate mother. This is their second child. James was born in 1990, two years after they wed.

Tall, lanky, curly-haired Garfunkel was acclaimed as one of the most beautiful tenor voices in pop music back in the 1960s. Best known for harmonizing with Paul Simon, Garfunkel also attempted an acting career with Robert Alda in "Catch-22" and as Jack Nicholson's buddy in "Carnal Knowledge."

He and Simon met in the sixth grade and between 1956 and 1962 performed as Tom & Jerry. In 1962, Garfunkel earned a bachelor's of art history, and later a master's in math.

In 1964, Simon & Garfunkel released their folk album debut, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." It flopped. But then came "The Sounds of Silence," a huge hit.

Feeling Groovy

Garfunkel will play seven dates in January, then take off three weeks. Then he's scheduled eight nights in February. In April, the tour will end, and he'll take off the rest of the year.

"I want to cool it for a while," said Garfunkel.

His accent sounds aristocratic, almost Cary Grant British, as if it came from a 1940s movie.

He went over his South Florida playlist: "I like Mrs. Robinson a little less than most of them," Garfunkel said. "I guess it's because I miss my old songwriting partner Paul Simon. Paul was a great guitar player. He was one of those loosey-goosey rhythm-style guitar players."

Garfunkel didn't say it directly, but Simon's replacement in Garfunkel's band apparently can't achieve Simon's spontaneous beauty.

He's been playing Simon & Garfunkel tunes for five decades, but Garfunkel says he doesn't get tired of the old songs.

"When do you get tired of holding your wife?" Garfunkel asked. "Every time I sing them, I get re-entranced with the songwriter's skill."

His voice caresses the words, he said, and then he sang a few bars of one his favorite songs, "American Tune."

He still admires the imagery of "Scarborough Fair," which Garfunkel calls a tapestry.

When he sings, "She once was, a true love of mine," it's a reminder of love lost.

Modern Music

Garfunkel confesses he hasn't kept up with his homework when it comes to modern groups. He's never heard of "Kings of Convenience," who've been called the Norwegian S&G. But, he says, he'll have to listen to them now.

Instead, he remembered the Everly Brothers and the High-Lows, and Joan Baez. "Her flutey soprano was lovely."

Although Simon & Garfunkel were among the premier folk singers of their generation, Garfunkel says, "I was not so entranced with the folk scene."

And he still admires Jackson Brown, Joanie Mitchell, Randy Newman and James Taylor. Those are the albums he'll buy and eagerly listen to.

A modern Luddite, he doesn't own a cell phone or a computer.

"Never bought one," he said. So he doesn't download. But he unapologetically detests illegal downloading. Music pirates, Garfunkel said, are ruining the music industry.

Ironically, although Garfunkel referred to Paul Simon in passing, he didn't like questions about his ex-partner.

They did get together in 2003-04 for a 40-city world tour, and were presented a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys. Along the way, Garfunkel realized that he and Simon are both papas, and that they're both relaxed guys.

Was there a time when they weren't friends?

Garfunkel got testy and accusing, sad that the mood of the interview had been spoiled.

Do you have any future play dates with Simon? Garfunkel didn't want to say.

The Team

Simon was the great writer, Garfunkel was the great singer. Yes, they harmonized and played well together. But it went farther than that.

"We came together in the control room, behind the glass," he said. In their roles as record producers, they shared choices, determined the structure of songs.

"We played lots of sonic games, there's the real thing we did. We took these great songs, good singing, nice tenors, and made records with great care and craftsmanship. We spent a lot of money and a lot of time stroking them records and getting them right."

After 20 minutes on the telephone, he listened to a question, and said he hoped it was the last one.

Okay. So why is it that musicians burn so brightly in youth, but with few exceptions – like Willie Nelson or Sting or U2 – so glow dimly in maturity?

"Because money rules everything on this earth," Garfunkel said. "And we have an entertainment market that follows youth."

Would he like to talk about about his 2007 album "Some Enchanted Evening"? Garfunkel was true to his word. He had nothing else to day.

For the record, it's a collection of old standards like "I Remember You," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Let's Fall in Love," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."

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