Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel met in elementary school back in the ’50s, and had their first taste of musical success as teens, performing as the duo, Tom & Jerry. They were signed to their first recording contact in 1963, singing folk and utilizing their real names—Simon & Garfunkel.
Both have said they never imagined that all these years later people would still be talking about them and listening to their music, but Simon & Garfunkel are considered one of the most popular duos of all-time, selling more than 100 million records.
Their history is now being told in The Simon & Garfunkel Story, a musical theater experience that will be playing at the National Theatre on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
The catalog of songs that Simon & Garfunkel is known for is tremendous, with legendary tunes such as “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” “The Sound of Silence,” “Homeward Bound,” “Cecilia,” “The Boxer” and “Mrs. Robinson”—all of which are performed in the show.
Dean Elliott, writer and director of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, feels that the poetic lyrics, amazing harmonies and strong music keeps these songs relevant in 2020.
“I think they speak exactly the same as they did 50 years ago,” he says. “The songwriting is intelligent and universal and the lyrics are poignant and timeless.”
For example, “The Sound of Silence.”
“This song sounds like it could have been written today,” Elliott says, drawing attention to the line, “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening.” “It’s about humans’ inability to communicate clearly with each other.”
Additionally, the songs have stayed significant through the years for a number of reasons.
“Firstly, the sound of their voices blending is beautiful and very easy to listen to,” Elliott says. “Secondly, Paul Simon is an extraordinary song writer who has the ability to resonate with his audience and provide songs that will last forever.”
That’s a feeling shared by Taylor Bloom and Ben Cooley, who play Simon and Garfunkel respectively in the show.
“Paul Simon is a great songwriter and great songwriters write great songs,” Cooley says. “The way he wrote these songs were from his life and there is a lot of truth in the songs and people grab on to that. They’re as much true today as when they were originally written.”
Bloom agrees, and notes there are a compilation of different factors that make these songs stand the test of time.
“Paul is such a master of taking something that sounds familiar and adding a spin and making it sound new and exciting melodically,” he says. “In terms of his lyrics, he writes very poetically and very accessible. They are not highbrow of overly sophisticated. They are something people can understand deep in their souls. Add on top of that, Art Garfunkel’s harmony lines, which elevate Paul Simon’s music to this place, and it’s the big X-factor. With all of that coming together, it just makes sense that it’s endured so long.”
The Simon & Garfunkel Story is onstage at the National Jan 31-Feb 1, 2020. DCTS details and tickets
Cooley didn’t know much about the duo’s music when he was cast, and was immediately impressed with the 10 Grammy wins and numerous other accolades the pair picked up through the years. He notes while he listened to James Taylor and some other singer/songwriters thanks to his mom, he never heard much of Simon & Garfunkel’s catalog.
“My own musical taste is very sporadic. I might listen to a random Disney soundtrack or I might listen to complete electronic music,” he says. “I knew maybe two or three of their songs. I started listening to their music, getting all the albums and getting the music in my brain.”
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He’s glad he did, because he has developed a big appreciation for the songs and now listens to them as part of his playlist.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story begins with the origins of the singers, from their humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups and their dramatic split in 1970. The show culminates with the famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981, which saw more than half a million fans in attendance.
“We go through the music in chronological order, interjecting with stories about what’s going on in the world at the time and what’s going on in their lives at the time, including their relationship.”
Cooley and Bloom have been performing together for approximately two years, and the pair have become great friends.
“We are very good at playing off each other and being story tellers, as well as fun people to listen to,” he says. “The whole band has worked hard to make the songs sound as close as they can to the records. The show is very nostalgic and will bring people back to those times.”
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