Born 85 Years Ago Today In NYC, He Helped Turn Folk Music Into Pop Gold

We rarely hear about Art Garfunkel these days, but his influence on music still reverberates. As one-half of the duo of Simon & Garfunkel (along with Paul Simon), he helped turn folk music into mainstream pop with hits like "The Sound of Silence" and "Mrs. Robinson." His smooth, high tenor lent itself to the clear and emotive vocalizations that made "Bridge Over Troubled Water" a stand out song, and these songs are now regarded as iconic songs of the '60s — and they still hold up after all these years.

Garfunkel was born in New York City on November 5, 1941. He met his aforementioned collaborator when they were still in elementary school, marking the beginning of their musical relationship. The pair recorded their earliest songs in Garfunkel's parents' basement, going by the name Tom & Jerry. They even scored an early hit with "Hey, Schoolgirl," but their Tom & Jerry era is a footnote in their careers. Simon & Garfunkel released their debut album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.," in 1964 — but it wasn't an overnight success. The album contained an early rendition of "The Sound of Silence," but a remixed version of the single released the following year skyrocketed them to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. 

After that, the masses became enamored with the duo's pop-oriented brand of folk rock. However, Simon & Garfunkel split after recording 1970s "Bridge Over Troubled Water," which opened up new creative pathways for Art.

Art Garfunkel disappeared from the music industry to act and teach math after his group disbanded. Despite being a pivotal part of folk pop history, he lacked confidence in his abilities as a solo artist, according to what he told Rolling Stone in 1973. However, Garfunkel returned to the scene with 1973's "Angel Clare," expanding upon his folk rock roots by experimenting with other genres. The album climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that his knack for making hit records was still intact.

Garfunkel has continued to release solo albums throughout the years, most recently with 2024's "Father and Son." His output has been pretty sporadic since the '70s, but he has found time to reunite with Paul Simon throughout the years, leaving their differences in the past.

Some folks argue that Garfunkel helped invent folk rock, but he downplays his legacy for the most part. As he told Canvas, "I have a wife and kids. I have a family. I know what that means. What is my legacy? The world and all of its glamorous stars is a hit parade. They come up and then they go down." Garfunkel's fans might think that he should give himself more credit, as he did help bring folk pop to the masses. Be that as it may, he seems to understand the cyclical nature of the music business better than anyone.