Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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GARFUNKEL, Art

Pop singer, actor. International fame with Paul Simon in Simon and Garfunkel '60s (which see); split caused partly by Garfunkel's decision to pursue acting career, making debut in Catch 22 '70. He appeared to considerable acclaim in Carnal Knowledge '71; spent six-figure sum and two years on debut solo LP Angel Clare '73 (title from character in Thomas Hardy's Tess), incl. US hits 'All I Know' (top ten '73), 'I Shall Sing' (top 40 '74). Breakaway '75 incl. Simon's song 'My Little Town'; Watermark '77 had hit cover of Sam Cooke's 'Wonderful World' (singing with Simon and James Taylor); Fate For Breakfast '79 and Scissors Cut '81 were characterized by lush over-production, songs by Jim Webb, Andrew Gold, Steven Bishop. Evergreen 'I Only Have Eyes For You' was top 20 hit USA, no. 1 UK '75; 'Bright Eyes' '79 (theme of film Watership Down) was another UK no. 1. For reunions with Simon see their entry; proposed studio duo LP was scrapped '82. He was praised for film Bad Timing '79, played guilty white liberal in hip-hop cop film Good To Go '86 (film was panned); album The Animals' Christmas '86 with Amy Grant, written by Webb, tells the story of the Nativity from the animals' point of view. Further albums were Lefty '88 and compilation Up 'Til Now '93. He has one of the purest voices in pop, is one of the few singers to make a successful transition to acting, but chooses projects only sporadically. He left Sony for Virgin and spent a lot of time becoming, as his friend James Taylor might have put it, a 'walking man', leaving a rented car at the side of the road and exploring bits of the country on foot: Across America '96 was his first live album (from concerts on Ellis Island), followed by studio album Songs From A Parent To A Child '97.