Celebrating the birthday and seven-decades career of Paul Simon. (Born October 13, 1941.) Sixteen Grammys, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Oscar-winner, genre-busting hit-maker, exquisite lyricist ...

Click Paul to dig him singing"Late in the Evening," one of my favorites of all his "rockers."

... Paul Simon's musicality infuses our culture with melody, harmony, rhythm, and grace.

Speaking of "grace" ...

Click Paul performing "Graceland." The album so-titled sold 14 million copies worldwide on its release and remains his most popular solo work.

Clicking Paul and Art opens to their first hit, "Sounds of Silence." They recorded it in 1964 for their album, Wednesday Morning, 3 AM, which was a flop. (I did not know this!) Paul moved back in with his parents. But without telling Paul and Art, a producer added electric guitar, bass, and drums to the song and released it as a single. It went to number 1 on the pop charts.

Here's more Paul Simon music, with and without Art. If I included all of my favorites I'd still be writing this blog.

"Kodachrome" was a 1973 hit for Paul. It blends in perfectly with Chuck Berry's opus, "Mabelline," and thus Paul and Art pay tribute to one of their influences.

"Like a Bridge over Troubled Water"

One of Paul Simon's main contributions is bringing "world music" into the  mainstream. Certainly the albums, Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints, are great examples. Here's a song from Graceland that illustrates the point.

Paul Simon takes a final bow at his Austin, Texas, appearance on his Farewell Tour. Clicking the pic opens to him singing "Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard" at a concert in 1992.