Art Garfunkel Expands On Emotional Meeting With Paul Simon & Expresses Hope For Musical Reunion

Last week, Art Garfunkel revealed to The Sun he recently reunited with former musical partner Paul Simon for a lunch that marked the pair’s first meeting in years. Garfunkel shared more details of the encounter on Monday during an appearance on TalkShopLive and said he’d love to make music with Simon again.

“I met with Paul Simon for the first time in years just recently,” Garfunkel told The Sun. “We had a lunch together. It was very, very warm and wonderful.” The 82-year-old musician became emotional during the encounter. “There were tears. I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him,” Garfunkel continued. “But there were hugs. I’m cherishing this two-week-old memory of having lunch with Paul Simon.”

Simon & Garfunkel last performed together in 2010. They appeared at the New Orleans Jazz Fest that year which was supposed to be the start of a North American Tour. Garfunkel struggled with vocal issues, and the tour was canceled, leading to animosity between the pair.

Art Garfunkel discussed the lunch while on TalkShopLive to promote his new album with son Art Garfunkel Jr., Father And Son. The legendary musician brought up his meeting with Paul Simon unprompted by host Steve Harkins. “We met each other recently for the first time in years. We got to hang out for a brief time. It was lovely. It had hugs in it. It had tears in it. It was wonderful to see Paul. It had been years,” Garfunkel explained.

Art Garfunkel then detailed the circumstances that led to the lunch. “He has an ex-wife who moved into the same place that I use as a studio,” Garfunkel said. “And I knew that I was going to run into Harper, their son. And Harper set up a dinner with Paul and I. And it was very warm, lovely.”

Steve Harkins asked questions submitted by fans towards the end of the Garfunkels appearance on TalkShopLive. One of the questions posed was if Art would be open to doing a reunion with Paul Simon if the opportunity presented itself. “I would. I don’t know how Paul feels. Paul is having trouble with his ear, his hearing is impaired. So I don’t know where he’s at,” Art Garfunkel responded. “I’d still do it. I love it and I’m open to it,” Art added.

Paul Simon retired from touring in 2018. As Art noted, Simon suffered from hearing loss in his left ear while recording his 2023 LP, Seven Psalms. However, Paul Simon recently said he is now “optimistic” he can perform full shows.

“I’m hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert. I’m optimistic. Six months ago I was pessimistic,” Simon told The Guardian in an interview published last month.

Watch Art Garfunkel Sr. and Art Garfunkel Jr.’s appearance on TalkShopLive below:

Father And Son is set for release this Friday, November 8.

[Hat Tip – American Songwriter]