One of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" said Time magazine in 2006. That means that Paul Simon has made quite an impact here on earth in his now 70 years of existence. 13 Grammys, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame top Simon's claims to fame, and that doesn't even include what he did as half of Simon & Garfunkel. With the impact Paul Simon has had on the music world, you never know when you may run into a Paul Simon trivia question, so to celebrate his 70th birthday her the answers to a few of those questions that may pop up. 

  • Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982.
  • Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for International Solo Artist in 1987.
  • Was nominated for Broadway`s 1998 Tony Award as Best Original Musical Score for "The Capeman," his music with lyrics by Derek Walcott.
  • Is a long-time friend of fellow New Yorker Lorne Michaels, which has led to Simon and/or his songs appearing in numerous Michaels productions, including "Saturday Night Live" (1975)
  • Opened the first "Saturday Night Live" (1975) episode after the September 11th attacks, with his song "The Boxer", following this was the infamous exchange between Rudolph W. Giuliani and Lorne Michaels, where Michaels asked if it was okay to be funny.
  • Simon & Garfunkel were voted the 40th Greatest Artists in Rock `n` Roll by Rolling Stone.
  • Is left handed, but plays guitar right handed.
  • Attended a recording session in 1974 with Art Garfunkel, former The Beatles John Lennon, and singer Harry Nilsson. Lennon directed the session, and he and Simon reportedly clashed on Simon`s cue in the song, leading to Simon`s walking out (with Garfunkel close behind, making apologies) before anything was recorded.
  • Didn`t want to return to the US from England, where he was enjoying success with his solo album there, but Columbia Records invoked the letter of his and Art Garfunkel`s recording contract, forcing him to come back. (His UK album went out of print, and was only reissued in 2004.)
  • Wrote the song "The Only Living Boy In New York" about Art Garfunkel getting his role in Catch-22 (1970).
  • One of the few artists from his generation to own all the songs he`s written.
  • Is a Life member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (as a solo artist).
  • Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of Simon & Garfunkel) in 1990.
  • Designated a Kennedy Center Honors recipient for 2002 to replace Paul McCartney. McCartney had originally accepted the award, but later withdrew because of a `personal scheduling conflict.` The conflict was the wedding of his niece.
  • Is good friends with Chevy Chase. The two worked together on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). Chase has appeared in The Paul Simon Special (1977) (TV) and Simon`s music videos "You Can Call Me Al" and (alongside Steve Martin) "Proof".
  • Asked if there were any songs he`d written that he now regrets recording, he said no. However, he does say he`d hate to be remembered for the song "Feelin` Groovy".
  • Generally considers his solo work, especially the albums `Graceland` (1986) and `The Rhythm of the Saints` (1990), to be superior to his work with Simon & Garfunkel.
  • Once co-hosted "Saturday Night Live" (1975) with like-named U.S. Senator Paul Simon.
  • Father of Harper Simon, from his first marriage.
  • Former son-in-law of `Eddie Fisher` and Debbie Reynolds. Former brother-in-law of `Todd Fisher (I)`. Former half-brother-in-law of Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher.
  • His third child with Edie Brickell is named Gabriel.
  • He and Art Garfunkel sang as "Simon & Garfunkel" in the 60s and part of 70s
  • After his breakup with Carrie Fisher, he was depressed for 2 years. In 1985, his comeback album `Graceland`, included songs about her.
  • Was slated to play Dunbar in Catch-22 (1970) before the character was dropped.
  • Married to Edie Brickell with whom he has three children: Adrian Edward (born December 1992), Lulu (born April 1995) and Gabriel Elijah (born May 1998).
  • Paul Simon co-wrote the song "Red Rubber Ball" with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers. The song was recorded by the United States` group, The Cyrkle - as well as by The Seekers. Was in Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity in college with Art Garfunkel.
  • Before finding fame as a singer/songwriter under his real name, Paul Simon had a handful of minor hit singles under two psuedonyms. The best known psuedonym is "Jerry Landis", a name Simon initially used as a member of the duo "Tom and Jerry"; he also issued some solo material under this name. When the hits as "Landis" stopped coming, he changed his stage name to "Tico", and made some very minor chart entries as a member of "Tico & The Triumphs".
  • Released non-charting singles using the stage names "True Taylor" (in 1958) and "Paul Kane" (in 1963).
  • Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sung and wrote songs under the name `Tom and Jerry` in the late 1950s.

Paul Simon's first #1 as a member of Simon & Garfunkel...

...And his latest single called "The Afterlife"

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