2000

TV Guide – Art Garfunkel was interviewed in the January 15-21 issue. The article, entitled, “It’s Only Rock and Roll – But We Like It,” includes comments by Art (who also voted) and other musicians about VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll. “Bridge Over Troubled” (ranked #30) was the only Simon and Garfunkel tune to make the list.

On March 17th, Art Garfunkel was a special guest of The Chieftains at their annual St. Patrick’s Day concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. Art walked onto the stage to thunderous applause and sang “She Moved Through The Fair.” Art was then joined by his son James for a duet on “Morning Has Broken.”

American Heritage Magazine – in the February/March issue Tom Jordan asked celebrities to name the historic figure about whom they wish they’d learned more about in school. Art Garfunkel’s response: Woodrow Wilson.

Art Garfunkel was the subject of a 6-page article in the April 28th issue of OK! magazine (UK); includes an interview and 6 oversize color photos of Art, Kim and James at home.

Art Garfunkel appears on A&E’s Biography of Candice Bergen on June 1st.

More than 100,000 were in attendance to see Art Garfunkel perform on June 24th at the Boise River Festival in Boise, Idaho. It was the largest show in the festival’s history!

Art Garfunkel continued to record in the studio in between a full tour schedule. On June 27th he made an unannounced appearance at Eric Idle’s concert at Carnegie Hall. Art sang “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from the movie soundtrack to As Good As It Gets. On June 28th, Art was one of 50 celebrity guests of Al Gore who were asked to help out with upcoming political events. Other show business personalities included, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, Russell Simmons, Harvey Weinstein, and others. The get together was held at the East Side apartment of Mr. Gore’s daughter, Karenna Gore Schiff.

On July 2nd, Art Garfunkel sang “Bright Eyes” and “Kathy’s Song” at Buckingham Palace at the request of the Royal Family. $6 million was raised for the benefit of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. A special tennis match at the event – which was broadcast live by BBC Grandstand – featured a rematch of Wimbledon foes Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as well as matches including Anna Kournikova and Henri Leconte. His Royal Highness the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) hosted the event.

In August, Art Garfunkel was interviewed on VH1’s “100 Greatest Moments in Rock ‘n’ Roll,” about his reunion concert in Central Park with Paul Simon as well as Art’s thoughts on several other moments in rock ‘n’ roll television history.

On October 11th, Art Garfunkel attended the 16th annual New York Rita Hayworth Gala. This benefit show, raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, was held at the Waldorf-Astoria’s Grand Ballroom. Art performed at the 1998 fundraiser.

On October 19th, Art Garfunkel was the headline performer for a variety of international acts to celebrate the beginning of the peace/reuniting process between North and South Korea. Art performed three songs and closed out the set and concert with “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” “It’s an honor to be a part of this event,” Garfunkel said. “After the last 40 years of war and animosity between these two countries, it’s great to be a part of their coming together.” The concert took place at the Seoul Chamshil Olympic Stadium and was televised live on Korean TV. CNN and other networks had a direct feed for “news briefs.”

Art Garfunkel remembers John Lennon in the November 9th issue of ROLLING STONE magazine.

On November 18th, Art Garfunkel attended Michael Douglas’ and Catherine Zeta-Jones’ wedding at New York’s Plaza Hotel. Michael asked his friend Art to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the reception. Other performers included: Gladys Knight, Jimmy Buffet, Stephen Stills, Bonnie Taylor, and Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall. Jimmy Webb arranged the entire production. Notable celebrity guests included; Jack Nicholson, Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan, Oliver Stone, Danny DeVito, Anthony Hopkins, Karl Malden and Goldie Hawn.

Continuing his walk across Europe, Art Garfunkel treks across England, crosses the English Channel and continues across the Lower Normandy Region of France.

The ” Across America ” show was released on the DVD format. The disk features a bonus biography courtesy of the Art Garfunkel website.

Simon and Garfunkel’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified Diamond (over 10,000,000 units sold), and became the best-selling album ever by a duo. The announcement came from the Recording Industry Association of America, which tallies US sales of musical recordings. “I’m happy to know the music we made is shared by so many people,” says Art Garfunkel of the album, originally released in 1972.

John Bucchino, who wrote the beautiful ballad “Grateful,” which Art recorded at the Ellis Island concert in 1996 and subsequently released on the “Across America” CD, releases an album entitled “Grateful – The Songs of John Bucchino.” The album contains 16 songs performed by various artists, including Michael Feinstein, Patti LuPone, Liza Minnelli, Jimmy Webb, and Judy Collins. Art sings “If I Ever Say I’m Over You,” accompanied by John Bucchino on piano.

2001

The April 2001″Legends of Hollywood” issue of ” Vanity Fair ” has a three page fold-out photo (by Annie Leibowitz) of the four stars from Carnal Knowledge (Art Garfunkel, Jack Nicholson, Ann Margaret and Candice Bergen) along with director Mike Nichols. The feature celebrates the 30th anniversary since the release of the film.

Art Garfunkel sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts Annual Gala on April 22, 2001. The Kennedy Center Gala annually raises millions of dollars in support of arts education programs across the United States.

The May 9, 2001 episode of Felicity, the highly acclaimed WB Network show, featured the song “Bounce,” co-written by Billy Mann and Graham Lyle. The May 16th episode featured the song “A Perfect Moment,” co-written by Art Garfunkel, Buddy Mondlock, and Pierce Pettis .

Art performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with the National Symphony Orchestra for the National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday May 27, 2001 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The 90-minute program was broadcast live with an audience of 300,000 and an estimated 10 million people watching on PBS. Other participants included: Ossie Davis, Walter Cronkite, Charles Durning, John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Tom Bosley, Travis Tritt, Richard Crenna and Erick Kunzel.

Sony Legacy released Simon & Garfunkel: The Columbia Studio Recordings 1964-1970. The boxed set includes digitally-remastered versions of all five S&G studio albums: “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” “Sounds Of Silence” “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” “Bookends” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The package also features bonus tracks, a 74-page booklet with rare photos, and newly-written liner notes by Bud Scoppa. The specially-constructed long-box format contains each of the classic albums in its own cardboard sleeve, which closely replicate the original artwork and LP packaging for each title. Look for a demo of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” featuring Art Garfunkel singing the song with a slightly altered lyric. This alternate take alone is worth the price of the set. Sony Legacy also released the five albums individually in standard compact disc jewel cases.

The remasters, Garfunkel says, come as close to the real thing as it was back when he recorded them with Paul Simon in the ’60s. “When I play them at home in my kitchen and I crank out the volume real big…I take out my vinyl records and I relive those great nights in the studio. Whether it’s Hollywood or 52nd Street New York…when we made those wonderful sides…and at full volume I was back into the thrill of it all. And so I have it on the turntable and I’m reliving that full impact I had when the sound was the way we made it.”

God Bless America, a new Sony compilation of patriotic and inspirational songs, contains Simon and Garfunkel’s original recording of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” A substantial portion of the proceeds from sales of this album will be donated to the Twin Towers Fund in support of the many victims of all three attacks on America on September 11, 2001. Other performers on the CD include Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Estefan, and others.

Art performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on “Larry King Live” on Friday, November 2, 2001 in support of the victims survivors from the World Trade Center attack.

Art Garfunkel appeared at the Old Vic on November 18, 2001 in the first major multifaith international fundraising event to be held in London following the tragedy of September 11th. Unite For The Future aims to raise money for three causes united by the events of September 11th. The show was sold out.

Art Garfunkel’s September/October tour of 19 sold out shows in Japan was the longest tour in that country’s history for a western performer. Mr. Garfunkel thanked all of his fans in Japan for making this tour such a success.

Art Garfunkel was featured on VH-1’s “Rock’s Greatest Moments on TV – The Grammys.”

Two Simon & Garfunkel albums, Bookends (#93) and Bridge Over Troubled Water (#33), were featured on VH-1’s 100 Greatest Albums of Rock ‘n Roll.” Art Garfunkel was interviewed regarding these albums as well as his thoughts on several others.

2002

On October 8th, Art Garfunkel releases EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED on October 8th to critical acclaim. Released by EMI/Manhattan Records, Art is joined by guests Buddy Mondlock and Maia Sharp. In the Fall, Buddy Mondlock and Maia Sharp joined Art Garfunkel on a United States tour to promote EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED.

In addition to joining Art to perform 5 or 6 songs from the new album, Maia and Buddy performed short solo sessions to showcase their own material. Referring to the quality of Maia’s vocal and musical talent, Art said, “In the tradition of great female artists, Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan…now enter Maia Sharp.”

SIMON & GARFUNKEL, LIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY, 1967 – live CD from Paul’s & Art’s January 22, 1967 performance at Lincoln Center is released. According to Art Garfunkel, their harmonies “were never tighter” then during this concert.

The Chieftains released a new album which features “Morning Has Broken,” recorded by Art and Diana Krall during their Millenium cruise. The CD, The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration contains 19 songs with various artists from Sting to Elvis Costello performing.

ASCAP presented its Golden Note Award to Garth Brooks on March 12th at a reception and dinner held on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. Special guest Art Garfunkel sang a moving version of “America, The Beautiful,” accompanied by Jimmy Webb, David Gates (formerly of Bread) and Garth Brooks.

Art sang “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch on Opening Day for the New York Mets on April 1st.

Art Garfunkel and Patti LaBelle performed at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on May 22, 2002, to benefit drug and alcohol addiction recovery services of the Caron Foundation .

Art Garfunkel sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “America, The Beautiful” (the latter with son James) at the U.S. Open (tennis) on September 8th. Art performed during ceremonies marking September 11th as well as the last day of the Open.

Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock performed songs from and signed copies of EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED at Tower Records, Lincoln Center (66th & Broadway) in NYC on October 10. Later that month, Art, Maia & Buddy performed songs from EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED on the air at WFUV on the Folk City Live program with Dennis Elsas.

On November 23rd, Art, Maia & Buddy performed “Everything Waits To Be Noticed” live on NBC TV WEEKEND TODAY.

Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock appeared on the December 2 The Wayne Brady Show in support of EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED.

Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock performed on The World Cafe hosted by David Dye on WXPN Radio on December 20 (and repeated again on February 1st & 3rd 2003). The program was broadcast nationally via the Internet – WorldCafe.org.

2003

In support of EVERYTHING WAITS TO BE NOTICED, Buddy Mondlock and Maia Sharp joined Art Garfunkel for a spring tour (Germany, Austria, Ireland & England) . Art and his band performed material from the S&G catalog as well as Art’s solo career. In addition to joining Art for five or six songs from the new album, Buddy and Maia also performed separately to showcase their solo material.

Art Garfunkel appeared live on ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA on February 18th. Art performed a beautiful rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Perfect Moment.” “A voice from heaven,” said co-host Diane Sawyer in her introductory remarks.

On February 21st, Art Garfunkel along with Buddy Mondlock and Maia Sharp performed at The Town Hall in New York City.

Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon reunited and performed at the 2003 Grammy Awards in New York on February 23. The duo opened the show with a haunting acoustic version of “The Sound of Silence”. “It’s going to be one of the highlights of my career,” Paul Simon said after the performance.” When a show has that powerful an opening, it’s not just special. It’s an event.” — David Bianculli, Music Critic – New York Daily News

The Recording Academy bestowed the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award to ART GARFUNKEL and PAUL SIMON in conjunction with the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium. According to Garth Fundis, Chairman of the Academy’s Board of Trustees, “The recipients of these awards are a diverse group of inspired creators who have contributed some of the most distinctive and seminal recordings of the past century… their outstanding achievements leave a timeless legacy that inspire generations of fans and artists alike. Their work exemplifies the highest creative and technical standards by which we all measure our own personal and professional contributions.””I am deeply honored to be in such esteemed company for this prestigious award,” said Art Garfunkel upon hearing of his selection as a recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy.

MORT LEWIS (FORMER S&G MANAGER) SHARES A GARFUNKEL STORY:

Former Simon and Garfunkel manager Mort Lewis commented that he is very pleased to have played a part in their international success and looked back fondly on his time spent with the duo by sharing a story of Art’s unique preferred mode of transportation:

“After an extremely successful double-header concert at Carnegie Hall in 1969, I chartered a plane to fly us to and from Boston for a concert the next night. Artie decided he would pursue a favorite hobby and hitchhike to Boston instead of taking the plane. A young couple picked him up because he ‘looked like one of those two guys, Simon and Garfunkel.’ Even after producing his driver’s license, the couple refused to believe that the real Art Garfunkel would be hitchhiking! Artie arrived on time for the concert, but the kind couple never picked up the two complimentary tickets that were left at the box office for them…just as the hitchhiker had promised.”
Geoff Emerick , longtime Abbey Road studio engineer who also co-produced THE ANIMALS’ CHRISTMAS and LEFTY, also received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Geoff was the Beatles engineer from the Revolver album onwards. He engineered SGT Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, and was also the engineer of most of Paul McCartney’s solo albums.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International and the First Amendment Center invited Art Garfunkel, along with Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock to participate in a taping of Speaking Freely on April 1st. Speaking Freely is a weekly TV show focusing on free expression and the arts and is seen nationally throughout the PBS system.

People.com featured an article on Art Garfunkel and the new album, “Everything Waits to be Noticed.”

Art Garfunkel sang “America, The Beautiful” at Veterans Stadium in front of his beloved Philadelphia Phillies during their home opener on Friday, April 4th.

On June 7th, Art Garfunkel performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, as part of Steinway Pianos’ 150th Anniversary concert series. Art was accompanied on piano by his good friend, Jimmy Webb, and sang “All I Know,” “Skywriter,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Also performing were; k.d. lang, Brian McKnight, Peter Nero, Michel LeGrande, and others. Paul Shaffer from Late Night with David Letterman hosted the show.

Art Garfunkel appeared on the CBS Saturday Early Show on June 21th. Live from New York and syndicated nationally, Art performed “A Heart In New York” and with Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock, “The Thread” and “Perfect Moment.”

On August 12th, Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock appeared on ABC’s “Live with Regis & Kathy.”

Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock were featured on the program “Live at the Bluebird Cafe” on September 1st on the Turner South cable station. A one hour program, the trio taped the show in the spring at Nashville’s famed songwriter showcase, the Bluebird Cafe.

Art Garfunkel sang “America The Beautiful” prior to the September 7th US Open men’s singles final. He also sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” prior to the blue riband match. His performance was accompanied by a release of doves as a symbol of international peace and unity to conclude the US Open’s two-week celebration of New York and its people.

On September 9th, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel appeared at The Bottom Line nightclub in Manhattan to announce they will tour the United States together during the Fall of 2003. The duo sang three songs – “Old Friend,” “Homeward Bound” and “The Boxer.”

Art Garfunkel guest starred on NBC’s hit television show, “American Dreams.” Art portrayed Mr. Greenwood, the owner of the Vinyl Crocodile record store who also books acts to perform there and serves as a progressive musical mentor to the city’s upbeat teens — circa 1964. The show centers around the era’s music as depicted on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” in its early days. Art appeared on “American Bandstand” in 1959 with Paul Simon as Tom and Jerry. Dick Clark is the executive producer of “American Dreams.”

Dame Julie Andrews is turning John Bucchino’s song “Grateful” into an illustrated children’s book, “Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks.” The book will consist of the song’s lyrics and will be packaged with a CD that will feature Dame Andrews reading the lyrics and will also include a new studio recording of the song by Art Garfunkel with new orchestrations by Don Sebesky. “Artie was the first person to sing the song, a few weeks after I wrote it,” notes Bucchino. “He was also the first person to hear it.” Dame Andrews first heard the song during Thanksgiving dinner and felt the song was appropriate for the holiday. “That song makes me want to sing again,” said Dame Andrews. Having listened to Art Garfunkel’s live version from the Across America CD, she specifically requested Art to re-record the song. The book is part of the highly popular Julie Andrews Collection published by Harper-Collins.

On December 19th Art and Paul Simon announced they were making a two-part donation. Half the money will go to CHF’s national network for poor and homeless children; the other half will go to a pediatric preparedness program run by CHF at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

2004

Art Garfunkel was interviewed for NBC’s TODAY SHOW on March 25th to discuss his favorites in rock and roll. Jackson Brown, Moby, Lenny Kravitz and Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner participated as well.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra honored Art Garfunkel as their special guest on opening night at historic Boston Symphony Hall on May 11th.

The Simon & Garfunkel European Summer Tour ended in Rome on July 31st with the duo giving a free concert before a crowd of 600,000 at the Via deli Fori Imperiali, the relic-lined boulevard leading to the Coliseum. Hear more about “Citizen of the Planet” on the NPR Radio Interview.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Rock, Rolling Stone magazine issued a special issue, The Immortals. A fiftieth anniversary tribute to the fifty most important performers in rock & roll history, by the artists they inspired. Simon and Garfunkel were selected with a tribute written by James Taylor, who wrote, “Art Garfunkel is one of those great, rare voices. I would know it anywhere at the drop of a hat, in half a bar. Art inhabits the songs like Louis Armstrong did you don’t just get his version of a song, you get his take on it.” Garfunkel was one of a select few who was asked to participate in the voting… he also wrote a tribute to Sam Cooke.

On November 6th, Art Garfunkel along with the Long Island Philharmonic performed before a sold out audience at a Gala celebrating the grand reopening of the newly renovated Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Located in Brookville, NY on Long Island’s Gold Coast (northern shore), the concert featured Art singing “The Boxer,” a rare solo performance, as well as a magnificant vocal on “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her.”

Art Garfunkel recorded “All I Know” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for the NBC special, “Kristi Yamaguchi’s Salute to American Music”. The program aired on November 28, 2004 and again on January 8, 2005. Kristi Yamaguchi is the 1992 Olympic Gold medalist and four time World Pro Figure Skating Champion.

2005

On January 17, Kim Cermak Garfunkel made her New York nightclub debut in a one-night-only performance at the Au Bar. Kim first performed as a back-up singer before being given her own solo spots in husband Art Garfunkel’s concert tour and has performed all over the world including at Carnegie Hall and London’s Palladium and has sung with the New York Philharmonic. James Garfunkel and Kim Garfunkel were backed up by a great quartet-bass, guitar, piano and drums-with special guest Juilliard violist Rozanna Weinberger and two vocalists. Her repertoire included Billy Joel’s “And So it Goes,” Bob Dylan’s “You Gotta Serve Somebody”, Paul Simon’s “Bleecker Street,” Stephen Sondheim’s “Another Hundred People” and Frank Loesser’s “If I were a Bell” (from Guys and Dolls) among others. Fabian Basabe, Justin Rockefeller, Ann Slater, Mark Newhouse, Peter Beard, Cornelia and Martin Bregman, “Premier Magazine” editor Peter Herbst, Amy Lumet, Ann Jones, “Entertainment Tonight’s” Michelle Becker, Nicole Hambrow (who flew in from London), and Kim’s 14-year old son James and husband Art Garfunkel were all in attendance. She received a standing ovation from the sold out crowd.

Old Friends: Live On Stage, a deluxe double CD and DVD package capturing the historic 2003-2004 Simon & Garfunkel “Old Friends Tour” was released on Warner Bros. Records in the US and Sony BMG internationally. Along with the deluxe two CD and DVD edition, Old Friends: Live On Stage was released as a two CD set as well as in a DVD-only configuration.

James Garfunkel appears on the April 7, 2005 cover of Rolling Stone for the article “Children of Rock Growing Up In The Shadow of Legends”

Art writes a tribute to James Taylor as part of the April 21st Rolling Stone magazine’s “The Immortals Issue.”

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed together at Madison Square Garden on September 20th in “From The Big Apple to The Big Easy,” a concert for long term relief and rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The duo sang Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and Mrs. Robinson.

• Rolling Stone Magazine quote about their performance:

“Simon and Garfunkel, one of the final acts at the Garden, were introduced by actor Paul Newman. “As tonight proves, music has a power all its own,” he said. “In our most trying times, music has a healing power like a bridge over troubled water.” Minutes later, Garfunkel and Aaron Neville traded verses on the aforementioned tune. “As many times as I’ve sung that song, I don’t think it’s ever meant as much to me as it does tonight,” said Garfunkel. “

• New York Post about their performance:

“Even with all the Big Easy talent at Madison Square Garden singing to rebuild their homes and lives in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina, it was two Queens boys, grown old, who best captured the spirit of the night. Last night, emotions ran high and a spirit of giving flooded the Garden when New York treasures Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reprised their incredibly apropos classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

Rhino Entertainment and MSG Entertainment released a double-disc DVD of the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert on September 20, 2005 entitled, “From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans.” The concert raised $9 million for long-term relief from the hurricane, and 100% of the net proceeds of the sale of the DVD are to benefit the victims. In addition to Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon, featured artists include; Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Costello, Dave Matthews and others.

The Garfunkel Family announced the addition of a new baby boy, Beau Daniel, born October 5, 2005.

Art Garfunkel and Richard Perry (Producer of the Platinum selling album, Breakaway) were collaborating on a new studio recording. Art and Richard were working on musical arrangements and began recording vocals. The Breakaway album produced several classic Garfunkel recordings, including the mega-hit “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “Disney Girls,” “Looking For The Right One,” “Rag Doll,” “99 Miles From L.A.,” as well as the title track.