# Why didn't Art Garfunkel play any instruments? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 4, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738 "2012-03-04T18:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/41 "2012-03-15T13:13:44Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Larry Knechtel is credited as one of the “featured musicians” on the album; I’m sure that’s him on piano on the title track. Reading the just-published history of The Wrecking Crew, the famed squad of LA session musicians who played on thousands of hit records. It includes a story about the making of the song and yes, Knechtel played the piano and was instructed by Simon to play it in a “black gospel” style to increase the spiritual feel supporting Garfunkel’s plaintive vocal. Knechtel won a Grammy for his work - something that rarely happened for the Wrecking Crew since they were hired guns. It is also mentioned that on songs on the previous album, Simon was the guitarist on the sessions - i.e., he worked with the Wrecking Crew hired guns; the producer didn’t use a session guitarist. At that time in LA that was uncommon, so it speaks to Simon’s abilities as a player. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/42 "2012-03-15T16:05:38Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’d like to see Mozart’s album of popular folk music so that we may compare talents. [As requested.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Flute) And Mozart wins. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/43 "2012-03-15T21:37:23Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Better than being a joker in a public bar and a one-band man. You aMuse me. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/44 "2012-03-16T00:06:42Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’d like to see Mozart’s album of popular folk music so that we may compare talents. Well would [Bach and Hassler](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Tune)do? ---
**Author:** ![johnsilver52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@johnsilver52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnsilver52)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/45 "2012-12-20T21:38:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > This might have something to do with it: Everyone I’ve ever met who worked with Paul Simon has stated he is one of the biggest dicks on the planet with an unbelievably unwarrented huge ego. Noticed over long lifetime that shorter men many times act like that.. Seems to make up for things they had taken out on them at a younger age and from memory? Simon was “said” to be around 5’5 or so.. Probably wearing shoe inserts, as saw him (and Garfunkel) in concert and he appeared to be full grown in stature all right.. Like how big men got in the middle ages and earlier… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/46 "2012-12-21T01:02:55Z")
> [@johnsilver52](#): > > Simon was “said” to be around 5’5 or so.. “Was”? He’s still alive. And there’s no need to take unsubstantiated shots based on short-guy jokes. Simon IS a huge talent who seems to have a big Picasso streak on him. Okay, fine - stay on topic. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/47 "2012-12-21T01:04:35Z")
Years ago, the NME’s Encyclopedia of Rock said that S&G would ultimately be considered the early part of Paul Simon’s career, and that Garfunkel only added the vocals. Garfunkel was a fine vocalist and his voice was an essential part of their sound, but Simon would have made it without him. Garfunkel would never have made it on his own (other than maybe as a backup singer). ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/48 "2012-12-21T04:01:28Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Years ago, the NME’s Encyclopedia of Rock said that S&G would ultimately be considered the early part of Paul Simon’s career, and that Garfunkel only added the vocals. Garfunkel was a fine vocalist and his voice was an essential part of their sound, but Simon would have made it without him. Garfunkel would never have made it on his own (other than maybe as a backup singer). OTOH, I happened to see Art Garfunkel in concert a few years ago - a free concert at a large civic event. Wasn’t expecting much from a sans-Simon show, but was pleasantly surprised to find that he is a very competent performer in his own right. As I recall, he did in fact play a guitar, or at least go through the motions on some songs. SS ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/49 "2012-12-21T04:23:43Z")
Clark Cello writes: \> It is worth mentioning, I think, that Paul Simon to some degree feared breaking \> up because he was afraid that Garfunkle would end up being the bigger star. If this is true, why did Garfunkle take a job as a high school math teacher when Simon and Garfunkle broke up in 1970 and do that for two years? That doesn’t sound to me like someone who’s convinced that he has a brilliant career ahead of him. That sounds to me like someone who figures that he has no chance of making a living as a soloist, so he better fall back on something more stable. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/50 "2012-12-21T05:01:08Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > If this is true, why did Garfunkle take a job as a high school math teacher when Simon and Garfunkle broke up in 1970 and do that for two years? That doesn’t sound to me like someone who’s convinced that he has a brilliant career ahead of him. That sounds to me like someone who figures that he has no chance of making a living as a soloist, so he better fall back on something more stable. Not sure if I’m being whooshed, but… According to wikipedia, late 1971 - early 1972, so probably less than a year. And after having done two films and a series of enormously successful albums I have to imagine the last thing he needed was a paycheck ;). At that point I’m sure he was already set for life - _Bridge Over Troubled Water_ went 8x platinum. Even if Simon monopolized songwriting credits, his residuals must have been huge. Probably still are. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/51 "2012-12-21T06:12:19Z")
I saw perform Art in Nashville around 2000. Members of the symphony orchestra played with him. Art performed for over an hour and did a great job. He sang some of his own songs and some Simon & Garfunkel stuff. Some of the songs had been changed up for the Symphony accompaniment and for him singing solo. I left thoroughly entertained and had a new appreciation for Art’s skills as a performer. He’s still performing with Symphonys around the country. He performed in North Carolina a few months ago. [http://www.progressenergycenter.com/event/artgarfunkel-707](http://www.progressenergycenter.com/event/artgarfunkel-707) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/52 "2012-12-21T06:28:53Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Clark Cello writes: > > \> It is worth mentioning, I think, that Paul Simon to some degree feared breaking > \> up because he was afraid that Garfunkle would end up being the bigger star. > > If this is true, why did Garfunkle take a job as a high school math teacher when Simon and Garfunkle broke up in 1970 and do that for two years? That doesn’t sound to me like someone who’s convinced that he has a brilliant career ahead of him. That sounds to me like someone who figures that he has no chance of making a living as a soloist, so he better fall back on something more stable. How is what _Simon_ thought of Garfunkle in any way untrue because of what Garfunkle chose to do _after_ Simon formed that opinion? Clark didn’t say anything about about what Garfunkle thought of himself. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/53 "2012-12-21T09:14:35Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Not sure if I’m being whooshed, but… > > According to wikipedia, late 1971 - early 1972, so probably less than a year. And after having done two films and a series of enormously successful albums I have to imagine the last thing he needed was a paycheck ;). At that point I’m sure he was already set for life - _Bridge Over Troubled Water_ went 8x platinum. Even if Simon monopolized songwriting credits, his residuals must have been huge. Probably still are. Why would that be so? As the sole songwriter, Simon would get most if not all of the money from record sales, and all of the money from airplay, commercial use etc., in other words everything that was to be made off S & G after they stopped making albums and touring as a duo. Don’t know how it goes in the U.S. (and it obviously depends on the particular contracts made), but where I come from it’s common as dirt to have old, disbanded, once popular acts where the only guy who makes a living off the past is the guy who wrote the songs, while the rest of the band teach math, bus tables or whatever to make ends meet. Everyone gets rich for a little while when a band hits the big time. Once the constant flow of money stops to feed the newly opulent lifestyle, it’s back to normaldom for most. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/54 "2012-12-21T13:58:24Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > If this is true, why did Garfunkle take a job as a high school math teacher when Simon and Garfunkle broke up in 1970 and do that for two years? According to Wikipedia, because his fiancée asked him to. Once he did start up his solo recording career, he was quite successful, hitting the Top 10 for both albums and singles on his first try. Of course he never came close to eclipsing his former partner. And it’s “Garfunkel,” folks, with an E-L. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/55 "2012-12-21T14:33:04Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > According to Wikipedia, [Art Garfunkel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Garfunkel) is “a multi-instrumentalist [who] plays guitar, piano, and violin”. Doesn’t say he plays any of them well, does it? Hell, I’m a multi-instrumentalist, too. You would be well advised to go into another room whenever I decide to play an instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/56 "2012-12-21T18:09:54Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > Why would that be so? Well…actually, I can’t argue that it is :). I would _assume_ that as a partnership they had set up a split based around more than just the standard songwriting/session musician rates. But I really don’t know, you’re correct. Those possibly wildly inaccurate celebrity net worth estimators on the web put Paul Simon at $45 million vs. Art Garfunkel at $35 million, but even if that’s accurate there is no telling from where and when that money came into being. Still acknowledging that I was making assumptions above, I have to _assume_ again that the not obviously dissolute Garfunkel of 1971 _should_ have had plenty of bank _at that point_ ( two recently completed films, S @ G having just broken up ), such that a short stint working as a math teacher seems unlikely to have been motivated by a grab for financial security. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/57 "2012-12-24T04:24:03Z")
Wonder how much Simon gets in residuals for [Red Rubber Ball](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDKN0dk54M). “The mornin’ sun is shinin’ like red rubber ball!” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/58 "2012-12-24T05:04:19Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Wonder how much Simon gets in residuals for [Red Rubber Ball](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDKN0dk54M). I don’t know how much income the Cyrkle version would be generating these days, unless it appeared in a movie soundtrack or something. But a live (from 1967) Simon & Garfunkel version of the song came out on a box set a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/59 "2012-12-24T06:48:32Z")
Does anyone know of any reasonably comprehensive, reasonably accurate statement about why Garfunkel spent that time as a high school math teacher? I mean something more than a mention on a webpage, even on Wikipedia. Perhaps someone has read a reasonably detailed biography of him, or a long, detailed interview, or maybe somebody knows him. The things I’ve read have given varied accounts of how long he taught and why he taught and whether he needed the money. Please, don’t just cite a random webpage. I’ve read them all. You’re wasting your time if you just cite a webpage and say, “How stupid are you? Isn’t it all obvious from this one citation?” You’re also wasting your time if you just make your personal guess about his motivations. I mentioned this time he spent teaching because it strikes me as saying something about Garfunkel’s feelings about his chances as a soloist. No, it doesn’t prove it at all, but it suggests something. I think this is more interesting than, say, Tony Danza spending a year teaching a high school English course or Mayim Bialik getting a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Danza was doing it as part of a reality show. Bialik could go back to acting at any time (and did). ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738/60 "2012-12-24T09:32:43Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Does anyone know of any reasonably comprehensive, reasonably accurate statement about why Garfunkel spent that time as a high school math teacher? I mean something more than a mention on a webpage, even on Wikipedia. Perhaps someone has read a reasonably detailed biography of him, or a long, detailed interview, or maybe somebody knows him. What, the long, detailed interview Wikipedia cites as a source isn’t enough? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-art-garfunkel-play-any-instruments/614738.md?page=4)