Paul Simon is an American musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He has received various accolades including twelve Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Over his career he has received various honors an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001 and the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize in 2007. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence (1966) (as part of Simon & Garfunkel) and Graceland, were inducted into the National Recording Registry for their cultural significance.
For his breakout song, "Mrs. Robinson", used in the coming-of-age dramedy The Graduate (1967), he won three Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Best Soundtrack for Visual Media. For his fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970) he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. For the song, "Bridge over Troubled Water" he won four Grammy Awards (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals, and Best Contemporary Song). For his fourth solo album, Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) he won two Grammys (Album of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance). For his seventh solo album, Graceland (1986) he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. For the song "Graceland" he won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
On television, he won the Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special for The Paul Simon Special (1978). For his song, "Father and Daughter" written for the animated family adventure film The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002), he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song.
Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2002 Best Original Song "Father and Daughter" (from The Wild Thornberrys Movie)
Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1976 Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special The Paul Simon Special Daytime Emmy Awards 1996 Outstanding Original Song The Oprah Winfrey Show New York Emmy Awards 2016 Arts: Program/Special The Game 365
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2002 Best Original Song "Father and Daughter" (from The Wild Thornberrys Movie)
Grammy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1969 Album of the Year Bookends Record of the Year "Mrs. Robinson" Song of the Year Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media The Graduate 1971 Album of the Year Bridge over Troubled Water Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Record of the Year "Bridge over Troubled Water" Song of the Year Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals Best Contemporary Song 1974 Album of the Year There Goes Rhymin' Simon Best Male Pop Vocal Performance 1976 Album of the Year Still Crazy After All These Years Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "My Little Town" 1977 Record of the Year "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" 1981 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance "Late in the Evening" Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media One-Trick Pony 1987 Album of the Year Graceland Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Himself Song of the Year "Graceland" 1988 Record of the Year 1992 Album of the Year The Rhythm of the Saints Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Himself 2001 Album of the Year You're the One 2024 Best Folk Album Seven Psalms
Miscellaneous awards Organizations Year Category Nominated work Result American Music Awards 1988 Favorite Pop/Rock Male ArtistHimself Favorite Pop/Rock Album Brit Awards 1977 International Album Bridge over Troubled Water 1987 International Solo Artist Paul Simon 1991 International Male Solo Artist Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2002 Best Song "Father and Daughter" (from The Wild Thornberrys Movie) MTV Video Music Awards 1987 Best Male Video Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al Video of the Year Paul Simon: The Boy in the Bubble Most Experimental Video Viewer's Choice TV Land Awards 2008 Most Memorable SNL Musical Guest Saturday Night Live
Honorary awards Organization Year Honor Result Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1990 Induction as part of Simon & Garfunkel 2001 Induction as a solo performer MusiCares 2001 Person of the Year John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2002 Kennedy Center Honors BMI Pop Awards 2005 BMI Pop Icon Time Magazine 2006 "100 People Who Shaped the World" Library of Congress 2007 Gershwin Prize Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation 2012 Polar Music Prize Rolling Stone 2011 Named him one of the 100 greatest guitarists 2015 Simon was ranked 8th out of the 100 Greatest Songwriters 2023 Simon was ranked the 246th greatest guitarist of all time
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