Simon & Garfunkel stand as one of the most iconic and best-selling musical duos in history, defining the sound of 1960s folk-rock with their intricate harmonies and poetic lyricism. Comprising singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel, the pair first met as children in Queens, New York City, in 1953. They began performing together as teenagers, initially recording under the name Tom & Jerry and achieving a minor hit in 1957 with "Hey Schoolgirl," a song heavily influenced by their idols, The Everly Brothers.

After a brief hiatus, they reunited and signed with Columbia Records under their own names. Their 1964 debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., was a commercial failure, leading Simon to pursue a solo career in England while Garfunkel focused on his architecture studies at Columbia University. Their fortunes changed dramatically in 1965 when a producer, without their knowledge, overdubbed electric instruments onto the acoustic track "The Sound of Silence." This new version became a massive radio hit, soaring to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and compelling the duo to reunite professionally.

This unexpected success launched a prolific period. They quickly released the album Sounds of Silence in 1966 and assumed greater creative control for Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme later that same year. Their cultural impact was cemented when director Mike Nichols featured their music prominently in his landmark 1967 film The Graduate. The soundtrack included the already-famous "The Sound of Silence" and introduced the new song "Mrs. Robinson," which became a number-one single and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Their 1968 album Bookends, a conceptual work exploring themes of time and aging, also reached number one.

Despite their soaring success, the partnership was strained by artistic differences and personal tensions. These conflicts culminated in a breakup in 1970, just as their final and most successful studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water, was released. The album's title track, another Record of the Year Grammy winner, became an anthem, and the record itself stands as one of the best-selling albums of all time. Following the split, both artists forged significant solo careers. Simon released a series of acclaimed albums, including the groundbreaking Graceland, while Garfunkel found success as a solo singer with hits like "I Only Have Eyes for You" and also pursued acting in films such as Catch-22 and Bad Timing.

The duo has reunited for several landmark performances over the decades, most notably a 1981 concert in New York's Central Park that attracted an estimated half-million people. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. With sales of over 100 million records, multiple Grammy Awards, and a legacy of songs that have become standards of American popular music, Simon & Garfunkel remain a defining act of their generation, their music continuing to resonate with audiences worldwide.