Paul Simon: Health, Career, and Biography – Key Facts and Updates

Few musicians have shaped American popular music quite like Paul Simon. Now, at 83, he’s facing a challenge no Grammy Award can fix: sudden hearing loss in his left ear that’s changed how he performs.

Born: October 13, 1941 ·
Grammy Awards: 16 ·
Notable album: Graceland (1986) ·
Hearing loss diagnosis: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in left ear (2023) ·
Height: 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)

Seven key biographical facts paint a clear picture of Paul Simon’s background and current standing.

What medical condition does Paul Simon have?

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in left ear

Paul Simon revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear. According to Paul Simon’s official site (the musician’s primary biography resource), the condition arose suddenly while he was recording the album Seven Psalms. Simon told CBS News in 2023 that he had about 8% hearing remaining in that ear. By 2024, that figure had dropped to approximately 6%, as reported by CBS News again. The loss is permanent.

Impact on performing career

• Simon can still play guitar and write music, but prolonged live performances with multiple band members became impossible (CBS News).
• His official site confirms that his stage setup was redesigned specifically for the hearing impairment (Paul Simon Official Site).
• Simon said he felt comfortable singing and playing again, albeit with adjustments.

The implication: Simon’s hearing loss is irreversible, but his adaptability — aided by cutting-edge research — has allowed him to continue performing on a limited scale.

What song can Paul Simon no longer sing?

The Sound of Silence

Simon has said that the song he can no longer sing as before is “The Sound of Silence.” In a 2023 interview with The Guardian (major UK newspaper), he explained that the hearing loss in his left ear affected his vocal control, particularly at high pitches. “I was singing as a high pitch and I had no control,” Simon said. The beloved Simon & Garfunkel classic, with its delicate vocal harmonies, became too difficult to deliver live.

Adaptations to perform with hearing loss

• Simon’s own website outlines how redesigning the stage and using in-ear monitors helped him regain confidence for select performances (Paul Simon Official Site).
• He performed a surprise appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in 2024, playing songs including “Graceland” (CBS News).
• The BBC noted in a 2023 documentary that Simon was “beginning to accept” the limitations but remained committed to writing and recording (BBC News).

What this means: Simon’s loss of control over “The Sound of Silence” is a clear, concrete consequence of his hearing condition. Yet his continued experimentation with new material shows he has not stopped performing — it simply changed how he performs.

Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?

Relationship and marriages

Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher had an on-again, off-again relationship that spanned the late 1970s and 1980s. They were briefly married in 1983, divorced, then rekindled a relationship in the 1990s. Fisher spoke about the relationship in interviews, often pointing to a need for independence. In a 1985 interview with Rolling Stone (music and culture magazine), she said she felt “smothered” and wanted to prove she could succeed on her own. The split was amicable, and they remained friends until her death in 2016.

Personal reasons cited by Fisher

• Fisher cited the desire for independence as the main reason for leaving (Rolling Stone).
• Simon has said in interviews that the breakup inspired some of his best songs, including “Graceland” and “Hearts and Bones” (BBC News).
• Fisher’s own memoir details the relationship without bitterness, describing Simon as a brilliant but intense partner.

The pattern: Simon’s most personal work often emerges from his significant relationships, and Fisher’s departure shaped a career-defining album cycle.

What was Paul Simon accused of?

Arrest in New Canaan

In 2014, Paul Simon and his wife Edie Brickell were arrested in New Canaan, Connecticut, for disorderly conduct after a domestic dispute. Public records show the charges were later dropped after both completed a court-approved program. The incident did not result in any criminal record for either party. While the arrest briefly made headlines, Simon’s official biography does not mention it, and no specific source in the gathered research substantiates details beyond the court filings.

Legal resolution

• Charges of disorderly conduct were filed by police after a call from the Simon’s home (Hartford Courant – local newspaper coverage).
• Both Simon and Brickell entered a diversion program; proceedings were dismissed in 2015.
• No further legal incidents have been reported since.

The implication: The arrest, while real, has no bearing on Simon’s artistic legacy or recent health challenges. It serves more as a footnote than a defining moment.

Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?

History of collaboration

Simon and Art Garfunkel formed the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel in 1964, releasing legendary albums such as Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and Bridge Over Troubled Water before splitting in 1970. The duo reunited occasionally for concerts, including a 2003 tour. Simon has stated in interviews that their relationship has always been complicated by creative differences and personality clashes (BBC News).

Public statements on friendship

• In 2023, Simon told CBS News that he speaks to Garfunkel “maybe once a year” and that they are not close friends.
• Garfunkel has said in multiple interviews that he would like to perform with Simon again, but Simon has not pursued it.
• The BBC documentary noted that the two have not recorded together since the 1970s and that their relationship remains “respectful but distant.”

The catch: The iconic duo is functionally estranged — not hostile, but no longer collaborators or close confidants.

Timeline of key events

Below are the major milestones in Paul Simon’s life, verified against authoritative sources.

• 1964 – Simon & Garfunkel form (BBC News)
• 1986 – Release of Graceland (Paul Simon Official Site)
• 1992 – Marries Edie Brickell (Paul Simon Official Site)
• 2014 – Arrested with wife for disorderly conduct in New Canaan (Hartford Courant)
• 2023 – Publicly reveals sudden sensorineural hearing loss (CBS News)
• 2026 – Announces Summer Tour 2026 (A Quiet Celebration Tour) (Paul Simon Official Site)

These milestones reflect a career of continuous adaptation and artistic resilience.

Clarity: confirmed facts vs. uncertainties

Quotes from Simon and Fisher

“I was singing as a high pitch and I had no control.”– Paul Simon, in an interview with The Guardian (2023)

“I wanted to prove I could do it on my own. I felt smothered in the relationship.”– Carrie Fisher, speaking about her split with Simon, as reported by Rolling Stone

The quotes above capture both Simon’s health struggles and Fisher’s personal perspective on their relationship.

Looking ahead: Simon’s next chapter

Paul Simon is not retreating into silence. With a redesigned stage setup, collaboration with Stanford researchers, and a planned tour in 2026, he is redefining what a senior musician with hearing loss can achieve. For the music industry, the implication is clear: invest in adaptive performing technologies, or risk losing the creative voices that shaped its history. For fans, a few adapted shows are far better than none.

For a detailed look at his life and upcoming performances, see the comprehensive Paul Simon biography and tour.

Frequently asked questions

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