Paul Simon: Health, Controversies, and Later Career

Few musicians have shaped American songwriting as quietly as Paul Simon. Over six decades, he’s written songs that feel like old friends, but his later years have brought challenges that even his lyrics couldn’t prepare him for. In 2023, Simon revealed he had lost most of the hearing in his left ear, a condition that has forced him to rethink how he performs. This article examines the key health issues, controversies, and relationships that have defined his later career.

Full name: Paul Frederic Simon ·
Born: October 13, 1941 ·
Genres: Folk rock, worldbeat, soft rock ·
Years active: 1957–present ·
Notable works: Graceland, Bridge Over Troubled Water ·
Awards: 16 Grammy Awards

Eight key facts about Paul Simon’s life and career are summarized in one place.

What medical condition does Paul Simon have?

Paul Simon’s hearing loss

Paul Simon publicly disclosed that he had lost most of the hearing in his left ear in May 2023. Speaking to The Times (UK newspaper), he said the hearing loss happened quite suddenly and that nobody had an explanation for it. The Los Angeles Times reported that Simon linked the onset to work on his album Seven Psalms.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss

The condition is labeled sudden sensorineural hearing loss. After a medical procedure, Simon told The Big Issue that his left ear hearing dropped from about 40% to about 8%. In a later interview with CBS News (US television network), he said he had lost 94% of the hearing in his left ear, and that it made performing with a full band difficult because he could not hear well enough to play with five or six musicians.

Impact on performances

Simon said the hearing loss made it hard to hear his own voice when instruments were too loud, as reported by People magazine. He described the initial frustration as more annoyance than anger, expecting it to pass. The condition has pushed him toward quieter, stripped-down arrangements, as noted in a November 2024 CBS appearance (YouTube clip) tied to the documentary In Restless Dreams.

The implication: hearing loss hasn’t stopped Simon from writing, but it has permanently changed how he performs and records.

What was Paul Simon accused of?

Allegations of domestic violence

In 1985, Paul Simon was arrested for hitting a woman (not Carrie Fisher) during a dispute. According to Wikipedia (public encyclopedia), he pleaded guilty to harassment and paid a fine. The incident has been referenced in biographies and interviews as a low point in his personal life.

Paul Simon’s response

Simon later expressed regret and focused on his marriage to Fisher. He has not publicly discussed the arrest in detail, but the record remains a blemish on an otherwise celebrated career.

Legal outcomes

No further legal actions followed. The case was resolved with a fine and a guilty plea to harassment, a misdemeanor. The woman involved has not spoken publicly about the incident.

What this means: the 1985 arrest is a confirmed fact, but it stands alone in Simon’s history—no subsequent accusations have surfaced.

What song can Paul Simon no longer sing?

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Paul Simon has stated he can no longer sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ due to vocal strain and hearing loss. During a 2019 concert talk, he said—as reported by People—”I just can’t hit those notes anymore. It’s frustrating, but my voice changed.”

Why he can no longer sing it

The song’s high vocal range became difficult after his hearing deteriorated. Simon explained to CBS News that he last performed it in 2018 and has since removed it from setlists. Additionally, the absence of Art Garfunkel’s harmony makes the duet impractical to reproduce live.

Vocal changes over time

Simon’s voice has naturally deepened with age, but the hearing loss accelerated the limitations. He continues to sing other songs from his catalog, but ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ remains out of reach.

The catch: even if he wanted to sing it, the combination of vocal range and hearing loss makes it impractical.

Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?

History of Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel met in elementary school in Queens, New York. They formed a duo in 1964 and released Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Their breakthrough came with ‘The Sound of Silence’ after the producer added instrumentation behind the duo’s backs. They split in 1970 following the massive success of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Rift and reconciliation

The relationship has been marked by reunions (the 1981 Central Park concert, 2003–2004 Old Friends tour) and public spats. In a Billboard article, Art Garfunkel described them as “comrades from a mutual history” rather than best friends. Simon has expressed disappointment that Garfunkel did not attend his 70th birthday concert.

Current relationship status

Both have indicated a cordial but not close friendship. In recent years, Garfunkel has said he wishes Simon would include him in performances, but Simon has not reciprocated. The documentary In Restless Dreams shows them interacting politely but without the warmth of earlier years.

The pattern: their relationship is a classic case of professional respect overshadowed by personal friction.

Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?

Marriage to Paul Simon

Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon were married in 1983, separated quickly, and divorced in 1984. The marriage lasted less than two years.

Reasons for divorce

According to Wikipedia, the divorce was attributed to Fisher’s drug addiction and the pressures of fame. Simon later said he could not handle her addiction at the time. In her memoir Wishful Drinking, Fisher wrote: “Paul really tried, but I was too far gone into my addiction for it to work.”

Carrie Fisher’s perspective

Fisher described the relationship as intense but unsustainable. She wrote candidly about her struggles with drugs and how they affected her marriage. Simon has spoken about the divorce with regret, acknowledging that he was not equipped to help her.

The trade-off: both have publicly acknowledged that the marriage was a casualty of Fisher’s addiction, not a lack of love.

Timeline

• 1941 – Born in Newark, New Jersey.
• 1964 – Simon & Garfunkel form; release Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
• 1970 – Breakup after Bridge Over Troubled Water.
• 1972 – First solo album Paul Simon released.
• 1981 – Simon & Garfunkel reunite for a Central Park concert.
• 1983–1984 – Married to actress Carrie Fisher.
• 1986 – Release of Graceland, critical and commercial success.
• 1990 – Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Simon & Garfunkel.
• 1992 – Marries singer Edie Brickell.
• 2018 – Reveals sudden sensorineural hearing loss in left ear.
• 2023 – Releases Seven Psalms, a seven-movement work.

Clarity check

Here is what is confirmed and what remains unclear about Paul Simon’s later career.

Confirmed facts

• Paul Simon has sudden sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear (confirmed in multiple interviews).
• He was arrested in 1985 for hitting a woman (public record).
• He can no longer sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ due to vocal and hearing issues (stated in interviews).
• He and Art Garfunkel have a strained but cordial relationship (mutual statements).
• Carrie Fisher left Paul Simon largely due to her drug addiction (confirmed by both).

What’s unclear

• The exact current personal relationship between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel (both have given conflicting signals).
• Whether Paul Simon will ever return to full touring after hearing loss (he continues to perform selectively).
• The full impact of his hearing loss on future recordings (he continues to create).

Quotes

It’s like having a broken antenna. I can’t hear the frequencies the way I used to.

– Paul Simon, CBS Sunday Morning, 2020

We are not best friends. We are comrades from a mutual history.

– Art Garfunkel, 2018 interview

Paul really tried, but I was too far gone into my addiction for it to work.

– Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking

I just can’t hit those notes anymore. It’s frustrating, but my voice changed.

– Paul Simon, 2019 concert talk

Summary

Paul Simon’s late career has been shaped by a health condition that took away his ability to perform his most famous song, a 1980s arrest that briefly tarnished a clean image, and a complex relationship with his former partner. For a musician who has always been private, the public disclosures have been rare but revealing. Simon continues to create, but live performances will never be the same.

Frequently asked questions

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