Paul Simon Age, Wife, Children & the Story Behind His Career

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Queens, New York. As of October 1, 2026, he is 84 years old. His career has stretched across more than six decades, beginning with his teenage partnership with Art Garfunkel and developing into a major solo career built around songwriting, guitar, production and musical experimentation.

Beyond his music, Simon’s life includes three marriages, four children, major cultural honors and extensive philanthropic work. In recent years, he has continued creating and performing, including the 2023 release Seven Psalms and the A Quiet Celebration Tour, which expanded through North America in 2026.

Quick Facts

Paul Simon Early Life and Family Background

Paul Frederic Simon grew up in a musically inclined family in Queens after his family moved there from Newark. His father, Louis Simon, was an educator and professional bassist who also led musical groups, while his mother, Belle Simon, was a teacher. Simon’s childhood combined music, baseball and New York City culture, influences that later appeared repeatedly in his songwriting.

Simon was the older brother of Eddie Simon, who later worked in music and helped handle aspects of Paul’s business affairs. His father’s musical background also gave Simon an early connection to professional musicians and instruments. That environment helped make songwriting and performance natural parts of his childhood rather than interests that appeared suddenly in adulthood.

Paul Simon Age, Birthday and Height

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941, making him 84 years old in 2026. His early musical partnership with Art Garfunkel began while the two were teenagers, meaning Simon had already started recording professionally long before reaching adulthood. Their first notable recording, “Hey, Schoolgirl,” arrived in 1957 under the name Tom & Jerry.

Simon is listed at approximately 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 meters). His compact physical stature became part of the public image surrounding him, while his musical identity developed around a distinctive voice, acoustic guitar playing and highly detailed songwriting. His appearance has changed naturally over his long career, but his recognizable glasses, curly hair in earlier decades and understated stage style became familiar to generations of listeners.

Paul Simon Education and Musical Beginnings

Simon attended Forest Hills High School, where his friendship with Art Garfunkel developed into a musical partnership. The two performed together as teenagers and were strongly influenced by vocal harmony groups such as the Everly Brothers. Their 1957 single “Hey, Schoolgirl” reached No. 49 on the pop charts, giving the teenagers an early taste of professional success.

After high school, Simon attended Queens College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1963. He also briefly attended Brooklyn Law School, but music remained his central ambition. During this period he continued writing and recording songs, gaining experience with studio work, songwriting and the business side of the music industry.

Simon & Garfunkel Made Paul Simon a Household Name

Simon and Garfunkel reunited professionally in the 1960s and became one of the defining folk-rock acts of the era. Songs including “The Sound of Silence,” “Homeward Bound,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Boxer” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” established Simon as the duo’s principal songwriter and helped create a catalog that remained influential for decades.

The partnership produced five principal studio albums, culminating in Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1970. Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, while Simon later entered the Hall again as a solo artist in 2001. Their work remains closely associated with the folk-rock movement of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Paul Simon Solo Career and Graceland

Following the Simon & Garfunkel era, Simon established himself as a solo artist with albums such as Paul Simon, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon and Still Crazy After All These Years. His songwriting expanded beyond traditional folk-rock, incorporating reggae, gospel, jazz, Latin influences and musical traditions from different parts of the world.

His 1986 album Graceland became one of the defining works of his solo career. The record incorporated South African musical influences and collaborations with artists including Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Graceland won the Grammy for Album of the Year, while its title track also became a major part of Simon’s enduring catalog.

Paul Simon Wife and Marriages

Paul Simon has been married three times. He married Peggy Harper in the late 1960s, and their son Harper was born in 1972. Simon later married actress and writer Carrie Fisher in 1983; their marriage ended in divorce, and Fisher remained an important figure in the story of Simon’s personal life.

Simon married singer-songwriter Edie Brickell on May 30, 1992, and they have three children together. The couple first met during Brickell’s 1988 appearance with the New Bohemians on Saturday Night Live. Their relationship developed from that meeting into a long-running marriage and musical partnership.

Paul Simon Children and Family Life

Paul Simon has four children: Harper, Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel. Harper is his son from his marriage to Peggy Harper, while Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel are his children with Edie Brickell. Simon’s children have developed their own connections to music, continuing a creative tradition that runs through the family.

Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel have each explored music in different ways. Adrian recorded with his father when he was young and later released music independently, while Lulu has worked as a singer-songwriter and Gabriel has pursued his own musical projects. Harper has also worked as a musician, producer and journalist.

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Paul Simon Net Worth and Sources of Wealth

Paul Simon’s estimated net worth is $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth’s current profile. His financial success is connected primarily to decades of songwriting, recording, touring, publishing and music production, with the Simon & Garfunkel catalog and his extensive solo catalog forming important parts of his professional legacy.

His long career has included major commercial albums, worldwide performances and continuing catalog activity. Simon’s songwriting credits have also created enduring value because songs such as “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Boxer,” “Graceland” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” have remained part of popular music culture for generations.

Paul Simon Awards and Major Achievements

Paul Simon has received 16 Grammy Awards from 36 nominations, according to the Recording Academy. His Grammy history includes three Album of the Year wins: Bridge Over Troubled Water with Simon & Garfunkel, Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland.

His honors extend well beyond the Grammys. Simon became a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2002 and became the first recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007. In 2019, he also received the Smithsonian’s Great Americans Medal.

Paul Simon Philanthropy and Work Beyond Music

Simon has also devoted substantial energy to philanthropy. In 1987, he co-founded the Children’s Health Fund with pediatrician Irwin Redlener and program designer Karen Redlener after seeing the difficult conditions faced by children living in a New York homeless shelter. The organization developed mobile medical services for children and families in under-resourced communities.

His charitable interests have complemented his musical career rather than existing separately from it. Simon has used his public profile to support children’s health and other causes, while his music has frequently explored cultural exchange, community and human relationships. The Children’s Health Fund remains one of the clearest examples of his long-term philanthropic involvement.

Paul Simon Seven Psalms and Recent Career

Simon released Seven Psalms on May 19, 2023. The work is a 33-minute, seven-movement acoustic composition designed to be heard as one continuous piece rather than as a conventional collection of separate songs. Simon performed most of the music himself, making the project notably intimate within his later catalog.

The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album and became central to Simon’s later live performances. His 2025 A Quiet Celebration Tour brought Seven Psalms to the stage, while the 2026 expansion continued the format with the composition followed by a career-spanning selection of familiar songs and deeper catalog cuts.

Paul Simon in 2026

In 2026, Simon continued performing through A Quiet Celebration Tour, with North American dates beginning in June and continuing through July. The concerts paired Seven Psalms with songs from across his career, including material from Graceland, Simon & Garfunkel recordings and later solo albums.

The year also brought a new live release. Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert is scheduled for release on October 9, 2026, with the recording documenting the live arrangement of Seven Psalms alongside songs such as “Graceland,” “The Boxer,” “The Sound of Silence” and “Under African Skies.”

Paul Simon Social Media and Online Presence

Paul Simon’s official online presence is centered around his official website, which carries tour announcements, music releases and news. His online channels have historically included Facebook and other social platforms, while his official site remains the main source for current announcements and career information.

His digital presence is closely connected to his music rather than a constant stream of personal posts. Current announcements have focused on A Quiet Celebration, Seven Psalms, live recordings and film projects, giving fans a direct way to follow new releases and performance developments.

Interesting Facts About Paul Simon

• Paul Simon met Art Garfunkel when they were children, and their professional recording partnership began during their teenage years.
• He and Garfunkel first recorded as Tom & Jerry before becoming known worldwide as Simon & Garfunkel.
• Simon earned a B.A. in English from Queens College in 1963.
• He became the first recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize in 2007.
• Simon co-founded the Children’s Health Fund in 1987, combining his public profile with long-term philanthropic work.

Conclusion

Paul Simon’s career is defined by an unusual combination of songwriting precision, musical curiosity and longevity. From his teenage recordings with Art Garfunkel to Graceland, his Grammy-winning solo work and Seven Psalms, he has repeatedly changed the musical setting around his writing while retaining a recognizable voice.

At 84, Simon remains active in music and connected to new releases, live performances and projects that revisit his extensive catalog. His family life with Edie Brickell, four children, philanthropic work and continuing creative output add important dimensions to the story of one of America’s most enduring singer-songwriters.

FAQs

How old is Paul Simon?

Paul Simon was born October 13, 1941, making him 84 years old in 2026.

Who is Paul Simon’s wife?

Paul Simon has been married to singer-songwriter Edie Brickell since May 30, 1992, and they have three children.

How many children does Paul Simon have?

Paul Simon has four children: Harper, Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel, from his first and third marriages.

What is Paul Simon’s net worth?

Paul Simon’s estimated net worth is $200 million, reflecting decades of music, songwriting, touring and related income.

What is Paul Simon’s latest album?

His latest studio album is Seven Psalms, released on May 19, 2023, as a 33-minute continuous acoustic composition.

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