Art Garfunkel Net Worth: His Chart-Topping Songs And A Wealthy Career

By James Mercado On Jun 3, 2023

Art Ira Garfunkel is an American singer, poet, and actor widely recognized worldwide. His collaboration with Paul Simon in the folk-rock duo is primarily responsible for his widespread recognition. His appearance and signature singing are two of the most recognizable aspects of popular music in the modern era.

What is Art Garfunkel’s Net Worth?

American singer-songwriter Art Garfunkel has a $95 million fortune. Artie is most known for his work with Paul Simon as half of the folk-rock combo Simon & Garfunkel, which had a string of number-one hits.

“The Sound of Silence” and “Mrs. Robinson.” Disputes and conflicts consistently hampered his and Paul Simon’s joint projects. The two artists eventually parted ways since it was impossible for them to collaborate for an extended time.

Simon & Garfunkel’s primary songwriter, Paul Simon, was frequently given most of the credit, although Art finally made a name for himself as a solo performer. As a solo artist, Garfunkel put out several chart-topping songs, including one that reached the top ten.

Art has won eight Grammys and a People’s Choice Award. He and Paul Simon were honed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Garfunkel is currently regarded as one of the all-time great singers.

Art Garfunkel’s Career With Paul Simon

Art and Garfunkel reconnected in 1963 following Paul Simon’s withdrawal from the Brooklyn School of Law. They reluctantly agreed to resurrect their pair despite their doubts.

Additionally, they decided to change their name, switching from “Tom & Jerry” to “Simon & Garfunkel.” The two decided to move on despite their initial concerns that it could sound too much like a law practice.

They used Columbia Records to distribute their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” in 1964. Critics gave the CD zero attention, and it was a dismal failure. In response to this failure, the couple once more broke apart, with Art concentrating on his coursework at Columbia University.

Fortunately, “The Sound of Silence” was re-released as a single by producer Tom Wilson in 1965, and the song quickly rose to the top of the charts. The song was particularly well-liked by college students.

Paul, who had been developing a solo career in the U.K., returned to the U.S. and contacted Garfunkel again. They worked together on four commercially successful albums over the next time frame, including “Sounds of Silence,” “Parsley Sage,” “Rosemary and Thyme,” “Bookends,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

The latest album became the most popular, garnering two Grammy Awards and selling over 25 million copies. Simon & Garfunkel are also recognized for their significant musical contributions to the 1967 movie “The Graduate.” The resulting tune, “Mrs. Robinson,” became one of their most well-known and successful songs.

Art Garfunkel Solo Career

It seemed almost inevitable that when their disagreements once again surfaced, Art and Paul would separate. Paul felt abandoned as Art was being given acting opportunities in movies like “Catch-22” and “Carnal Knowledge.”

They decided to dissolve their partnership in 1970, and each went their way. Despite this, they occasionally rejoined for a variety of shows. Despite peaking at number five on the charts, Garfunkel’s first solo album, “Angel Clare,” was met with lukewarm reviews when it was released in 1973.

The most popular songs on his following album, “Breakaway,” were “My Little Town,” which was written by Paul Simon, and “I Only Have Eyes For You.” Art’s career plummeted over the following few years due to numerous mistakes and unfavorable circumstances.

Art wasn’t motivated to write music long after his longtime partner Laurie Bird committed suicide in 1974. After the underwhelming album “Scissors Cut,” Art Garfunkel experienced sadness and almost total withdrawal from society. When his father passed away during this time, things just became worse.

Garfunkel made a comeback at the end of the 1990s with several noteworthy accomplishments and began penning his songs for the first time.

Their friendship soured again when Garfunkel was forced to withdraw from a lucrative tour due to vocal cord paresis in 2009. This was the first time Art and Paul had worked together in a long time. Paul Simon chastised Art for being “honest” and “letting us all down.”

Art Garfunkel Awards

Art Garfunkel has received a Britannia Award and seven Grammy Awards for his music. He was nominated for the Golden Globe and People’s Choice Awards for his excellent acting work.

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He also received a lifetime achievement award for his forty years in the music business. Simon and Art received induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Art Garfunkel Early Life

Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born in Forest Hills, Queens, on November 5, 1941. Art’s first musical experience was singing with his two siblings in his Romanian Jewish synagogue. NSYNC and Backstreet Boys founder Lou Pearlman was Art’s cousin.

By first grade, Garfunkel gave himself chills performing “Unchained Melody” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Art recorded his singing with a father-given wire recorder. He then reviewed the recordings for improvements. He sang for four hours as a bar mitzvah cantor.

Art practiced basketball all summer after a lung illness prevented him from singing. He still loves basketball. Garfunkel met Paul Simon in sixth grade when they played in “Alice in Wonderland.” Garfunkel said his talent show performance encouraged Simon to sing.

From the mid-50s to the early 60s, Simon and Garfunkel performed as “Tom & Jerry.” They performed at school dances in two-part harmony, inspired by The Everly Brothers. “Hey Schoolgirl,” released in 1957, peaked at 49.

Simon and Garfunkel had their first serious argument here. Sid Posen offered Paul Simon two solo singles. Simon failed to inform Garfunkel of this, and Art felt deceived. After Tom & Jerry, they split.

Garfunkel studied architecture at Columbia University after high school. Tennis, skiing, fencing, and bowling were his collegiate sports. The Columbia Kingsmen, an all-male a cappella group, continued his musical career. Art received a B.A. in art history in 1965 and an M.A. in mathematics education in 1967.

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