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77-587: How Ya Like Me Now is the second solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee from the Treacherous Three . It was recorded at Battery Studios in London, England and released on November 3, 1987, via Jive Records . Production of the album was handled by Teddy Riley , Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison, Pete Q. Harris and Kool Moe Dee. The record peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on

154-539: A Broadway musical , The Capeman , which was poorly received. In the 21st century, Simon continued to record and tour. His later albums, such as You're the One (2000), So Beautiful or So What (2011) and Stranger to Stranger (2016), introduced him to new generations. Simon retired from touring in 2018, but continued to record music. An album, Seven Psalms , was released in May 2023. Simon has twice been inducted into

231-520: A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . This reunion led to a US tour, the acclaimed "Old Friends" concert series, which was followed by a 2004 international encore, culminating in a free concert at the Colosseum in Rome which attracted an audience of 600,000. In 2005, they sang "Mrs. Robinson" and "Homeward Bound" together, plus "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Aaron Neville , in the benefit concert From

308-497: A bootlegged tape of mbaqanga , South African street music, and in 1986 he traveled to Johannesburg and recorded with African musicians. Additional sessions were held in New York. The sessions featured many South African acts, particularly Ladysmith Black Mambazo , and Simon also collaborated with several American artists, singing a duet with Linda Ronstadt in "Under African Skies", and playing with Los Lobos in "All Around

385-503: A 25th anniversary box set of Graceland which included a remastered edition of the original album; the 2012 documentary film Under African Skies; the original 1987 "African Concert" from Zimbabwe ; and an audio narrative, The Story of Graceland , related by Simon; as well other interviews and memorabilia. He played a few concerts in Europe with the original musicians to commemorate the anniversary. On December 19, 2012, Simon performed at

462-536: A Rock ", and learned Davey Graham 's guitar instrumental "Anji", which later appeared on Sounds of Silence . In England, he produced Jackson C. Frank 's first and only album and co-wrote several songs with Bruce Woodley of the Australian pop group the Seekers , including "I Wish You Could Be Here", "Cloudy" and " Red Rubber Ball ". Simon also contributed to the Seekers' catalog with "Someday One Day", which

539-476: A contemporary review, the Washington Post compared the album to work by hip hop artists Schooly D and LL Cool J , stating that Kool Moe Dee "comes across like a hip guidance couselor" and that the album was a "def aural collage: James Brown beats on the title cut, Queen on "Rock You" even Paul Simon on "50 Ways". The production is sophisticated without sacrificing the improvisational swagger that

616-531: A digital talk show series featuring an interview with a hip-hop legend or current star. The premiere episode was released in June 2020, featuring Chuck D , front man of Public Enemy and supergroup Prophets of Rage . The show is executive produced by industry veterans Ann Carli and Devin DeHaven , who also directs the series. Grammy Awards Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941)

693-483: A duo since their hit single "My Little Town" in 1975 and their first album of new material since Bridge over Troubled Water in 1970. Simon ultimately decided to wipe Garfunkel's vocals from the mix, and in 1983, Simon released the album Hearts and Bones as a solo album. This was a polished and confessional album that was eventually viewed as one of his best works, but it achieved the lowest sales of his career. Hearts and Bones included " The Late Great Johnny Ace ",

770-421: A movie here! It's Mrs. Robinson!" Simon and Garfunkel's relationship became strained and they split in 1970. At the urging of his wife, Peggy Harper, Simon called Davis to confirm the duo's breakup. For the next several years, they spoke only two or three times a year. In 1970, Simon taught songwriting at New York University . He said he had wanted to teach for a while, and hoped to help people avoid some of

847-476: A production of Alice in Wonderland for their sixth-grade graduation. The two began singing together at the age of 13, occasionally performing at school dances. At the age of 12 or 13 Simon wrote his first song, "The Girl for Me", for him and Art Garfunkel to perform. According to Simon, it became the "neighborhood hit". His father wrote the words and chords on paper for the boys to use, and that paper became

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924-892: A song he wrote for the show's 10th anniversary. Simon's next album, So Beautiful or So What , was released on the Concord Music Group label on April 12, 2011, and Simon said it was the best work he had done in 20 years. It was reported that he had wanted to have Bob Dylan perform on the album. At the end of his 2011 World Tour, which had included the United States, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, Simon appeared at Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel in July 2011, his first concert appearance in Israel since 1983. On

1001-480: A song partly about Johnny Ace , an American R&B singer, and partly about John Lennon . In January 1985, Simon performed for USA for Africa and on the relief fundraising single " We Are the World ". In 1986, Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music , where he had served on the board of trustees. Simon decided to record an album of South African music after hearing

1078-661: A three-month North American tour with Bob Dylan , in which he and Dylan alternated as the headline act with a middle section where they performed together. The collaboration was generally well-received, with just one critic, Seth Rogovoy of the Berkshire Eagle , questioning the collaboration. In 2000, Simon wrote and recorded a new album, You're the One , very quickly. The album was released in October and consisted mostly of folk-pop writing combined with foreign musical sounds, particularly grooves from North Africa. You're

1155-513: A young up and coming artist at Sugar Hill records by the name of Lavaba Mallison, who would later become his manager, Kool Moe Dee left Sugar Hill records to join Lavaba Mallison, Robert "Gusto" Wells, Greg Marius and up and coming producer Teddy Riley at the newly founded ROOFTOP records. He co-operated with the young producers Teddy Riley and Lavaba Mallison which contributed to the new jack swing movement that would gain popularity in

1232-527: Is among the bestselling of all time. As a solo artist, Simon has explored genres including gospel , reggae and soul . His albums Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) kept him in the public eye and drew acclaim, producing the hits " Mother and Child Reunion ", " Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard ", and " 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover ". Simon reunited with Garfunkel for several tours and

1309-462: Is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel . He and his school friend Garfunkel, whom he met in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel . Their blend of folk and rock, including hits such as " The Sound of Silence ", " Mrs. Robinson ", " America " and " The Boxer ", served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their final album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970),

1386-496: Is central to rap's appeal." American music journalist Robert Christgau described the album as "out-of-kilter swing generated by his electronic percussion lie there—trick rhymes, variable lengths, filters, double tracks, sung refrains, and the occasional extra instrument all work to shift the beat without undercutting its dominance". Alex Henderson of AllMusic said that Kool Moe Dee "had a major hit with his sophomore effort" and that "it definitely has its share of classics". In 2017,

1463-574: The 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year . In 1991, the release of his album Funke, Funke Wisdom signaled Kool Moe Dee's decline. Moe Dee himself has stated that this was his worst album. He induced his release from Jive Records in 1992. After a two-year lay off, he released his greatest hits album which regained some of his former success and acclaim. In 1994, his album Interlude was released and failed to gain Moe Dee much of his former success of

1540-685: The African National Congress protested that it was a violation of the boycott. The Congress voted to ban Simon from South Africa and he was added to the United Nations blacklist, from which he was removed in January 1987. In 1989, Simon appeared on Dion 's song "Written on the Subway Wall"/"Little Star" from Yo Frankie which peaked at number 97 in October 1990. After Graceland , Simon extended his roots with

1617-614: The Brazilian -flavored The Rhythm of the Saints . Sessions for the album began in December 1989 in Rio de Janeiro and New York and featured guitarist J.J. Cale , and Brazilian and African musicians. The tone of the album was more introspective and low-key than the upbeat feel of Graceland . Released in October 1990, the album received excellent reviews and sold well, peaking at number 4 in

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1694-587: The Cashbox album charts. It was released in 1974 as a live album, titled Live Rhymin' , and contained elements of world and religious music. His next album, produced by Simon and Phil Ramone , was Still Crazy After All These Years , released in October 1975. The mood of the album, written after Simon's divorce, was darker, and contained "Gone at Last" (a Top 25 hit) and the Simon & Garfunkel reunion track "My Little Town" (a number 9 on Billboard ). The album

1771-568: The Children's Health Fund , a nonprofit organization that provides medical care to children. Simon was born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey , to Hungarian-Jewish parents. His father, Louis (1916–1995), a professor of education at the City College of New York , was a double-bass player and dance bandleader who performed under the name Lee Sims. His mother, Belle (1910–2007),

1848-532: The George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign , and he and Garfunkel reunited in mid-June that year at Madison Square Garden in another political concert for McGovern. Garfunkel joined Simon again on the 1975 Top 10 single " My Little Town ". Simon wrote this song for Garfunkel, whose solo output Simon felt lacked "bite", and it was included on Simon's album Still Crazy After All These Years and Garfunkel's album Breakaway . Contrary to popular belief,

1925-574: The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, awarded by the Library of Congress , and he later performed as part of a gala of his work. After living in Montauk, New York , for many years, Simon relocated to New Canaan , Connecticut. Simon is one of a small number of performers who are named as the copyright owner on their recordings (most records have the recording company as the named owner of

2002-517: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Another Simon & Garfunkel reunion took place in September 1993 and Columbia released Paul Simon 1964/1993 . Originally a three-disc compilation, this became a reduced version on the two-disc album The Paul Simon Anthology one month later. In 1995, Simon appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and performed the song "Ten Years", which he had composed for

2079-485: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , and has been the recipient of sixteen Grammy Awards , including three for Album of the Year. Two of his works, Sounds of Silence and Graceland , were inducted into the National Recording Registry for their cultural significance, and in 2007, the Library of Congress voted him the inaugural winner of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song . He is a co-founder of

2156-673: The Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums . It is his best-selling album to date, achieving platinum certification by the RIAA . The album has spawned three singles : " How Ya Like Me Now ", " Wild Wild West " and "No Respect". Mixing and recording for How Ya Like Me Now took place in London at Battery Studios. Alongside Kool Moe Dee, audio production was shared with and handled by Teddy Riley , Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison and Pete Q. Harris, with whom he worked on his previous self-titled album . On

2233-791: The US Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the US Billboard Hot R&;B/Hip-Hop Songs . The single "No Respect" did not get into any major music chart. Reaching a peak position of number thirty-five on the US Billboard 200 , How Ya Like Me Now remained on the chart for a total of 50 weeks. The album has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on April 14, 1988, and then went platinum on November 14, 1988, indicating US sales of over one million units. In

2310-724: The 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2011, he performed " The Sound of Silence " at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, on the site of the destroyed World Trade Center . On February 26, 2012, Simon paid tribute to fellow musicians Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen , who had received the first annual PEN Awards for songwriting excellence at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2012, Simon released

2387-533: The 1981 Concert in Central Park . In 1986, Simon released his most successful and acclaimed album, Graceland , incorporating South African influences. " You Can Call Me Al " became one of Simon's most successful singles. Graceland was followed by The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), and a second Concert in the Park in 1991, without Garfunkel, which was attended by half a million people. In 1998, Simon wrote

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2464-577: The 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In October 2009, Dion performed " The Wanderer " with Simon at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert . In April 2010, Simon & Garfunkel performed together again at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival . Simon released a new song called "Getting Ready for Christmas Day" on November 10, 2010. The song

2541-474: The Big Apple to The Big Easy – The Concert for New Orleans (eventually released as a DVD) for Hurricane Katrina victims. In 2004, Simon's studio albums were re-released, both individually and as a collection in a limited-edition, nine-CD boxed set, Paul Simon: The Studio Recordings 1972–2000 . Simon was then working on a new album with Brian Eno called Surprise , which was released in May 2006. Most of

2618-679: The Doctor ", " Wild Wild West " and " How Ya Like Me Now ". Kool Moe Dee was ranked No.  33 on About.com 's list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). Born Mohandas Dewese in Harlem, Kool Moe Dee attended the State University of New York at Old Westbury , where he received a degree in communications in 1985. One of Kool Moe Dee's first feats was being part of the first major rap battle in history. He lyrically attacked Busy Bee after one of his performances in 1981. He

2695-582: The One received favorable reviews, reached both the British and American Top 20, and received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year . Simon toured extensively to promote the album, and one performance in Paris was released to home video. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in America, Simon sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on America: A Tribute to Heroes , a multi-network broadcast to benefit

2772-407: The September 11 Telethon Fund, and performed "The Boxer" at the start of the first episode of Saturday Night Live after September 11. In 2002, he wrote and recorded " Father and Daughter ", the theme song for the animated family film The Wild Thornberrys Movie . The track was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song . In 2003, Simon and Garfunkel performed together again when they received

2849-467: The Simon & Garfunkel catalog. In February 2009, Simon performed back-to-back shows in New York City at the recently renovated Beacon Theatre . He was joined by Art Garfunkel and the cast of The Capeman in the first show. The band included Graceland bassist Bakithi Kumalo . In May 2009, Simon toured with Garfunkel in Australia, New Zealand and Japan; and in October 2009 they appeared together at

2926-592: The U.S. and number 1 in the UK and Japan, and later produced another Top 30 hit, " Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard ". Simon's next project, the pop-folk album There Goes Rhymin' Simon , was released in May 1973. The lead single, " Kodachrome ", was a number 2 hit in America. The follow-up, the gospel-flavored " Loves Me Like a Rock ", topped the Cashbox charts. Other songs like " American Tune ", or "Something So Right" (a tribute to Simon's first wife Peggy), became part of his repertoire. The album reached number 1 on

3003-550: The U.S. and number 1 in the UK. The lead single, "The Obvious Child", featuring the Grupo Cultural Olodum , became Simon's last Top 20 hit in the UK and appeared near the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100 . Although not as successful as Graceland , The Rhythm of the Saints received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Simon's ex-wife Carrie Fisher said in her autobiography Wishful Drinking , that

3080-465: The United Nations ). Simon denied that he had gone to South Africa to "take money out of the country", and stated that he paid the black artists and split royalties with them, and was not paid to play to a white-only audience. The United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee supported Graceland , as it showcased black South African musicians and offered no support to the South African government, but

3157-588: The United States. In 1980, Simon released One-Trick Pony , his first album with Warner Bros. Records and his first in almost five years. The album was paired with the motion picture of the same name , which Simon wrote and starred in. It produced his last Top 10 hit, the upbeat "Late in the Evening" (also a number 1 hit on the Radio & Records American charts), but did not sell well. In 1981, Simon & Garfunkel included eight songs from Simon's solo career in

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3234-412: The World or The Myth of Fingerprints". Before leaving for Johannesburg, Simon contributed to " We Are the World ", a charity single for African famine relief. The resulting album, Graceland , became Simon's most successful studio album and his highest-charting album in over a decade. It was estimated to have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. Graceland won the 1987 Grammy for Album of

3311-565: The Year . In 2006, the album was added to the United States' National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically or aesthetically important". Simon faced accusations that he had broken the cultural boycott imposed by the rest of the world against the apartheid regime in South Africa by organizations such as Artists United Against Apartheid , anti-apartheid musicians (including Billy Bragg , Paul Weller and Jerry Dammers ), and James Victor Gbeho (then Ghanaian Ambassador to

3388-803: The album was ranked #35 on Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 1987, and #41 of Complex 50 Greatest Rap Albums 1980s. In 2008, the title track "How Ya Like Me Now" was ranked #31 on VH1 's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs. In 2017, the song "How Ya Like Me Now" was used in the Empire episode "Strange Bedfellows". Album (1988) Singles Shipments figures based on certification alone. "Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now" . Discogs . Kool Moe Dee His fast and aggressive rap style influenced following rap figures such as Big Daddy Kane , Beastie Boys , KRS-One , Rakim , Will Smith , N.W.A , Tupac Shakur , Nas , Jay-Z , among others. Among his most famous songs are " Go See

3465-517: The bestselling album of all time . Simon & Garfunkel also contributed to the soundtrack of the Mike Nichols film The Graduate (1967), starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft . While writing " Mrs. Robinson ", Simon toyed with the title "Mrs. Roosevelt". When Garfunkel reported this indecision over the song's name to the director, Nichols replied, "Don't be ridiculous! We're making

3542-549: The combination of doo-wop , rockabilly and Caribbean music that the album contained, but Songs from The Capeman was a failure, and for the first time in Simon's career he did not reach the Top 40 of the Billboard charts. The cast album was never released on CD but eventually became available online. After The Capeman , Simon's career was in an unexpected crisis, but he continued to record new material. In 1999, he embarked on

3619-638: The first officially copyrighted Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel song. It is now in the Library of Congress . In 1957, in their mid-teens, they recorded the song "Hey, Schoolgirl" under the name "Tom & Jerry", a name that was given to them by their label, Big Records. The single reached number 49 on the pop charts. After graduating from Forest Hills High School , Simon majored in English at Queens College and graduated in 1963. Garfunkel studied mathematics education at Columbia University in Manhattan . Simon

3696-556: The front cover made by Doug Rowell, Moe Dee takes musical aim at rival rapper LL Cool J , by crushing a red Kangol hat under a front wheel of the Jeep Wrangler in the backdrop. The long running feud began when Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL had stolen his rap style. He also felt that LL was disrespecting rap pioneers like Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz , by proclaiming that he was "rap's new grandmaster" without paying due respect to those who came before him. The feud persisted into

3773-812: The funeral of Victoria Leigh Soto , a teacher killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting . On June 14, 2013, on Sting 's Back to Bass Tour , Simon performed " The Boxer " and Sting's " Fields of Gold " with Sting. In September 2013, Simon delivered the Richard Ellmann Lecture in Modern Literature at Emory University . In 2014, Simon embarked on a joint 21-date concert tour of North America, titled On Stage Together , with English musician Sting . The tour continued in 2015 with ten shows in Australia and New Zealand and 23 concerts in Europe. Simon made

3850-631: The largest concert audiences in history. He later remembered the concert as "the most memorable moment in my career." The success of the show led to a live album and an Emmy -winning TV special. Simon embarked on the Born at the Right Time Tour and promoted the album with further singles, including "Proof", which was accompanied by a humorous video that featured Chevy Chase and Steve Martin . On March 4, 1992, Simon performed in his own episode of MTV Unplugged . Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into

3927-611: The mid-1980s. In 1993, he re-united with his fellow ex members of the Treacherous Three to release the album Old School Flava on Ichiban . His last commercial release was the single "Love Love/What You Wanna Do" which was released on Spoiled Brat Entertainment Inc. Moe Dee appeared in the MTV box office bomb Crossroads as a bartender. Kool Moe Dee conducted a long-running rivalry with fellow New York rapper LL Cool J . Along with other rappers such as MC Shan , Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL had stolen their rap styles. He also felt that LL

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4004-682: The mid-1990s with more songs, and ended with both MCs proclaiming themselves the victor. The photograph was taken on 4th St in Manhattan between Avenues C and D in Alphabet City , in an empty lot across from the San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite . Moe Dee references aspects the neighborhood in lyrics on the album. Following Kool Moe Dee , How Ya Like Me Now

4081-585: The mistakes he had made: "You can teach somebody about writing songs. You can't teach someone how to write a song ... I'd go to a course if the Beatles would talk about how they made records because I'm sure I could learn something." Simon pursued solo work, reuniting occasionally with Garfunkel for various projects. He gave a solo performance at the Cleveland Arena in April 1972 in a benefit concert for

4158-529: The pop charts as Jerry Landis, with the novelty song "The Lone Teen Ranger". Both chart singles were released on Amy Records . In early 1964, Simon and Garfunkel auditioned for Columbia Records , whose executive Clive Davis signed them to produce an album. Columbia decided to call them Simon & Garfunkel instead of Tom & Jerry, and according to Simon, this was the first time artists' surnames had been used in pop music without their first names. Simon and Garfunkel's first LP, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. ,

4235-585: The recording). This development followed the successful $ 200 million lawsuit against RSO Records by the Bee Gees , the largest successful lawsuit against a record company by an artist or group. All of Simon's solo recordings, including those originally issued by Columbia Records , are currently distributed by Sony Records ' Legacy Recordings unit. His albums were issued by Warner Music Group until mid-2010, when Simon moved his catalog of solo work from Warner Bros. Records to Sony/Columbia Records , which holds

4312-400: The second half of the 1970s on various projects, including writing music for the film Shampoo , which became the music for the song "Silent Eyes" on the Still Crazy album, and acting (he was cast as Tony Lacey in Woody Allen 's film Annie Hall ). He achieved another hit with " Slip Slidin' Away ", the lead single of his 1977 compilation Greatest Hits, Etc. , which reached number 5 in

4389-428: The set list of their September 19 concert in Central Park . Five were rearranged as duets and Simon performed the other three solo. The resulting live album, TV special and videocassette (later DVD) releases were all major hits. Following the success of The Concert in Central Park, Simon & Garfunkel returned to the studio, planning to record an album of new material. This would have been their first new recordings as

4466-501: The song " She Moves On " was about her. "If you can get Paul Simon to write a song about you, do it. Because he is so brilliant at it." The success of both albums allowed Simon to stage another concert in New York. On August 15, 1991, almost a decade after his concert with Garfunkel, Simon staged a second concert in Central Park with African and South American bands. The success of the concert surpassed all expectations, and over 750,000 people were reported to have attended, making it one of

4543-568: The song was not based on Simon's early life in New York City. Simon also provided guitar on Garfunkel's 1973 album Angel Clare , and added backing vocals to the song " Down in the Willow Garden ". Simon's next album, Paul Simon , was released in January 1972, following his first experiment with world music , the Jamaican-inspired song " Mother and Child Reunion ", which reached both the American and British Top 5. The album received universal acclaim and critics praised its variety of styles and confessional lyrics. Paul Simon reached number 4 in

4620-505: The songs on the album were inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks , and the Iraq invasion and the war that followed. Simon also took inspiration from having reached the age of 60 in 2001, which he humorously referred to in "Old" from You're the One . Surprise was a commercial hit, reaching number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 in the UK. Most critics praised the album, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic wrote "Simon doesn't achieve his comeback by reconnecting with

4697-416: The sound and spirit of his classic work; he has achieved it by being as restless and ambitious as he was at his popular and creative peak." The album was supported by the Surprise Tour in 2006. In March 2004, Walter Yetnikoff published a book called Howling at the Moon , in which he criticized Simon and his previous business partnership with Columbia Records . In 2007, Simon was the inaugural recipient of

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4774-476: The story of a real-life Puerto Rican youth, Salvador Agron , who wore a cape while committing two murders in New York in 1959. He became a writer while in prison. Featuring Marc Anthony as the young Agron, and Rubén Blades as the older Agron, the play was not a success and received terrible reviews and poor box office receipts. Simon recorded an album of songs from the show which was released in November 1997. The album received mixed reviews. Some critics praised

4851-510: The tenth anniversary of the show. In 1995 he also featured in the Annie Lennox version of his 1973 song "Something So Right", which appeared briefly on the UK Top 50 after it was released as a single. Simon had been involved in creating a musical, The Capeman , that eventually opened on January 29, 1998. He had worked enthusiastically on the project for many years, and described it as "a New York Puerto Rican story based on events that happened in 1959—events that I remembered." The musical told

4928-518: The track with electric guitar, bass guitar and drums and it was released as a single, eventually reaching number 1 on the US pop charts. Wilson did not inform the duo of his plan, and Simon was "horrified" when he first heard it. The success of the single drew Simon back to the US to reunite with Garfunkel, and they recorded the albums Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) and Bookends (1968). Their final album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), became at that time

5005-465: The years to follow. Kool Moe Dee released his second album, How Ya Like Me Now which was his most successful album commercially, achieving platinum status. He then went on to release his third album, Knowledge Is King in 1989, which went gold . In 1990, he performed on Quincy Jones ' album Back on the Block along with fellow rappers Melle Mel , Big Daddy Kane and Ice-T . The album gained considerable critical and financial success and won

5082-676: Was a brother in the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, and attended Brooklyn Law School for one semester in 1963. Between 1957 and 1964, Simon wrote, recorded and released more than 30 songs. He and Garfunkel occasionally reunited as Tom & Jerry to record singles, including "Our Song" and "That's My Story". Most of the songs Simon recorded during that time he performed alone, or with musicians other than Garfunkel. They were released on minor record labels including Amy, Big, Hunt, King , Tribute and Madison. Simon used several pseudonyms for these recordings, usually "Jerry Landis", but also "Paul Kane" and "True Taylor". By 1962, working as Jerry Landis, he

5159-509: Was a frequent writer/producer for several Amy Records artists, overseeing material released by Dotty Daniels, The Vels and Ritchie Cordell . Simon enjoyed moderate success with singles as part of the group Tico and the Triumphs, including "Motorcycle", which reached number 99 on the Billboard charts in 1962. Tico and the Triumphs released four 45s. Marty Cooper, known as Tico, sang lead on several of these releases, but "Motorcycle" featured Simon's vocal. Also in 1962, Simon reached number 97 on

5236-460: Was an elementary-school teacher. In 1945, his family moved to the Kew Gardens Hills section of Flushing, Queens , in New York City. The musician Donald Fagen described Simon's childhood as that of "a certain kind of New York Jew , almost a stereotype really, to whom music and baseball are very important. I think it has to do with the parents. The parents are either immigrants or first-generation Americans who felt like outsiders, and assimilation

5313-514: Was disrespecting rap pioneers such as Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz by proclaiming that he was "rap's new grandmaster" without paying due respect to those who came before him. He challenged LL on his platinum selling album How Ya Like Me Now on the single of the same name. He also took a shot at LL by appearing on the album cover with a jeep in the background with the wheel crushing one of LL's trademark red Kangol hats. In 2017 he launched as executive producer and host of Behind The Rhyme ,

5390-406: Was extremely mad at Busy Bee, for talking smack about other MC's, claiming that none of them could beat him in a contest. Moe Dee used some of his rhymes from "The New Rap Language" and "Whip It". He also used a little bit of Busy Bee's style during the battle. In 1985, the Treacherous Three disbanded. In 1986, he went solo, releasing a self-titled album that ranked 83 on Billboard . After meeting

5467-493: Was his only number 1 on the Billboard charts to date. The 18th Grammy Awards named it the Album of the Year , and his performance on it the year's Best Male Pop Vocal . The third single from the album, " 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover ", reached the top spot on the Billboard charts. On May 3, 1976, Simon put together a benefit show at Madison Square Garden for the New York Public Library which raised over $ 30,000. After releasing three successful studio albums, Simon worked in

5544-454: Was premiered on National Public Radio , and was included on the album So Beautiful or So What . The song sampled a 1941 sermon by the Rev. J. M. Gates . Simon performed the song live on The Colbert Report on December 16, 2010. In the first show of the final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 10, 2010, Simon performed a song that commemorated the show's 25 years, an update of

5621-650: Was released in March 1966, charting around the same time as Simon and Garfunkel's " Homeward Bound ". The song was a Top 10 hit from their second UK album, Sounds of Silence , and later included on their third U.S. album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme . Radio stations on the American East Coast began receiving requests for the Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. track " The Sound of Silence ". Simon & Garfunkel's producer, Tom Wilson , overdubbed

5698-467: Was released on October 19, 1964. It consisted of 12 songs, five of which were written by Simon. The album initially flopped. In 1965, after the album's release, Simon moved to London and performed in folk clubs. He enjoyed his time in England and said in 1970, "I had a lot of friends there and a girlfriend. I could play music there. There was no place to play in New York City. They wouldn't have me." He

5775-506: Was released through Jive Records with distribution by RCA Records , making it Kool Moe Dee's second album on the label. It was dropped on November 3, 1987, and was supported by three singles: " How Ya Like Me Now ", " Wild Wild West " and "No Respect", and its music videos. Its self-titled single peaked at #22 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #86 on the UK Singles Chart . "Wild Wild West" peaked at #62 on

5852-399: Was the key thought—they gravitated to black music and baseball, looking for an alternative culture." Simon said Fagen's description was not far from the truth. Simon played baseball and stickball as a child. He described his father as funny and smart, but said he worked late and did not see his children much. Simon met Art Garfunkel when they were 11 years old and performed together in

5929-460: Was welcomed by England's bohemian folk scene, learned how to finger-pick acoustic guitar from Martin Carthy , and was introduced to English folk music. He recalled, "I had never heard anything like those old English songs. I was 21, 22, and emotionally open to everything." The folk music he heard in England in the mid-sixties became one of his two big influences. He wrote " Homeward Bound " and " I Am

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