Paul Simon: Health, Hearing Loss, Fingernails, Garfunkel

There aren’t many songwriters who can glide from folk harmonies to world-beat grooves without missing a beat, but Paul Simon has done it for decades. Then, in 2023, he revealed he had lost most of the hearing in his left ear — about 6% of normal function, according to a CBS News report. That sudden change didn’t just silence the stage; it forced Simon to rethink how he performs his own catalog, how he tunes his guitar, and even which songs he can still sing.

Age: 83 (born October 13, 1941) ·
Grammy Awards: 16 ·
Children: 3 ·
Height: 5’3″ (1.60 m) ·
Net worth: $78 million

Here are the key biographical facts about Paul Simon, verified from official records.

What medical condition does Paul Simon have?

Simon has publicly described his hearing loss as severe — roughly 6% of normal function in his left ear, as he told CBS News in 2024. He first revealed the condition in September 2023, telling BBC News that he was “beginning to accept” it. The likely diagnosis is sudden sensorineural hearing loss, though an exact cause has not been publicly confirmed.

What illness does Paul Simon have?

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in left ear, suspected but not officially labeled.
• Simon has collaborated with a hearing-loss research initiative at Stanford Medicine seeking ways to repair inner-ear tissue (Newsweek).

The implication: Simon is not just coping passively. He’s directly funding and participating in biomedical research, a move that could benefit millions. There’s no guarantee his hearing will return, and he has adjusted his entire stage setup accordingly.

Why did Paul Simon lose his hearing?

• Simon said the hearing loss started suddenly and without clear explanation.
• He told BBC News that “hearing loss changes how you interact with life and work.”
• He has not cited a specific trigger such as loud noise exposure or infection.

What song can Paul Simon no longer sing?

One of the most startling revelations from Simon’s interviews is that his hearing loss has forced him to drop specific songs from his setlist. In a 2024 conversation with People, Simon confirmed that “You Can Call Me Al” is no longer part of his show. He also struggles with high-frequency passages, making “The Boxer” nearly impossible to sing in its original key.

How does hearing loss affect his performances?

• Simon now uses larger, strategically placed speakers to help him hear his own voice onstage (CBS News).
• He has shifted to largely acoustic arrangements at much lower volume (Ultimate Classic Rock).
• Simon said, “If there’s a drum or an electric guitar, it’s too loud and I can’t hear my voice” (Ultimate Classic Rock).

Which song is impossible to perform?

• “You Can Call Me Al” has been removed from the setlist entirely (People).
• “The Boxer” is also extremely difficult because of its high vocal range.
• Simon has largely replaced them with quieter, more melodic material from his solo catalog.

The pattern: Simon isn’t retiring — he’s recalibrating. The songs that survive his hearing test are the ones he can still feel in his chest, not just in his ears.

Why does Paul Simon have such long fingernails?

Observant fans have long noticed that Simon keeps the nails on his right hand noticeably longer than typical. This isn’t a style choice — it’s a technical necessity for his unique fingerpicking guitar style.

Does he use his fingernails for guitar playing?

• Simon uses the long nails on his right hand as natural picks to pluck strings with precision (Wikipedia).
• The nails allow him to produce a brighter, more articulate tone than using fingertips alone.
• He has maintained this technique since his early days with Simon & Garfunkel.

What is the reason for his long nails?

• They serve as a built-in tool for fingerpicking, eliminating the need for plastic or metal picks.
• Simon has described the nails as part of his “mechanism” for creating his signature arpeggios.

Why this matters: In the context of his hearing loss, Simon’s fingernails have actually become more important — he relies on a lighter, more controlled touch that the long nails facilitate. The quieter his stage setup gets, the more his fingernail-driven precision comes to the forefront.

Is Art Garfunkel still friends with Paul Simon?

One of the most enduring questions in popular music is the status of the relationship between Simon and his former partner Art Garfunkel. The answer, based on recent public statements, is complicated.

Why did Simon and Garfunkel stop making albums together?

• Creative differences strained the duo after the success of Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970).
• Simon felt constrained by the duo format and wanted to explore world music influences.
• Garfunkel, by contrast, preferred the harmony-based sound they had perfected.
• They have reunited occasionally for concerts (e.g., 2003 Grammy tribute, 2010 New Orleans Jazz Fest) but have not recorded a new album together (Wikipedia).

The implication: The partnership that defined a generation ended not with a single fight but with a widening gap in artistic vision. Today, Simon and Garfunkel rarely speak.

Did Art Garfunkel ever marry?

• Yes, Garfunkel has been married to Kim Garfunkel (née Cermak) since 1988 (Wikipedia).
• He has three children, including actor Beau Garfunkel.

In a 2025 interview with People, Garfunkel said he applauds Simon’s touring and called him “generous and innovative.” It’s not a full reconciliation, but it’s a more diplomatic tone than fans have heard in years.

What has happened to Paul Simon?

The last five years have brought a cascade of changes: a farewell tour, a health crisis, a retreat from the stage, and now a carefully planned return. Simon’s story is less of a final chapter than a long middle act where the artist learns to work with new limits.

Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?

• Simon and Fisher married in 1983 and divorced in 1993 (Wikipedia).
• Fisher cited the pressures of her career and Simon’s touring schedule as factors.
• Both spoke warmly of each other after the divorce; Fisher wrote about their relationship in her memoir Wishful Drinking.

What is Paul Simon’s current health status?

• Hearing remains severely limited in the left ear; some improvement has been reported but not quantified (Ultimate Classic Rock).
• Simon has not announced any other major health issues.
• He continues to write and record; his last album Seven Psalms was released in 2023.

The trade-off: Simon can still create music, but live performance now requires elaborate acoustic scaffolding. His voice, however, remains strong — as demonstrated at the intimate Soho Sessions in September 2024 (CBS News).

Is Paul Simon still touring?

• Yes. He announced the A Quiet Celebration Tour for 2026, his first international run in about eight years (Ultimate Classic Rock).
• The tour will stop in Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London, among other cities.
• Shows will be acoustic-driven, with low amplification to accommodate Simon’s hearing.

Timeline

• 1941: Paul Simon born in Newark, New Jersey.
• 1957: Forms first band with Art Garfunkel as Tom & Jerry.
• 1964: Simon & Garfunkel release debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
• 1970: Duo breaks up after Bridge Over Troubled Water.
• 1986: Graceland released, wins Grammy for Album of the Year.
• 1992: Marries Edie Brickell.
• 2018: Announces Homeward Bound farewell tour.
• 2023: Reveals severe hearing loss; releases Seven Psalms.
• 2024: Performs stripped-down show at Soho Sessions; says “You Can Call Me Al” is out.
• 2026: A Quiet Celebration Tour scheduled for Europe and UK.

The pattern: Simon’s career continues to evolve, with each decade marking a distinct creative phase.

Clarity section

Quotes from the artist and his partner

“I can hear my voice the way I want it in the context of the music.”

— Paul Simon, on adapting his stage setup for hearing loss (Ultimate Classic Rock)

“If there’s a drum or an electric guitar, it’s too loud and I can’t hear my voice.”

— Paul Simon, explaining the shift to acoustic arrangements (Ultimate Classic Rock)

“I applaud him for touring. He’s being generous and innovative.”

— Art Garfunkel, on Simon’s 2026 plans (People)

Summary

Paul Simon has navigated the most disruptive challenge of his late career — hearing loss — by doing what he has always done: adapting. He rebuilt his show around acoustic textures, dropped songs he could no longer hear properly, and leaned into the very fingernail technique that defined his sound. For fans, the 2026 A Quiet Celebration Tour offers a rare chance to see a master work under constraint. The implication is clear: if you want to hear Simon one last time, you better book tickets soon — because the setlist is small, the volume is low, and the moment is finite.

Utöver sin vänskap med Garfunkel och kampen med hörselnedsättning har Paul Simon även en fascinerande historia om sina särpräglade långa naglar, vilket utforskas i en artikel om Paul Simons hörselnedsättning och Garfunkel-återförening.

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