Paul Simon

Throughout his solo career, Paul Simon has loaned his unique songwriting voice to a host of different global and ethnic musical styles. Simon's cross-cultural pollinations work so well because he makes sure that his musical interests match his personal vision. Immediately after he split with Garfunkel he recorded with Stephane Grapelli, the Dixie Hummingbirds and Los Incas, while his late '70s and early '80s work found him searching the darker emotional sides of that era, notorious for good cocaine and bad wine. 1986's Graceland was a joyous about-face, introducing North America to modern South African popular music. Since that time Simon has continued to explore -- one of his last efforts was writing for the Broadway stage. Yet no matter where he goes or what he does, his music beats with the same Folk-Pop heart that resided in Simon and Garfunkel.