Dean Elliott has always had a passion for sharing the stories of iconic musicians, ensuring that their music is brought to life on stage in the most authentic way possible. The director, who created the world-renowned The Simon & Garfunkel Story, which will be touring Australia again in August, told The AJN that he had always been drawn to the duo’s music because it’s timeless.
“Those harmonies and lyrics have a way of connecting with people on a very personal level,” he said. “Their songs capture the spirit of a generation while also feeling universal. I felt there wasn’t a theatrical production that told their story in a way that combined the concert experience with their biography. So, I wanted to create something that would honour their legacy and introduce their music to new audiences as well.”
Indeed, few musical partnerships have captured the hearts and minds of audiences quite like Simon & Garfunkel.
Paul Simon and Arthur (Art) Garfunkel were born into Jewish families in New York City, less than one month apart. According to both, their families’ Jewish roots instilled in them a strong sense of cultural identity and values, which would later influence their music.
“It’s a privilege to celebrate this music every night” Dean Elliott
The pair met when they were 10 in primary school, performing in a school production of Alice in Wonderland. By the age of 13, they had formed a duo, performing Simon’s first song The Girl for Me.
According to legend, Simon’s father wrote the words and chords on a piece of paper for the boys to use. This became the first officially copyrighted Simon and Garfunkel song.
In addition to the secular music they loved, they also drew inspiration from the rich Jewish musical tradition, incorporating elements of Jewish melodies and themes into some of their early compositions.
Their rise to fame, though, didn’t happen overnight. In 1964, they released their debut studio album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Though the album received little attention initially, the song The Sound of Silence caught the attention of radio DJs, leading to its unexpected resurgence. The hauntingly beautiful melody and introspective lyrics struck a chord with listeners, propelling the song to the top of the charts and launching Simon and Garfunkel into the spotlight.
According to Elliott, just before The Sound of Silence became the hit it is, Paul collaborated with a local Aussie icon – Bruce Woodley from The Seekers.
“They co-wrote songs like Red Rubber Ball, which became a million-selling hit in the US, and Cloudy, which appears on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. It shows how interconnected the folk scene was around the world,” Elliott explained.
“Their songs capture the spirit of a generation while also feeling universal” Dean Elliott
Indeed, Simon & Garfunkel were part of a broader folk movement that included artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and The Byrds. This collective of musicians helped shape the sound of the 1960s and influenced countless artists who followed. Their impact extended beyond music into popular culture, with their songs featured prominently in films like The Graduate.
From then on, it was chart topping hit after chart topping hit. But the relationship wasn’t always smooth sailing, with underlying tensions and disagreements forcing a split in 1970.
In 1972, Simon and Garfunkel briefly reunited for a charity concert in New York’s Central Park, performing in front of 500,000 fans. The event was a massive success, and it led to a subsequent reunion tour in 1981, followed by another in 2003.
However, old tensions resurfaced and disagreements once again plagued their partnership.
Still, despite their personal tensions, their music continues to speak to millions of people around the world. Which is why The Simon & Garfunkel Story has enjoyed so much success, which Elliott described as humbling.
“When we started, we didn’t know whether audiences would embrace the idea of a show about Simon & Garfunkel. But seeing packed theatres night after night, standing ovations, and hearing from people who say it brought back memories is really special,” he said. “It feels like we’ve helped keep their story and songs alive. Over the ten years since we first produced the show, it’s been wonderful to watch it grow and reach audiences in so many countries.”
In an even bigger honour, Art himself has seen the show, and according to Elliott, he was generous with his praise.
“It was surreal and very moving,” he said when asked how it felt having Art in the New York audience. “To have Art Garfunkel himself come to see the show and speak positively about it — well, it doesn’t get better than that. It’s a validation that all the effort to tell their story with respect and authenticity was worthwhile.”
The production toured Australia in 2018, and following sold-out performances in London’s West End, a worldwide tour and standing ovations at every performance, it will be returning to our shores next month.
“We’ve performed across the UK, North America, Europe, Australia, really all over, and no matter where we go, the songs resonate. It shows how powerful music can be in transcending cultures and generations,” Elliott explained. “I think part of the connection comes from how Simon & Garfunkel’s music was part of that folk/protest movement of the 60s alongside Dylan, Joan Baez, The Byrds, and so many others. It shaped the sound of an era and reached people everywhere, from movie soundtracks like The Graduate to the early days of television as mass communication. It’s an honour to share that story with audiences worldwide.
“It’s a privilege to celebrate this music every night.”
The Simon & Garfunkel Story begins in Canberra on August 8 before touring around the country. For tickets, visit thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com
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