Paul Simon is one the most respected and successful songwriters in the second half century. Simon rose to prominence in the mid-’60s. His songs were sophisticated and literate but still had a melodic appeal and addressed the worries and uncertainties of his generation. Simon’s music tended to be personal and less about the wider world as the 1960s passed to the 1970s and 1980s. However, he also broadened his musical palette and introduced many pop and rock fans to world music. Paul Frederic Simon was conceived in Newark, New Jersey, on October 13, 1941. Louis Simon was his father and a leader of a small jazz band. Belle Simon was his mother. When Paul was just a few months old they moved from Newark, New Jersey to Queens, New York. Paul was a passionate fan of music and baseball as a child. He discovered a love for Ru0026B and doo wop when he reached his teens.