Paul Simon

USA, 1957–now

American singer-songwriter, half of Simon & Garfunkel and a landmark solo artist. His 1986 album Graceland fused his literate songwriting with South African mbaqanga and township jive, a watershed for 'world music' pop whose guitar and rhythmic language echoes through later indie rock.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Paul Simon and 1 artist Paul Simon influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Paul Simon?

• The Everly Brothers — Paul Simon learned harmony from the Everly Brothers — 'Simon and Garfunkel wouldn't have been Simon and Garfunkel without the Everly Brothers' — and their close-harmony ballad style runs through his songwriting.

Which artists did Paul Simon influence?

• Vampire Weekend — Vampire Weekend's African-inflected guitar pop drew immediate comparison to Paul Simon's Graceland — Ezra Koenig first heard that guitar and rhythmic language through Simon's world-beat records.