Paul Simon, the iconic American musician and songwriter of Simon and Garfunkel fame, has disclosed that he has lost most of the hearing in his left ear, leaving him with sudden “total” hearing loss and putting his performing plans on pause. Simon, who has recently released a new album, Seven Psalms, his first album in five years, stated that he is not disappointed about quitting live performance, as he has grown tired of playing many of his songs on stage, adding that, “Sometimes there are songs that I like and then at a certain point in a tour, I’ll say, ‘What the f*** are you doing, Paul?’, Quite often that would come during You Can Call Me Al…I’d think, ‘What are you doing? You’re like a Paul Simon cover band. You should get off the road, go home.’ ”
Simon, who is 81 years old, rose to fame in the 1960s as the other half of the famous folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, with the pair splitting in 1970. Following the split, he enjoyed a successful solo career. Simon has never received an official diagnosis for the hearing loss he has experienced – stating that “nobody had an explanation for it. So everything became more difficult” – hence his decision to abstain from live performance. Simon’s new album, Seven Psalms, was written before his deafness and recorded while he was still receiving treatment. It was produced by Roy Halee, who had worked with Simon and Garfunkel, and features contributions from the gospel artist The Clark Sisters.
Despite the challenges brought by his hearing loss, Simon is still passionately pursuing his craft. He has found peace and solace living with his wife, Edie Brickell, on a ranch in Texas and wintering in Hawaii, where he owns a property. Simon is keen to avoid the East Coast, preferring to concentrate on those things that inspire him in his later years. Simon has enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades and has gone down in music history as one of the most influential songwriters of a generation. His new album, which is his 16th solo album, has been released to critical acclaim.
The sudden hearing loss experienced by Paul Simon is a stark reminder of the importance of monitoring one’s welfare in old age, particularly the organs that are vital to one’s profession and enjoyment of life. It also raises the issue of the lack of resources for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions that still persist in many parts of the world. In light of the recent developments, it is essential for the various stakeholders involved, including policymakers, regulators, and medical professionals, to allocate more resources towards diagnosing and treating medical conditions that occur with age. Failure to act could result in the denial of the elderly’s quality of life at a crucial age where they need to be healthy and happy.
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