PS Date 2012

Paul Simon Children's Health Date Unknow 2010s

The Variety Studio At The 2012 Sundance Film Festival - Day 2

They explain that the film revisits the making of Graceland and, in particular, the political controversy that followed because the album was recorded in South Africa during the cultural boycott of the apartheid era. Berlinger frames the story as a broader question about the role of artists in society—especially in politically charged contexts—and about who gets to set the rules for what artists should or shouldn’t do.

In the conversation, Paul Simon reiterates that he has no regrets about making Graceland. He describes the project as one of the most meaningful experiences of his career and emphasizes what he learned from collaborating with South African musicians—especially in terms of rhythm and musical approach. The documentary combines archival footage from the Graceland period with present-day material and interviews, aiming to show both the creative collaboration and the wider debate the album sparked.

Park City (Utah)

Sundance Film Festival

Paul Simon and documentary film maker Joe Joe Berlinger stop by the THR lounge prior to their sold out premiere of 'Under African Skies.'

BB King Blues Club (con Jerry Douglas Interpretó"The Boxer")

Paul Simon attends "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey" at Ziegfeld Theater

Judd Apatow, Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger

Ladysmith, Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger

Paul Simon following a memorial service for writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall

Paul Simon and Ray Phiri

Paul Simon and Joseph Tshabalala

Polar Music Talks and Sessions, cinema Rigoletto

Paul Simon took place on august 27,2012 at the Rigoletto cinema in Stockholm, interviewed on stage by Jam Gradvall

The discussion is structured as a career-spanning conversation that connects Simon’s songwriting craft with the major turning points of his catalog. It begins with his early years in Queens, New York, and his first recordings as the high-school duo “Tom & Jerry” with Art Garfunkel, including their early hit “Hey, Schoolgirl” (1957). From there, it moves into the Simon & Garfunkel period, highlighting how the duo’s harmonies and Simon’s narrative songwriting helped define their sound across five studio albums before the 1970 breakup, and why that work continued to resonate with new listeners over time.

A significant portion addresses Simon’s transition into a solo career and the way he developed a more expansive musical palette in the 1970s. Key milestones referenced include his self-titled 1972 album (and “Mother and Child Reunion”), There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973; “Kodachrome” and “Loves Me Like a Rock”), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975; “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”), which cemented both his commercial success and reputation for meticulous writing and arrangement. The interview also touches on the role of live performance and public milestones such as the 1981 Simon & Garfunkel Central Park concert, along with later reunions and recognitions.

The conversation then places Simon’s late-1970s and 1980s work in a broader creative context, including crossover projects (such as One-Trick Pony and related songs like “Late in the Evening”), and leads into the major pivot of Graceland (1986). In this section, the talk emphasizes Simon’s interest in South African music and collaboration with musicians including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, alongside the political controversy tied to apartheid-era cultural boycott debates. The interview frames Graceland as both a landmark artistic achievement and a case study in the complex relationship between art, ethics, and cross-cultural exchange.

From there, the discussion traces how Simon continued exploring global rhythmic and sonic influences after Graceland, notably with The Rhythm of the Saints (1990) and later projects that show ongoing experimentation rather than repeating a fixed formula. Later career reference points include The Capeman, touring with Bob Dylan (1999), You’re the One (2000), Surprise (2006, with tracks co-written with Brian Eno), and So Beautiful or So What (2011, produced by Phil Ramone), reinforcing the theme of reinvention across decades.

Finally, the interview includes a legacy-and-responsibility dimension, noting Simon’s philanthropic work—especially the Children’s Health Fund (co-founded with Dr. Irwin Redlener) and its mobile-clinic model—as part of the broader public impact associated with his career.

Paul Simon & David Dinkins children health fund dinner

Co-Founder and President of Children's Health Fund Irwin Redlener, Executive Director of Children's Health Fund Karen Redlener and Co-Founder of Children's Health Fund Paul Simon

Lulu Simon and Paul Simon singing alleluia

Jaùes Taylor, Caroline "Kim" Swedvig / Paul Simon and Edie Brickel

Tom Hanks James Taylor Paul Simon

Steve Martins, Paul Simon Edie Brickel

JANUARY 2012
22 jan	Park City, Utah	The Variety Studio At The 2012 Sundance Film Festival - Day 2 They explain that the film revisits the making of Graceland and, in particular, the political controversy that followed because the album was recorded in South Africa during the cultural boycott of the apartheid era. Berlinger frames the story as a broader question about the role of artists in society—especially in politically charged contexts—and about who gets to set the rules for what artists should or shouldn’t do. In the conversation, Paul Simon reiterates that he has no regrets about making Graceland. He describes the project as one of the most meaningful experiences of his career and emphasizes what he learned from collaborating with South African musicians—especially in terms of rhythm and musical approach. The documentary combines archival footage from the Graceland period with present-day material and interviews, aiming to show both the creative collaboration and the wider debate the album sparked.
FEBRUARY 2012
25 jan	Park City (Utah)	Sundance Film Festival Paul Simon and documentary film maker Joe Joe Berlinger stop by the THR lounge prior to their sold out premiere of 'Under African Skies.'
FEBRUARY 2012
26 feb	Boston MA	Awards For Lyrics Of Literary Excellence Paul Simon during the 2012 Awards for Lyrics of Literary Excellence at The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library And Museum
APRIL 2012
02 april	New York, USA	A Celebration Of Paul Newman's Dream To Benefit The SeriousFun Children's Network - Show Paul Simon performs during a Celebration of Paul Newman's Dream to Benefit the SeriousFun Children's Network at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
18 april 19 april 20 april	New York, USA	Lincoln Center
MAY 2012
02 may	New York, USA	Paul Simon Plays Intimate Show At Turkana Basin Institute Fundraiser
11 may	New York	ABC News Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger They discuss why Berlinger made the film: to revisit the story behind Graceland—both the creative process and the political controversy that followed. A central topic is the criticism that Simon broke the cultural boycott during apartheid by collaborating with South African musicians. In response, Simon emphasizes the intent and nature of the project as a musical collaboration with artists rather than support for a regime, while acknowledging how intense and divisive the debate was at the time. Berlinger and Simon frame the documentary as a way to add nuance and historical context, bringing in perspectives from musicians involved in the recordings and voices connected to the period’s political activism. They also highlight the long-term cultural impact of Graceland: its role in introducing South African sounds to global audiences and the way it continues to spark discussion about ethics, cultural exchange, and politics. The interview also touches on the emotional dimension of revisiting this history years later, including Simon’s return to South Africa and reflections on what the collaboration meant for the people involved and for the album’s legacy.
26 may	Greenwich, Connecticut, USA	Greenwich Town Party Roger Sherman Baldwin Park
30 may	New York	1) A musician-to-musician conversation The segment is framed as a conversation between two musicians: Wynton Marsalis (CBS cultural correspondent and renowned jazz artist) sits down with Paul Simon to talk about how songs are made and what “inspiration” really means in Simon’s work. Anecdotal flavor: CBS emphasizes that Marsalis approaches Simon as a peer, which gives the exchange a craft-focused tone rather than a typical celebrity interview. 2) Simon on how his relationship with “hits” changed The key idea (quoted in the CBS write-up): Simon says that when he was in his 20s and 30s, he felt that his own internal quality-meter matched the public’s—if he thought something was truly good, people agreed. He then explains that this alignment doesn’t necessarily hold later, but that he’s made peace with it—his focus shifted away from chasing mass approval. 3) The core principle: artistic honesty (“without lying”) Simon describes his current priority as what he can make now and how to do it “without lying.” Anecdote/insight: instead of offering a “formula” for a hit, he talks like a craftsman—stressing integrity, clarity of intent, and making something that feels true, even if it doesn’t land as a mainstream smash. 4) CBS situates Simon as a maker of modern standards To underline why this matters, CBS briefly reframes Simon as a defining American pop songwriter over decades, citing classics such as “The Sound of Silence,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and “You Can Call Me Al.” 5) “Behind the scenes”: part of a broader set of clips CBS indicates this was a full CBS This Morning report (with studio context around the interview). There are also related clips from the same Marsalis/Simon material—for example “Paul Simon’s First ‘Hit’”, where Simon discusses an early song (“The Girl For Me”).
30 may	Greenwich, Connecticut, USA	Roger Sherman Baldwin Park
JUNE 2012
05 june	NEW YORK, NY	Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey Joe Berlinger, Paul Simon and Bob Costas attend "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey" at Ziegfeld Theater
06 june	San Francisco, USA	Davies Symphony Hall (2012 Black and White Ball)
15 june	New York, USA	BB King Blues Club (con Jerry Douglas Interpretó"The Boxer")
05 june	New York	Paul Simon attends "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey" at Ziegfeld Theater Judd Apatow, Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger	Ladysmith, Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger
25th Graceland Tour 2012
JULY 2012
09 july	Manhattan, New York	Paul Simon following a memorial service for writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall
12 july	Dublin, Ireland	The O2
13 july	Dublin, Ireland	The O2
15 july	London, U.K	Hyde Park Paul Simon and Jimmy Cliff PS and Paul Mc Cartney	Paul Simon and Ray Phiri Paul Simon and Joseph Tshabalala
17 july	Brussels, Belgium	Vorst Nationaal
18 july	Amsterdam, The Netherlands	Ziggo Dome
20 july	Herning, Denmark	Boxen
22 july	Stockholm, Sweden	The Globe
24 july	Oslo, Norway	Spektrum
26 july	Bergen, Norway	Koengen
AUGUST 2012
27 aug	Stockholm	Polar Music Talks and Sessions, cinema Rigoletto Paul Simon took place on august 27,2012 at the Rigoletto cinema in Stockholm, interviewed on stage by Jam Gradvall The discussion is structured as a career-spanning conversation that connects Simon’s songwriting craft with the major turning points of his catalog. It begins with his early years in Queens, New York, and his first recordings as the high-school duo “Tom & Jerry” with Art Garfunkel, including their early hit “Hey, Schoolgirl” (1957). From there, it moves into the Simon & Garfunkel period, highlighting how the duo’s harmonies and Simon’s narrative songwriting helped define their sound across five studio albums before the 1970 breakup, and why that work continued to resonate with new listeners over time. A significant portion addresses Simon’s transition into a solo career and the way he developed a more expansive musical palette in the 1970s. Key milestones referenced include his self-titled 1972 album (and “Mother and Child Reunion”), There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973; “Kodachrome” and “Loves Me Like a Rock”), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975; “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”), which cemented both his commercial success and reputation for meticulous writing and arrangement. The interview also touches on the role of live performance and public milestones such as the 1981 Simon & Garfunkel Central Park concert, along with later reunions and recognitions. The conversation then places Simon’s late-1970s and 1980s work in a broader creative context, including crossover projects (such as One-Trick Pony and related songs like “Late in the Evening”), and leads into the major pivot of Graceland (1986). In this section, the talk emphasizes Simon’s interest in South African music and collaboration with musicians including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, alongside the political controversy tied to apartheid-era cultural boycott debates. The interview frames Graceland as both a landmark artistic achievement and a case study in the complex relationship between art, ethics, and cross-cultural exchange. From there, the discussion traces how Simon continued exploring global rhythmic and sonic influences after Graceland, notably with The Rhythm of the Saints (1990) and later projects that show ongoing experimentation rather than repeating a fixed formula. Later career reference points include The Capeman, touring with Bob Dylan (1999), You’re the One (2000), Surprise (2006, with tracks co-written with Brian Eno), and So Beautiful or So What (2011, produced by Phil Ramone), reinforcing the theme of reinvention across decades. Finally, the interview includes a legacy-and-responsibility dimension, noting Simon’s philanthropic work—especially the Children’s Health Fund (co-founded with Dr. Irwin Redlener) and its mobile-clinic model—as part of the broader public impact associated with his career.
28 aug	Stockholm	Yo-Yo Ma and artist Paul Simon arrive for the Polar Music Prize at Konserthuset on August 28, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden.
OCTOBER 2012
04 oct	Nzw York	Paul Simon & David Dinkins children health fund dinner Co-Founder and President of Children's Health Fund Irwin Redlener, Executive Director of Children's Health Fund Karen Redlener and Co-Founder of Children's Health Fund Paul Simon Lulu Simon and Paul Simon singing alleluia	Jaùes Taylor, Caroline "Kim" Swedvig / Paul Simon and Edie Brickel Tom Hanks James Taylor Paul Simon Steve Martins, Paul Simon Edie Brickel
18 oct	Nzw York	Chuck Close exhibition opening at Pace Gallery, New York Chuck Close, Cindy Sherman, Arne Glimcher, Paul Simon
NOVEMBER 2012
14 nov	Amsterdam, The Netherlands	Paul Simon was in Tuschinksky-Pathe Amsterdam, invited by the international documentary film festival amsterdam. There Harrry de Winter had an interview with Paul Simon and he asked him what Nelson Mandela did say about his album Graceland. At the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Paul Simon speaks mainly about the relationship between music, memory, and storytelling, in connection with a documentary about his life and work. He explains that his songs are not meant to tell linear stories, but rather to function as emotional fragments that gain meaning over time. Music, he says, often communicates more deeply than direct speech because it leaves room for personal interpretation. Simon also discusses his creative process, describing it as slow, demanding, and built on doubt and revision. He rejects the idea of effortless inspiration, presenting himself instead as a craftsman who shapes songs through repeated adjustments and failures. Another key theme is the distance between the artist and the work. Once a song is released, Simon believes it no longer belongs entirely to its creator but to the audience, who gives it new meanings.

2012

JANUARY 2012

22 jan

Park City, Utah

The Variety Studio At The 2012 Sundance Film Festival - Day 2

FEBRUARY 2012

25 jan

Park City (Utah)

Sundance Film Festival

Paul Simon and documentary film maker Joe Joe Berlinger stop by the THR lounge prior to their sold out premiere of 'Under African Skies.'

FEBRUARY 2012

26 feb

Boston MA

Awards For Lyrics Of Literary Excellence

Paul Simon during the 2012 Awards for Lyrics of Literary Excellence at The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library And Museum

APRIL 2012

02 april

New York, USA

A Celebration Of Paul Newman's Dream To Benefit The SeriousFun Children's Network - Show

Paul Simon performs during a Celebration of Paul Newman's Dream to Benefit the SeriousFun Children's Network at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center

18 april

19 april

20 april

New York, USA

Lincoln Center

MAY 2012

02 may

New York, USA

Paul Simon Plays Intimate Show At Turkana Basin Institute Fundraiser

11 may

New York

ABC News

Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger

The interview also touches on the emotional dimension of revisiting this history years later, including Simon’s return to South Africa and reflections on what the collaboration meant for the people involved and for the album’s legacy.

26 may

Greenwich, Connecticut, USA

Greenwich Town Party

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park

30 may

New York

1) A musician-to-musician conversation

The segment is framed as a conversation between two musicians: Wynton Marsalis (CBS cultural correspondent and renowned jazz artist) sits down with Paul Simon to talk about how songs are made and what “inspiration” really means in Simon’s work.

Anecdotal flavor: CBS emphasizes that Marsalis approaches Simon as a peer, which gives the exchange a craft-focused tone rather than a typical celebrity interview.

2) Simon on how his relationship with “hits” changed

The key idea (quoted in the CBS write-up): Simon says that when he was in his 20s and 30s, he felt that his own internal quality-meter matched the public’s—if he thought something was truly good, people agreed.

He then explains that this alignment doesn’t necessarily hold later, but that he’s made peace with it—his focus shifted away from chasing mass approval.

3) The core principle: artistic honesty (“without lying”)

Simon describes his current priority as what he can make now and how to do it “without lying.”

Anecdote/insight: instead of offering a “formula” for a hit, he talks like a craftsman—stressing integrity, clarity of intent, and making something that feels true, even if it doesn’t land as a mainstream smash.

4) CBS situates Simon as a maker of modern standards

To underline why this matters, CBS briefly reframes Simon as a defining American pop songwriter over decades, citing classics such as “The Sound of Silence,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and “You Can Call Me Al.”

5) “Behind the scenes”: part of a broader set of clips

CBS indicates this was a full CBS This Morning report (with studio context around the interview).

There are also related clips from the same Marsalis/Simon material—for example “Paul Simon’s First ‘Hit’”, where Simon discusses an early song (“The Girl For Me”).

30 may

Greenwich, Connecticut, USA

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park

JUNE 2012

05 june

NEW YORK, NY

Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey

Joe Berlinger, Paul Simon and Bob Costas attend "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey" at Ziegfeld Theater

06 june

San Francisco, USA

Davies Symphony Hall (2012 Black and White Ball)

15 june

New York, USA

BB King Blues Club (con Jerry Douglas Interpretó"The Boxer")

05 june

New York

Paul Simon attends "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey" at Ziegfeld Theater

Judd Apatow, Paul Simon and Joe Berlinger

25th Graceland Tour 2012

JULY 2012

09 july

Manhattan, New York

Paul Simon following a memorial service for writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall

12 july

Dublin, Ireland

The O2