AMERICAN MASTERS: PAUL SIMON: BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME (TV)
Summary
One in this documentary series that explores the lives and achievements of America's most celebrated artists and performers. This program profiles singer/songwriter Paul Simon. After a look at Simon's 1991-92 world tour, interviews with his international group of musicians, and footage of a performance in China, the profile traces the beginnings of Simon's career. Interviews with Simon, his brother Eddie, and Art Garfunkel reveal how Paul and Art met as children in New York City, formed a musical partnership, and scored their first hit, as teenagers, under the name Tom and Jerry. Next, the program examines Simon and Garfunkel's rise to commercial and artistic prominence in the 1960s. Interview subjects for this segment include Mike Nichols, director of the 1968 film "The Graduate," the soundtrack to which became an instant classic. Garfunkel remarks on Simon's unhappiness during this period, and each discusses the group's breakup in 1970. The show's focus then turns to Simon's successful solo career in the 1970s, with comments from record producer Phil Ramone and "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels. A clip from Simon's autobiographical 1980 film "One-Trick Pony," which he wrote and scored, leads to a discussion of the singer's stormy personal life. Simon's son Harper, Eddie Simon, and Mike Nichols comment on Simon's painful and very public divorce from actress Carrie Fisher. Simon discusses the disappointing public response to his 1983 album "Hearts and Bones," his burgeoning interest in South African music, and his first trip to that racially-polarized republic. Simon talks about his encounters with African musicians Ray Phiri and Joseph Tshabalala, both of whom appeared on "Graceland," the 1986 album which became Simon's artistic and popular renaissance. Tshabalala and Phiri comment on how Simon's work served to highlight the plight of blacks in South Africa, while New York Times music critic Jon Pareles labels Simon a "carpetbagger" for appropriating South African musical forms. Simon is seen defending his album during a meeting with students at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Next, the program looks at Simon's later work with Brazilian musicians, including footage of his 1991-92 concert tour in South Africa, a tour plagued by threats of violence from a radical South African youth group. Finally, Simon and Joseph Tshabalala react to the shooting death of Tshabalala's brother Headman, and Simon and Joseph Tshabalala discuss their strong friendship. The program concludes with footage of Simon and Garfunkel rehearsing at the New York City's Village Gate in 1992, and Simon reflecting on his career from his home in Montauk. The program includes performance footage of the following songs: "Born at the Right Time," "You Can Call Me Al," "The Boxer," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Graceland," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "The Obvious Child," and others. Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 1:50:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:32032
- GENRE: Arts documentaries; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Rock music; South Africa, Republic of; She Made It Collection (Susan Lacy)
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1986-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Susan Lacy … Executive Producer
- Lois Dino … Coordinating Producer
- Jan Wenk-Cedras … Associate Producer
- Allyson Luchak … Associate Producer
- Susan Steinberg … Director
- Paul Simon … Composer, Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Miriam Makeba … Composer, Singer
- Joseph Tshabalala … Composer, Singer
- Udolotela Shange Namajaha … Composer
- Jon Hassell … Composer
- Don Grolnick … Composer
- The Waters … Music Group
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo … Music Group
- Dom Chacal … Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Mingo Araujo … Instrumentalist, Drummer
- Sidinho Moreira … Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Steve Gadd … Instrumentalist, Drummer
- Michael Brecker … Instrumentalist, Synthesizer Player, Saxophonist
- Vincent Nguini … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Armand Sabal-Lecco … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Ray Phiri … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- John Selolwane … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Cyro Baptista … Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Tony Cedras … Instrumentalist, Keyboardist, Accordion player
- Richard Tee … Instrumentalist, Pianist, Keyboardist
- Chris Botti … Instrumentalist, Trumpet player
- Barney Rachabane … Instrumentalist
- Art Garfunkel … Singer
- Oren Waters … Singer
- Maxine Waters … Singer
- Julia Waters … Singer
- Charles Grodin
- Ian E. Hoblyn
- Steve Martin
- Themi Mcerwa
- Lorne Michaels
- Mike Nichols
- Jon Pareles
- Phil Ramone
- Eddie Simon
- Harper Simon