Here’s a scary thought for some of us: it has been 50 years since Simon and Garfunkel, regarded as the most successful folk/rock duo of all time, recorded their first number-one hit single, The Sound of Silence.
What makes it all the scarier is that if you listen to the instantly recognisable track today, unlike those who remember buying it first time round, it’s still fresh.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are two of the most famous musicians in the world, yet it has taken until now for someone to create a show around their life stories and music.
Award-winning west-end star Dean Elliott is the man we have to thank for The Simon and Garfunkel Story – A 50th Anniversary Celebration, which visits Eden Court Theatre in Inverness next week.
Dean’s a regular visitor to the Highland capital as he’s played the leading role of Buddy Holly in Buddy – The Musical, and Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, both crowd-pleasing shows.
“It will be a bit of a change for me, coming to Inverness in the spring, as I’ve only ever been to Inverness in the winter when it’s mostly been dark, although I have found my way to Johnny Foxes and Hoots after the shows,” joked Dean, who is director and musical supervisor of the new show.
The actor and musician rose to fame recreating Buddy Holly and had the honour of performing in Buddy’s hometown of Lubbock, Texas, in front of Buddy’s immediate family including his widow, Maria Elena.
“During the show, I had to sing True Love Ways, which Buddy wrote for Maria Elena and spoke to her about just before he was killed. As I picked up the guitar, it hit me like a brick that I was about to do this scene in front of his widow.
“It also reminded me that the show was about a real person who had a huge impact on people’s lives.
“Maria Elena is a lovely lady and was very complimentary about the show, so I was really chuffed I’d managed to do it.”
As well as being a long-time fan of Buddy, Dean has always been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel, in particular Paul Simon.
“I’ve never met Paul, but have seen him live twice and have tickets to see Art Garfunkel’s show later this year and I’m hoping to meet him in person then,” said Dean.
“I’m a huge, huge fan of Paul; albums like Graceland you can’t really fault.”
Transforming himself into the role of Paul wasn’t as hard as Dean expected.
“Originally, I was focusing on creating the show and didn’t plan to be in it, but because I’m such a fan I knew all the guitar parts, so I started experimenting with my voice and discovered that I could sing like him.
“During research, I learned that Paul wanted to be a rock star like Elvis, but couldn’t because he was short and didn’t have Elvis’s beauty or sex appeal, but his voice was very much influenced by people like Elvis and Buddy Holly – a very sweet-sounding, southern rock’n’roll drawl, one might say.
“So, to change my voice from Buddy to Simon wasn’t that hard as they use similar intonations.”
The idea for the show came after Dean was listening to Simon and Garfunkel records and realised he didn’t know their story particularly well.
“A group of friends and I got together and decided that their story was one of friendship and the 1960s.
“The story is beautiful and runs chronologically, but is about two best mates at school who sing together and take on the world as a musical couple and the trials and tribulations of becoming multimillionaires and the worldwide fame that came with that.”
Starting with the “groovy” times of the 1960s, it follows the duo’s humble beginnings as rock’n’roll duo Tom and Jerry and goes right through their massive success and dramatic breakup, before finishing with a stunning 20-minute recreation of the 1981 Central Park concert when they got together again.
“The show features a huge projection screen which will show original photographs and film footage of the period, while we narrate their story and merge it with the music, so it’s more like a piece of storytelling, rather than musical theatre,” said Dean.
While he and Jonny Smart, who plays Art, can make beautiful acoustic music together, many Simon and Garfunkel tracks featured orchestral movements.
“We have a fabulous five-piece band with us who will help us perform all their hits, including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound, Sound of Silence and many others.
“The audience reaction to the show has been amazing, with standing ovations at every performance, which shows how much people love their music.”
The Simon and Garfunkel Story is at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, next Wednesday, April 23. Contact the box office on 01463 234234 or visit www.eden-court.co.uk