Paul Simon

Paul Simon is among the most erudite and daring songsmiths in popular music. After the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel in 1970, Simon embarked on a fruitful solo career that's been notable for lyrical acuity, impeccable musicianship and stylistic daring. While Simon and Garfunkel worked largely (but not exclusively) in the folk idiom, Simon the solo artist has roamed wherever his muse has taken him — and that has literally meant around the world. Disinclined to honor artificial borders when it comes to music and culture, Simon mixed it up from the outset. He explored and interpolated doo-wop vocals, gospel choirs, New Orleans brass bands, West Coast jazz musicians, reggae rhythms, Peruvian folk melodies and more on eclectic early albums. His music unfailingly nods to the exotic without departing the familiar.

As a lyricist, he can be a droll, sometimes doleful observer of the human condition. Simon expertly sculpts his songs until they sound so effortless that they belied his careful craftsmanship. Between the lines, his multicultural fusion reinforces the notion that music is a universal language that rises above politics. He has also helped open the mass audience's ears to the marvelous forms of music that lay beyond their home borders. Over the course of three decades, Paul Simon has tapped into the mysterious motherlode of musical creation with patience and humility.

Little Anthony and The Imperials

Little Anthony and the Imperials were one of the finest vocal groups to emerge from the talent-rich New York scene. Moreover, they enjoyed unusual longevity for an act of that type, having hits in both the doo-wop Fifties and the soul-music Sixties like "Tears on My Pillow" and "Hurt So Bad". They outlasted their peers by virtue of "Little Anthony" Gourdine's powerful, beseeching vocals and the consummate professionalism of the Imperials, who mastered a broad range of material and knew how to work a stage.

Christened "Little Anthony" Gourdine by legendary New York disc jockey and promoter, Alan Freed, for the youthful quality in his voice, both Freed and fellow deejay/promoter Murray Kaufman helped launch their career with airplay and concert bookings. With minimal changes in their line-up over the years including a hiatus during the ‘80s, Little Anthony and The Imperials still have an active touring schedule. In 2008, they released You'll Never Know, an album of new songs and rerecorded oldies to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a group.

Dion

Singer Dion DiMucci, better known simply as Dion, epitomized the indigenous music of the Bronx streets where he grew up. In 1957, he teamed with three neighborhood pals — Fred Milano, Angelo D'Aleo and Carlo Mastrangelo — to form Dion and the Belmonts, who perfected four-part vocal harmonies while falling under the spell of rock and roll. The quartet combined the doo-wop sound of their home turf with a raft of rock and roll and R&B influences that included Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

After signing with Mohawk Records, Dion was initially groomed as a solo singer. Soon after his debut single, "The Chosen Few," Dion brought the Belmonts on board. With such hits as "I Wonder Why," "A Teenager in Love," and "Where or When," the group became one of the top vocal groups. Shortly after, the group found itself being steered in a polished, adult-pop direction and Dion left to reclaim his rock and roll roots. In 1961, he hit upon a loose, swaggering style that he could call his own with the songs "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer".

Paul Simon will be performing material from his vast catalog of music and will be inviting these and other special guests onstage for never-before-seen collaborations. Check back soon to see who else he'll be performing with.