A new biography on Paul Simon has just been approved by the American folk icon, with music critic and author Robert Hilburn producing the book for publishers Simon & Schuster.
Neither a title nor a due date has been coughed up yet, but a statement from the songwriter to the Associated Press had him explaining that he had contemplated producing his memoirs on his own before handing over the reins to Hilburn. The pair have known each other since the '70s. Additionally, Hilburn wrote a profile on the artist during his Graceland period for the Los Angeles Times, while Simon has read the author's 2013 biography on Johnny Cash, The Life.
"I thought seriously about writing my own memoir, but I'd rather devote my time to making music, which continues to hold my full attention," Simon explained. "I'm confident Robert Hilburn will write an insightful book. I enjoyed and admired his biography of Johnny Cash and I think he'll tell my story well."
For his part, Hilburn has said that the upcoming biography will "be a gripping, inspiring portrait of an artist, including the toughness and heart it requires to avoid giving in to the many factors — from rejection to self-doubt to writer's block and complacency — that have derailed so many pop artists."
With a music career stretching back over 50 years, the book could trace Simon's early days up to the formation of the iconic Simon & Garfunkel, through to his mid-'80s Graceland period to his current work. Simon's last LP was 2011's Songwriter, which was complemented by the release of Simon's Lyrics 1964-2011, also published by Simon & Schuster.
As previously reported, Simon & Garfunkel's The Complete Albums Collection will drop on November 24 through Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings.
Neither a title nor a due date has been coughed up yet, but a statement from the songwriter to the Associated Press had him explaining that he had contemplated producing his memoirs on his own before handing over the reins to Hilburn. The pair have known each other since the '70s. Additionally, Hilburn wrote a profile on the artist during his Graceland period for the Los Angeles Times, while Simon has read the author's 2013 biography on Johnny Cash, The Life.
"I thought seriously about writing my own memoir, but I'd rather devote my time to making music, which continues to hold my full attention," Simon explained. "I'm confident Robert Hilburn will write an insightful book. I enjoyed and admired his biography of Johnny Cash and I think he'll tell my story well."
For his part, Hilburn has said that the upcoming biography will "be a gripping, inspiring portrait of an artist, including the toughness and heart it requires to avoid giving in to the many factors — from rejection to self-doubt to writer's block and complacency — that have derailed so many pop artists."
With a music career stretching back over 50 years, the book could trace Simon's early days up to the formation of the iconic Simon & Garfunkel, through to his mid-'80s Graceland period to his current work. Simon's last LP was 2011's Songwriter, which was complemented by the release of Simon's Lyrics 1964-2011, also published by Simon & Schuster.
As previously reported, Simon & Garfunkel's The Complete Albums Collection will drop on November 24 through Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings.