<P> The Concert in Central Park , released in February 1982 on Warner Bros. Records , is the first live album by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel . It was recorded in September 1981 at a free benefit concert in Central Park , New York City , where the pair performed in front of more than 500,000 people . Proceeds went toward the redevelopment and maintenance of the park , which had deteriorated due to lack of municipal funding . The concert and album marked the start of a short - lived reunion for Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel . The concept of a benefit concert in Central Park had been proposed by Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis and promoter Ron Delsener . Television channel HBO agreed to carry the concert , and worked with Delsener to decide on Simon and Garfunkel as the appropriate act for this event . Besides hit songs from their years as a duo , their set - list included material from their solo careers , and covers . The show consisted of 21 songs , though two were not used in the live album . Among the songs performed were the classics `` The Sound of Silence '' , `` Mrs. Robinson '' , and `` The Boxer '' ; the event concluded with a reprise of Simon 's song , `` Late in the Evening '' . Ongoing personal tensions between the duo led them to decide against a permanent reunion , despite the success of the concert and a subsequent world tour . </P>
<P> The Concert in Central Park , released in February 1982 on Warner Bros. Records , is the first live album by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel . It was recorded in September 1981 at a free benefit concert in Central Park , New York City , where the pair performed in front of more than 500,000 people . Proceeds went toward the redevelopment and maintenance of the park , which had deteriorated due to lack of municipal funding . The concert and album marked the start of a short - lived reunion for Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel . The concept of a benefit concert in Central Park had been proposed by Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis and promoter Ron Delsener . Television channel HBO agreed to carry the concert , and worked with Delsener to decide on Simon and Garfunkel as the appropriate act for this event . Besides hit songs from their years as a duo , their set - list included material from their solo careers , and covers . The show consisted of 21 songs , though two were not used in the live album . Among the songs performed were the classics `` The Sound of Silence '' , `` Mrs. Robinson '' , and `` The Boxer '' ; the event concluded with a reprise of Simon 's song , `` Late in the Evening '' . Ongoing personal tensions between the duo led them to decide against a permanent reunion , despite the success of the concert and a subsequent world tour . </P>
when did simon and garfunkel perform in central park
when did simon and garfunkel perform in central park
September 1981
September 1981