Art Garfunkel honoured by Columbia

Art Garfunkel was honored by his alma mater Columbia University in New York City on Saturday (April 29th), when he was presented with the third annual I.A.L. Diamond Award. The award is given to a Columbia alumnus for their outstanding achievement in the performing arts. The University's newspaper The Columbia Spectator reported that Garfunkel gave a heartfelt speech about his years at the university, and even recalled a legendary moment with partner Paul Simon that took place on the campus after he had graduated, adding that, "One story that I don't think that I've ever told the press was bringing the recording equipment into (the University's) St. Paul's (chapel), under the cover of night to record the ending of 'The Boxer.' We stayed there the whole night, singing all the 16 li-la-lis.'

Garfunkel earned a Bachelor's degree in Art History in 1962, followed by a Masters degree in Mathematics in 1965.

The I.A.L. Diamond Award is named after Isadore A.L. Diamond, class of '41, who later went on to write the screenplay for Some Like It Hot and The Apartment.

The singer is currently in the studio recording his latest album of "love songs" with veteran producer Richard Perry. The still-unnamed disc is due out sometime later this year.

He kicks off a series of European dates on June 17th in Amsterdam. He'll be back in the U.S. for a handful of shows starting on July 15th in Cincinnati at the Riverbend Music Center.