Simon joins Garfunkel, Graceland choir in concert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -

Paul Simon sang with

Art Garfunkel and his South African collaborators from the landmark "Graceland" album in a pair of rare reunions at a concert on Wednesday honoring his contributions to popular music.

Simon joined the Zulu choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the first time since 1999 at the concert, which was sponsored by the U.S.

Library of Congress.

"I haven't performed with them for a few years, but they're my brothers from South Africa," Simon said as he welcomed the group to the stage of Washington's ornate Warner Theatre.

Together they played the hit "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," from the 1986 "Graceland" album, a Grammy-winning milestone for world music.

They parted with high-fives and hugs as the Ladysmith Black Mambazo members, wearing colorful traditional shirts and white sneakers, danced off the stage.

Simon also embraced Garfunkel, recognizing an award-winning and best-selling musical partnership that dates to the 1950s but has been marked by long spells of estrangement.

"My dear friend and partner in arguments, Art Garfunkel," Simon said before they launched into "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the title hit from their final studio album in 1970, and "Cecilia," from the same disc.

Simon and Garfunkel gave a literate, cosmopolitan sheen to the folk-rock era of the 1960s with hits including "The Sound of Silence," "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and "Mrs. Robinson." They toured together in 2003 and 2004, for the first time in two decades.

Wednesday's concert commemorated Simon's receipt of the Library of Congress' first Gershwin Award recognizing contributions to the popular song as an art form.

The library has the world's largest collection of recordings. The award is named after George and Ira Gershwin, the Jazz Age songwriting brothers whose hits such as "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Summertime" fueled the emergence of the American popular song.

Among others who performed songs by Simon on Wednesday were bluegrass star Alison Krauss, reggae singer Stephen Marley and Latin-music artist

Marc Anthony.

Singer-songwriter

James Taylor, who has battled depression and drug addiction, sang a lighthearted version of Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years."

To close the show, Simon teamed with rhythm-and-blues singer

Stevie Wonder and the gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds for a rollicking version of "Loves Me Like a Rock."

Wonder, who is blind, missed a vocal line, made a crack about his cue cards, flipped up his dark glasses to peer at the audience in jest, and dove back into the song.

The concert will be broadcast June 27 on PBS stations.

Reuters/Nielsen