Destiny led Evanston native to 'The Simon and Garfunkel Story'

George Clements believes he was destined to be in a Simon and Garfunkel revue.

The Evanston native has been a fan of the folk rock duo's music since he discovered it in middle school.

"Something about it spoke to me," said Clements, 36, who channels Paul Simon opposite Brendon Jacob Smith's Art Garfunkel in "The Simon and Garfunkel Story," a show pairing the Grammy Award-winning duo's greatest hits with their life stories running Tuesday through Sunday, Feb. 22-27, at Chicago's CIBC Theatre.

"I loved the sound of acoustic instruments," said Clements of his youthful fascination that never wavered. "It's so regal and pure."

After discovering the saxophone in high school, Clements - who grew up in a musical family where everyone played at least one instrument - enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston intending to become a jazz player until roots music - bluegrass and folk - caught his attention. He began writing his own songs, formed a folk band and toured for about seven years with the Lonely Heartstring Band, until a former Berklee instructor forwarded him a casting notice for the Simon and Garfunkel show.

Getting the job, was "the universe telling me this is the direction I need to go," said Clements, who joined the cast in fall 2019.

"I love the sound of their two voices," he said, "and I think Paul Simon is one of the best songwriters America has ever seen. His melodies, the chord progressions, it's all very thoughtful. It has a certain spiritual dimension ... that speaks to an inner experience a lot of people can relate to."

Clements and Smith don't act the roles of Simon and Garfunkel so much as narrate the stories of their lives - from their early recordings as Tom and Jerry during the 1950s, through their international success, their 1970 breakup and the massive 1981 reunion concert in New York City's Central Park.

As much as Clements loves playing Simon's music, he longs to get back to his own, specifically the music he creates with his twin brother Charles. He hopes they'll release their own record one day, but for now he's happy performing Simon and Garfunkel tunes. For the record, "America" is his favorite.

Audiences respond to the show, said Clements, who can't recall a performance when "people didn't jump to their feet" at its conclusion.

"Die-hard fans will leave feeling like they've almost seen a Simon and Garfunkel show again," he said. "It's just good music and you can't stop that from touching people."

• • •

"The Simon and Garfunkel Story"

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 22-25; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27

Where: CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000, broadwayinchicago.com

Tickets: $21.50-$96.50

COVID-19 precautions: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID test and masks mandatory