Art Garfunkel has postponed his planned U.K. run of shows just before they were slated to take place. The former Simon & Garfunkel member and solo singer was slated to bring his What a Wonderful World tour to a quartet of U.K. cities over the next week, beginning with a Tuesday night (Oct. 13) show at Watford Colosseum in Watford, England.
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According to NME, Garfunkel, 84, had to wave off the shows on doctor’s orders due to a respiratory infection. “During rehearsals for my upcoming concerts, I nearly postponed a scheduled appointment with my physician,” Garfunkel said in a statement. “Thankfully, my wonderful wife, Kim, insisted that I keep it. As it turns out, I have been diagnosed with a respiratory infection, and my doctor has advised me to take some time to rest and recover.”
Garfunkel added, “My heart is broken that I must postpone these performances. At this season of my life, to be so warmly received by audiences and surrounded by so much love is a gift beyond words. Singing for you has always been one of the greatest joys of my life, and the thought of disappointing you saddens me deeply.”
At press time, Garfunkel had not announced the rescheduled dates for the shows slated to take place on Tuesday, Thursday (Oct. 15) at the Opera House in Manchester, Saturday (Oct. 17) at the University of Wolverhampton at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton and next Monday (Oct. 19) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the tour, Garfunkel performs with guitarist Tab Laven, playing Simon & Garfunkel classics such as “The Sound of Silence” and “The Boxer,” as well as classics from his solo career.
Garfunkel promised fans that he will return to the stage to sing for them “as soon as my health allows,” assuring them that they needn’t worry about him and that he’s in “good hands, and I expect to be just fine.” The next scheduled show on the tour is at L’Olympia in Paris on Oct. 21
In May, Garfunkel was one of the surprise guests at Charlie Puth’s Madison Square Garden show, where he popped out to sing a duet with the headliner on “The Boxer,” which appeared on Simon & Garfunkel’s final studio album, 1970’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.
