Garfunkel

Singer Art Garfunkel, a real estate magnate and an investor are putting $2 million in gold bullion on the line to inspire researchers to cure blindness by 2020, establishing through Johns Hopkins Medicine one of the world's largest prizes for a scientific advancement. The men, one-time roommates at Columbia University, intend for the prize to trigger research into the variety of diseases that cause blindness — 80 percent of which are preventable — in 39 million people around the world.

The Queen led me to them. Aretha Franklin's music is as much a part of my life as soap and water. So it's through her eclectic song selections that I've discovered several heroes of pop and the blues. Her take on "River's Invitation" introduced me to Percy Mayfield. I found the Beatles through her funky, lowdown rendition of "Eleanor Rigby." And after being lifted countless times by her gospel-fried version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (arguably the best performance of the song), I wanted to know more about Simon & Garfunkel.

Reprinted from late editions of yesterday's Sun. WASHINGTON - They have been friends for half a century. Together, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have created gorgeous music. Simon has written detailed lyrics that tell indelible stories about growing up, growing old, dissolutions and the many facets of love. The pair has broken up and reunited several times over the years. But at Sunday night's sold-out show at MCI Center, Simon and Garfunkel celebrated their legendary career with a brisk, no-frills rundown of their greatest hits.

They have been friends for half a century. Together, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have created gorgeous music. Simon has written detailed lyrics that tell indelible stories about growing up, growing old, dissolutions and the many facets of love. The pair has broken up and reunited several times over the years. But at last night's sold-out show at MCI Center, Simon and Garfunkel celebrated their legendary career with a brisk, no-frills rundown of their greatest hits. No, the harmonies aren't as gossamer-light as they used to be. The same voices that rose like mist in the 1960s are a little creaky these days -- particularly on the uptempo cuts, during which the stellar seven-piece band outshone (and almost overpowered)

Over the years, the two have said some nasty things to one another and stormed out of rooms, slamming doors and fuming. After becoming the most successful folk-pop duo of the 1960s, the guys abruptly went their separate ways - at times, not speaking to each other for months. Even years. But Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are still, as the title of their 1968 classic says, "old friends." Their bumpy relationship has endured half a century. "I don't resent anything about Paul Simon," says Garfunkel, who's calling from a New York City hotel suite.

Dido / Constitution Hall Dido, the British darling of electronic pop, plays DAR Constitutional Hall, 18th and C streets Northwest in Washington, Saturday night at 7:30. Tickets are $35 and are available at Ticketmaster by calling 410-547-SEAT or visiting www.ticket master.com. Simon and Garfunkel / 1st Mariner They're back again, hitting B'more this time with their show of greatest hits. Simon and Garfunkel plays 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Monday night at 8. Tickets are $50-$225 and are available through Ticketmaster.

DAVY GRAHAM, 68 British folk musician Virtuoso guitarist Davy Graham, a leading figure in Britain's 1960s folk music revival, died after suffering a seizure in his London home Monday, his former manager Mark Pavey said Wednesday. The musician had long suffered from lung cancer, he said. Mr. Graham's innovative tuning and dexterity on the acoustic guitar inspired a range of artists. His 1962 song "Angi" became a folk classic and was covered, among others, by Simon and Garfunkel on their 1966 album Sounds of Silence.

With storms bearing down Monday evening, F. Patrick Marlatt hustled his daughters out the doors at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute on the University of Maryland, College Park campus, urging them to leave before the torrential rains and ferocious winds hit. Within minutes, Marlatt would be buried under the rubble of the trailers that housed the institute, and his daughters, both students at College Park, would be dead, victims of a swirling wind...

Singles 1. "Hey Ya!" OutKast 2. "The Way You Move," OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown 3. "Milkshake," Kelis 4. "Stand Up," Ludacris (featuring Shawnna) 5. "You Don't Know My Name," Alicia Keys (From Billboard magazine) Albums 1. Soulful, Ruben Studdard 2. The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys 3. Now 14, Various Artists 4. Shock'n Y'all, Toby Keith 5. Closer, Josh Groban (From Billboard magazine) Concert Tours 1. Simon & Garfunkel 2. Eagles 3. Shania Twain 4. Aerosmith-Kiss 5. Fleetwood Mac (From Pollstar)

Just announced Art Garfunkel -- Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Feb. 15-16. 410-783-8000. The Iguanas -- Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis on Feb. 13. 410-244-1131 or ramsheadlive.com. Chrisette Michele -- The 9:30 Club in Washington on Feb. 21. 800-955-5566 or tickets.com. Little Feat -- Recher Theatre in Towson on March 7. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com.Still available Al Jarreau -- The Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., on Feb. 12. 703-549-7500 or birchmere.com. Blue Man Group -- 1st Mariner Arena on Feb. 15. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.