Long Island Proud: Paul Simon, the Montauk Lighthouse and Montauk

Being in my mid-sixties in age, Paul Simon's music has been a huge part of the soundtrack of my lifetime. One of the first songs I admired of his was "Homeward Bound," released in 1966. I first heard that song while away at Boy Scout Camp at the age of 13. Back in 2007 I interviewed Eddie Ecker about his mom and the conversation somehow landed on the August 30,1990, "Back at the Ranch ," concert Billy Joel and Paul Simon headlined to save the Montauk Lighthouse. The lighthouse was is bad shape back then due to lack of funds.

The benefit concert was held at Deep Hollow Ranch Land, then owned by Rusty Leaver, who played a huge roll in pulling the concert off. Eddie Ecker then a young East Hampton Town policeman,(he later became the Chief) said, "I was there to help park the cars coming off Route 27, what a traffic mess, but it was one hell of a concert." The concert raised $270,000 a hefty sum of money back then. Remember the (two performances) Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden of August 1971 raised $250,000.

I lived full time in Montauk from 2005 until 2009, at the Montauk Condominiums, or as most people call it, "The Trailer Park." I had a beagle I would walk down on the ocean beach, just 432 steps from the front door. Occasionally a storm and a special low tide would create a carpet of sand so that you could walk from the trailer park right into Montauk Village or if you headed east to the Montauk Lighthouse. On a few of those special occasions I walked Bo, my beagle eastward past Paul Simons sprawling home complex right off the ocean. Standing on the low tide sandy beach in front of his home you could feel the influence and power the Atlantic Ocean and Montauk has had on Paul Simon, Eddie Brickell his wife, and their children. In a low key stealth-like way they have summered in Montauk, (their primary residence is in CT) totally under the radar.

Around 15 years ago I had a reservation to see Jimmy Cliff at the Stephen Talkhouse. However the Sunday afternoon of the show, Nick Kraus called my cellphone to say the Cliff performance was canceled but I should still come to the Talkhouse for a $20 benefit for a local Sean Rafferty. He said there would be a "special guest, like a Paul Simon." So I arrived early and had a great seat. Nancy Atlas, and other local talent performed until out onto the stage wearing a blue Yale baseball cap came Paul Simon to perform 5 songs. When he sang "The Boxer," the whole audience sang the chorus and when it was over he literally bought everyone in the Talkhouse a beer. I had a Heineken Beer in a bottle! Years later Talkhouse owner,Peter Honerkamp, told me he never ran Simon's chargecard because he was so honored to have him play that night. One of the highlights of that show was when Paul Simon had Nancy Atlas come out and join him in his huge hit song, "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard."

Five years ago while sailing with my life long buddy Lee Brandreth we anchored at Louse Point,East Hampton for a swim. We were there alone until this fellow swam out to talk to us. It was Christian Slater but we played on like he was just some dude. However I do remember him saying how amazing Paul Simon's house was and how beautiful the ocean is right off his house. I said, "I can only imagine." He went on to say how Simon loved Montauk, how special it was to his soul. When we all had to go our separate ways, I said to Christian Slater, "Hey you have a unique voice you ought to be in show business!" He burst out in a really huge laugh, and smiled as we parted ways.

So now I fast-forward to the Fall of 2017 when I visited the Montauk Lighthouse and ran into friend Johnson Buchanan Nordlinger, who plays a huge role in running the Montauk Lighthouse. She said they were planning a festival concert affair next summer, I believe she said, "A small affair, just on the grounds, no real big names."

Last week over 3000 folks huddled around the Montauk Lighthouse as Paul Simon now age 76 took time out from his "Farewell Tour," to be an unannounced guest at the festival.

In a very Montauk way news that he would be appearing at the festival spread around the village and it was reported ticket sales swelled from 500 to 3000 with huge at the gate sales. When I heard about this I smiled wondering about his four minute drive from his home to the Lighthouse. No doubt at that moment Paul Simon was very Long Island Proud!

Photo by T.J. Clemente