ART Garfunkel is contented. He's at a point in his life where he has achieved a lot musically, is blissfully married and is father to two children.

"My life is about my two children," says the curly-haired singer who found fame as one half of Simon and Garfunkel.

"James is 16-and-a-half and he's such a rich individual; I'm crazy about him.

"And now I have a new year-old-son called Beau, who's a beautiful new arrival on Planet Earth."

But this domestic idyll does not mean he's put his career on hold. At the weekend he embarked on a new UK tour that plays the Bournemouth Pavilion tonight.

He's also just released Some Enchanted Evening, a new albums of '30s-style standards.

Art Garfunkel is only too well aware of his extreme good fortune. "I've been at this lucky point for 30 years, where I can pick and choose what I do."

He adds: "The money has been made, the glory has been achieved, and it really is a case of following your values."

Art has had plenty to smile about. With childhood friend Paul Simon, he created a lasting legacy with hits like Bridge Over Troubled Water and Mrs Robinson.

The duo are famous for their volatile working partnership, and have reunited numerous times since their split in 1970, only to fall out on nearly every occasion.

Their last reunion tour happened over two years ago, in 2004, and for the moment, Art admits there are no plans for another concert appearance.

He doesn't, however, rule out the possiblity of Simon and Garfunkel recording again. The pair remain friends. He had lunch with Paul just the other day.

"We hang out more comfortably than we used to, so the availability of working together seems there"

Certainly Art still looks back at the good old duo days with great fondness.

"The highlight of my career is that Central Park show I did with Mr Simon in 1981 on September 19, when the rain had cleared and the sky turned pearly grey and half a million people showed up, and Paul and I were blissed out."

  • Art Garfunkel plays The Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth Wednesday night (14).