Claim: Paul Simon is a singer-songwriter.

`` Bridge over Troubled Water '' is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel . Produced by the duo and Roy Halee , the song was released as the follow-up single to `` The Boxer '' in January 1970 . The song is featured on their fifth studio album , Bridge over Troubled Water -LRB- 1970 -RRB- . Composed by singer-songwriter Paul Simon , the song is performed on piano and carries the influence of gospel music . The original studio recording employs elements of Phil Spector 's `` Wall of Sound '' technique using L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew .   It was the last song recorded for their fifth and final album , but the first fully completed . The song 's instrumentation was recorded in California while the duo 's vocals were cut in New York . Simon felt his partner , Art Garfunkel , should sing the song solo , an invitation Garfunkel initially declined . Session musician Larry Knechtel performs piano on the song , with Joe Osborn playing bass guitar and Hal Blaine closing out the song with drums . The song won five awards at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971 , including Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year .   The song became Simon & Garfunkel 's biggest hit single , and it is often considered their signature song . It was a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks , and it also topped the charts in the United Kingdom , Canada , France , and New Zealand . It was a top five hit in eight other countries as well , eventually selling over six million copies worldwide , making it among the best-selling singles . It became one of the most performed songs of the twentieth century , with over 50 artists , among them Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin , covering the song . It was ranked number 48 on Rolling Stone 's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time .