Back in the mid-’80s, Paul Simon was in a creative and personal slump. After getting inspiration from a bootleg tape of South African music, Simon flew to Johannesburg and wrote ...

Paul Simon's A Quiet Celebration tour continues at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, and 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. Get ticket info at ticketmaster.

Specifically, the UN declared a cultural boycott to “prevent all cultural, academic, sporting and other exchanges” of South Africa. However, Paul Simon went to South Africa anyway.