Paul Simon was living in London in the sixties -Did a few Gigs round the country -Bridge Over Troubled Water was inspired by a bit of countryside just outside Exeter I believe .
My local fok club wouldnt give him a booking for the following year , by which time he was working with Art Garfunkel and was a BIG name.
The clubs that HAD booked him made a serious killing financially .

Incidentally ,apart from the 'Canticle' bit which is his own , the arrangement for Scarborough Fair was stolen while he was in London - Some say it was Martin Carthy , some say Bert Jansch , who he got it from .