Harper Simon ready to step out of his dad's shadow in Pocklington
Harper Simon is a member of a select band of offspring immortalised in song.
Julian Lennon's name will ring out forever alongside the "na, na, naas" of Hey Jude.
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Harper Simon, son of Paul.
James Taylor's nephew is probably fed up of being the infant the folk legend sang about in Sweet Baby James.
And Harper Simon may not be mentioned by name in his father's classic track Graceland, but when his dad sings: "My travelling companion is a nine-years-old. He's the child of my first marriage," it's pretty obvious who he's referring to.
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Not that it's true. Harper says Paul Simon never actually took him to Graceland.
And to be honest, Simon junior's connection to a legendary father has been more of a hindrance than a help, when it's come to establishing himself as a musician in his own right.
He's the first to admit that, until relatively recently, his life has been a "wasted lost weekend of a life" – consumed as it was by drugs and depression.
That's why, it's only now the 37-year-old is releasing his first album and taking it out on the road.
"Why's it taken me so long? I guess I was never really ready before," he says. "It takes a lot to do a solo album, from writing to arranging and playing. Maybe it's only now that I'm in a place where I can do all that."
Critically acclaimed and revealing the same lilting tones and deft turn of phrase that obviously runs in the family, Harper's self-titled debut may be the long-gestating work that finally lets emerge from the shadow of his famous name.
The first single from the album, Wishes And Stars, is a whimsical show-stopper which, if his dad released it, would be rightly hailed as a worthy addition to his pantheon of great tunes.
You can judge Harper Simon's talents for yourself when the American takes to the stage at Pocklington Arts Centre's 10th anniversary mini-festival, on Sunday.
"Has my family background helped me?" ponders the singer as he finishes up the final touches to his latest video in Los Angeles.
Later, he has to dash home to throw a "few things" in a bag before heading to the airport and a select handful of UK dates.
"I'd say it never really got me any special treatment. I never got offered a record deal or a gig due to my family.
"There's a certain amount of unnatural press attention that comes with the name. Perhaps disproportionately. But I can't really say it's helped me."
Harper, who picked up his first guitar at the age of ten, says he would quite happily have stayed in the shadows, playing "the Keith Richards role" and letting someone else hog the limelight in front of the microphone.
"But I never found my Mick Jagger," he shrugs. "So I've had to do it myself. I mean, I know there are plenty of people out there who have less talent than me who are making decent careers from their music. So why shouldn't I? I thought it was time to step up to the mic."
Harper is just one of the acts lined up to appear at the day-long festivities planned for Pocklington this weekend. Also appearing throughout the day will be Seth Lakeman, The Blockheads, Sandi Thom, rising Leeds band Ellen And The Escapades and Driffield's own Edwina Hayes, among others.
A host of secret, special guest announcers and star musical cameos are also being lined up for the day.
* Harper Simon plays Pocklington Arts Centre 10th anniversary Festival
on Sunday, August 8, at Market Square Pocklington. The event starts at 1pm. Tickets cost £38 for the full day of music. Call 01759 301547.
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