Paul Simon performs rare concert after hearing loss diagnosis with help from Bernie Williams

Paul Simon, who has rarely performed since revealing he lost hearing in his left ear, got a little help from an unexpected source at a concert on Monday night.

Former Yankees centerfielder turned jazz guitarist Bernie Williams clambered up on stage to save the day for the whistling solo in Simon’s 1972 hit “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.”

After the song, Simon reached into his pocket and shelled out 17 bucks to pay a delighted Williams, 56, explaining that the modest amount was all he had on him.

Paul Simon gives glimmer of hope that he’ll perform live again amidst hearing loss

It’s been a long journey back to the stage for the Queens-born songwriter, 82, who said last year that it was “extremely” unlikely that he would be able to perform due to losing hearing in his left ear.

The Grammy winner’s last large-scale outing was Homeward Bound farewell tour, which concluded fittingly at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens in September 2018. However, he did perform three songs at a White House gala in April.

In an interview in March, Simon revealed that his hearing has unexpectedly improved and he’s now “optimistic” that he could perform his latest album live.

“[The hearing has] come back to enough of a degree that I’m comfortable singing and playing guitar and a few other instruments,” he explained to Stephen Colbert. “I can hear my voice the way that I want it. [But] if there’s a drum or an electric guitar, it’s too loud and I can’t hear my voice.”

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Simon’s set on Monday night included solo hits like “Slip Slidin’ Away,” “Mother and Child Reunion” and several of his classics with his old singing partner Art Garfunkel including “Mrs. Robinson” and “The Boxer.”

He performed at The Soho Sessions , which was founded two years ago by Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter, co-executive producers of the Love Rocks NYC concerts .

It’s a small venue where major artists perform to support charitable causes close to their hearts. The duo has helped raise over $60 million for various causes.

Simon supported The Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss , which strives to “invent ways to repair or prevent damage to the hearing and balance systems” while also “repairing and one day replacing damaged inner ear tissue” and has worked with him to improve his hearing.

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After the concert, Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, who works at the Initiative explained their goals and took questions from the audience.

The crowd was peppered with plenty of celebs, including Mariska Hargitay — who sat next to her “Law & Order: SVU” buddy Chris Meloni — Michael Imperioli, Kevin Bacon, Jerry Seinfeld, Jessica Seinfeld, Amy Schumer and Whoopi Goldberg, who was seen catching up with Simon after the show.

It’s been a busy few months for the “Homeward Bound” singer.

A two-part documentary about his life and career, “In Restless Dreams,” came out in March and he also released a new album entitled “Seven Psalms.”

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