From: Hilltop, 1966, vol. 52
Johnny & The Hurricanes guitarist Leslie Todd McDonald Sr wrote:
“I was there that day in Marquette, 3-12-1966, when Simon and Garfunkle asked us if they could use our keyboards when they went on stage. Johnny and the Hurricanes (I played lead guitar for them) has a very distinct sound set up on that organ so our leader said, “NO !” Then they asked to use our drums and again the same answer. Too many times our stage instruments were messed up by others and we just could not afford to let that happen here. Besides, we had never even heard of these guys ! To my surprise the students, and they numbered about 800 to 1K, were there to hear these guys, more than us ! When we left that afternoon we still did not know who they were. That’s how early their debut date was.“
And answered to my question if Simon & Garfunkel were backed by The Cyrkle:
“I don’t remember their band at all. They had different dressing rooms and I think we had to move on to our next gig asap. I have a vivid memory of being asked to make an announcement, about an illegally parked car, to the entire crowd before going on stage. Nobody would volunteer to do it so I stepped up. This was during a bad era of Vietnam protests and colleges were at the helm of a movement to stop the nonsense going on over there. All of the students were seated on the arena floor. I said, ” May I have your attention ? “… My voice thundered through the massive speakers and echoed all ’round. Then I proceeded, ” Please stand for the ‘Pledge of allegiance to the American Flag ! “……… Dead silence and not one person moved. Not one… Then I told them calmly, the real message.“
Paul Simon - 'Time it was...it was' 