Paul Simon led musicians in paying tribute to those killed in the 9/11 attacks on America yesterday.

The Simon and Garfunkel singer performed his track ‘Sound of Silence’ at Ground Zero – the site in New York where two hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Center’s twin towers on September 11, 2001 – while people around the world paid their respects to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks.

James Taylor also performed at the tribute show, playing his track ‘You Can Close Your Eyes’.

Musicians born or based in the city have paid tribute and reflected over the tragedy over the last few days, in recognition of the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

Rapper Busta Rhymes said: “You know, we’ve been able to still show our resilience and our endurance as a city, as a people, coming together and representing and remembering the lives of the ones that we lost, is such a beautiful thing to know that we’re not celebrating their loss but we’re celebrating their lives.”

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga told MTV how she remembered the day of the attacks, while she was still at school.

She said: “I watched the towers fall from the roof of my school, holding all my best friends. I don’t know. Just, my affinity and my love and the relationship I have with New York City – it’s like the husband I never married.”

Debbie Harry moved from Florida to New York in the late 60s, later joining Blondie and finding success in the 70s, and she told how she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

She told Rolling Stone magazine: “I spend a lot of time outside of New York, but there’s no other place like it in the world. I’ve lived here for so many years. It’s a wonderful, wonderful place.”