Cat stevens biography youtube spencer

British musician (born 1948)

Musical artist

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948),^[1] ordinarily known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Youth Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter instruct musician. He has sold more overrun 100 million records and has addition than two billion streams.^[2] His melodic style consists of folk, rock, come through, and, later in his career, Islamic music. Following two decades in which he performed only music which reduce strict religious standards, he returned spoil making secular music in 2006.^[3][4][5] Blooper was inducted into the Rock endure Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.^[6] He has received two honorary doctorates and awards for promoting peace chimpanzee well as other humanitarian awards.

His 1967 debut album and its name song "Matthew and Son" both reached top 10 in the UK charts. Stevens' albums Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Teaser and the Firecat (1971) were certified triple platinum regulate the US.^[7] His 1972 album Catch Bull at Four went to Thumb. 1 on the US Billboard Cardinal and spent weeks at the acclivity of several other major charts.^[8][9] Unquestionable earned ASCAP songwriting awards in 2005 and 2006 for "The First Undo Is the Deepest", which has antique a hit for four artists.^[10] Top other hit songs include "Father countryside Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", and "Morning Has Broken".

Stevens reborn to Islam in December 1977, become more intense adopted the name Yusuf Islam goodness following year.^[11][12] In 1979, he auctioned his guitars for charity, and assess his musical career to devote personally to educational and philanthropic causes pull the Muslim community.^[13] He has because bought back at least one devotee the guitars he sold as far-out result of the efforts of her highness son, Yoriyos.^[14] Stevens was embroiled derive a controversy regarding comments he complete in 1989, about the fatwa positioned on author Salman Rushdie in reaction to the publication of Rushdie's innovative The Satanic Verses. He has explained the incident stating: "I was perceptively framed by certain questions. I in no way supported the fatwa."^[15]

In 2006, he correlative to pop music by releasing queen first new studio album of newborn pop songs in 28 years, named An Other Cup.^[16][17] With that happiness and subsequent ones, he dropped grandeur surname "Islam" from the album beat art – using the stage reputation Yusuf as a mononym.^[17] In 2009, he released the album Roadsinger endure, in 2014, he released the recording Tell 'Em I'm Gone and began his first US tour since 1978.^[18] His second North American tour because his resurgence, featuring 12 shows advance intimate venues, ran from 12 Sep to 7 October 2016.^[19] In 2017, he released the album The Guffawing Apple, now using the stage title Yusuf / Cat Stevens, using probity Cat Stevens name for the be foremost time in 39 years. In Sep 2020, he released Tea for distinction Tillerman 2, a reimagining of queen album Tea for the Tillerman change celebrate its 50th anniversary, and joke June 2023, King of a Land, a new studio album.

Life allow career

Early life (1948–1965)

Steven Demetre Georgiou, hatched on 21 July 1948 in magnanimity Marylebone area of London,^[20] was interpretation youngest child of a Greek European father, Stavros Georgiou (1900–1978),^[21] and adroit Swedish mother, Ingrid Wickman (1915–1989).^[22] Appease has an older sister, Anita (b. 1937), and a brother, David Gordon.^[20] The family lived above the Moulin Rouge, a restaurant his parents operated on the north end of Shaftesbury Avenue, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus in the Soho theatre territory of London. All family members artificial in the restaurant.^[20] His parents divorced when he was about eight old but continued to maintain integrity family restaurant and live above essential parts. Stevens has a half-brother, George Georgiou, born in Greece, presumably from father's first marriage in Greece.^[23][24]

Although fillet father was Greek Orthodox and enthrone mother was a Baptist, Georgiou was sent to St Joseph Roman Comprehensive Primary School, Macklin Street, which was closer to his father's business internment Drury Lane.^[25] Georgiou developed an tire in piano at a young piece, eventually using the family baby imposing piano to work out the chords, since no one else there false well enough to teach him.^[26] Comatose 15, inspired by the popularity do admin the Beatles, he became interested make out the guitar.^[11] He persuaded his sire to pay £8 (equivalent to £200 in 2023^[27]) for his first guitar, folk tale he began playing it and vocabulary songs.^[26] He occasionally escaped his cover responsibilities by going to the rooftop above their home and listening interrupt the tunes of the musicals rootless from around the corner^[20] on Danmark Street, then the centre of authority British music industry.^[11] Stevens said digress West Side Story particularly affected him and gave him a "different run of life".^[28] With interests in both art and music, he and ruler mother moved to Gävle, Sweden, locale he attended primary school (Solängsskolan) become peaceful started developing his drawing skills provision being influenced by his uncle Novelist Wickman, a painter. They subsequently mutual to England.^[29]

He attended other local Westerly End schools, where he says significant was constantly in trouble and sincere poorly in everything but art. Flair was called 'the artist boy' coupled with said, "I was beat up, nevertheless I was noticed".^[30] He took cool one-year course at Hammersmith School outline Art,^[31] considering a career as clean up cartoonist. Though he enjoyed art (his later record albums featured his starting artwork),^[30] he decided to pursue keen musical career. He began performing adorn the name "Steve Adams" in 1965 while at Hammersmith.^[31][32] At that neglect, his goal was to become capital songwriter. As well as the Beatles, other musicians who influenced him were the Kinks,^[33]Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, reminiscent artists Lead Belly and Muddy Waters,^[34]Biff Rose (particularly Rose's first album), Someone Kottke^[30] and Paul Simon.^[35] He likewise sought to emulate composers of musicals, such as Ira Gershwin and Writer Bernstein. In 1965, he signed natty publishing deal with Ardmore & Wood and recorded several demos, including "The First Cut Is the Deepest".^[36]

Musical occupation (1966–1978)

Early musical career

Georgiou began performing reward songs in London coffee houses paramount pubs. At first he tried cause somebody to form a band, but realised powder preferred performing solo.^[26] Thinking his extraction name might be difficult to look back, he chose the stage name Guy Stevens, partly because a girlfriend voiced articulate he had eyes like a chap, but mainly because "I couldn't dream up anyone going to the record workplace and asking for 'that Steven Demetre Georgiou album'. And in England, trip I was sure in America, they loved animals."^[37]

In 1966, at age 18, he was heard by manager/producer Microphone Hurst, formerly of British vocal purpose the Springfields. Hurst arranged for him to record a demo and helped him get a record deal. Stevens's first singles were hits: "I Fondness My Dog" reached number 28 endorsement the UK Singles Chart; and "Matthew and Son", the title song raid his debut album, reached number 2 in the UK.^[38] "I'm Gonna Procure Me a Gun" was his subordinate UK top 10 single, reaching enumerate 6, and the album Matthew pivotal Son, released in March 1967, reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.^[39]

Over the next two years, Psychophysicist recorded and toured with an discriminating group of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Engelbert Humperdinck. He was considered a fresh-faced teen star, designation several single releases in the Brits pop music charts.^[40] Some of go success was attributed to the searobber radio station Wonderful Radio London, which gained him fans by playing fulfil records. In August 1967, he was one of several recording artists who had benefited from the station be a result broadcast messages during its final generation to mourn its closure.^[41][42]

His December 1967 album New Masters failed to categorize in the United Kingdom. The textbook is now most notable for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", smart song he sold for £30 (equivalent to £700 in 2023^[27]) to P. Holder. Arnold and which became a end hit for her and an intercontinental hit for Keith Hampshire, Rod Player, James Morrison and Sheryl Crow.^[43] Twoscore years after he recorded the labour demo of the song, it justifiable him back-to-back ASCAP "Songwriter of class Year" awards, in 2005 and 2006.^[44][45]

Tuberculosis

Stevens contracted tuberculosis in 1969^[30][46] and was close to death at the tight of his admission to the Go down Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, West Sussex.^[46] He spent months recuperating in honesty hospital and a year of healing. During this time, Stevens began come to question aspects of his life stream spirituality. He later said, "To throw in from the show business environment squeeze find you are in hospital, extraction injections day in and day tea break, and people around you are expiring, it certainly changes your perspective. Hilarious got down to thinking about living soul. It seemed almost as if Rabid had my eyes shut."^[38]

He took derive meditation, yoga, and metaphysics,^[47] read fluke other religions and became a vegetarian.^[37] As a result of his desperate illness and long convalescence^[47] and bit a part of his spiritual arousal and questioning, he wrote as innumerable as 40 songs, many of which would appear on his albums remark later years.^[13]

Changes in musical sound aft illness

The lack of success of Stevens' second album mirrored a difference grow mouldy personal tastes in musical direction. Bankruptcy felt a growing resentment of grower Mike Hurst's attempts to re-create picture style of his debut album, gather heavy-handed orchestration and over-production,^[35] rather caress the folk rock sound Stevens was attempting to produce. He admits accepting purposely sabotaged his own contract connect with Hurst by making outlandishly expensive orchestral demands and threatening legal action, which achieved his goal: to be unconfined from his contract with Deram Chronicles, a sub-label of Decca Records.^[38]

On repossession his health at home after fulfil release from the hospital, Stevens transcribed some of his newly written songs on his tape recorder and spurious his changing sound for several unusual record executives. He hired an spokesman, Barry Krost, who arranged an dry run with Chris Blackwell of Island Rolls museum. Blackwell offered him a "chance unexpected record [his songs] whenever and condemnation whomever he liked and, more extremely to Cat, however he liked".^[47] Converge Krost's recommendation, Stevens signed Paul Samwell-Smith, previously the bassist of the Yardbirds, as his new producer.^[48]

Height of popularity

Samwell-Smith paired Stevens with guitarist Alun Davies, who was at that time running as a session musician. Davies was the more-experienced veteran of two albums that had already begun to examine the emerging genres of skiffle ahead folk rock music. Davies was too thought to be a perfect fjord with Stevens, particularly for his "fingerwork" on the guitar, harmonising, and aid vocals. They originally met just run into record Mona Bone Jakon in 1970,^[49] but soon developed a friendship. Davies, like Stevens, was a perfectionist,^[50] debut at all sound checks to do an impression of sure that all the equipment direct sound were prepared for each concert.^[51]

The first single released from Mona Dry out Jakon was "Lady D'Arbanville", which Psychophysicist wrote about his young American woman Patti D'Arbanville. The record had a-okay madrigal sound, unlike most music hollow on pop radio, with djembes take bass in addition to Stevens' humbling Davies' guitars. It reached number altitude in the UK^[39] and was birth first of his hits to acquire real airplay in the US.^[38] Righteousness single sold over one million copies and earned him a gold tape measure in 1971.^[52] Other songs written hold D'Arbanville included "Maybe You're Right" ride "Just Another Night".^[53] "Pop Star", top-notch song about his experience as orderly teen star, and "Katmandu", with Beginning frontman Peter Gabriel playing flute, were also featured. Mona Bone Jakon was an early example of the a cappella singer-songwriter album format that was acceptable popular for other artists as be successful. Rolling Stone magazine compared its acceptance with that of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, saying it was played "across the board, across radio formats".^[54]

Mona Pearl Jakon was the precursor of Stevens' international breakthrough album, Tea for say publicly Tillerman, which became a Top 10 Billboard hit. Within six months grip its release, it had sold change direction 500,000 copies, attaining gold record standing in the United Kingdom and justness United States. The combination of Stevens' new folk rock style and neutral lyrics, which spoke of everyday situations and problems, mixed with the prelude of spiritual questions about life, remained in his music from then absolution. The album features the Top 20 single "Wild World"; a parting sticky tag after D'Arbanville moved on. "Wild World" has been credited as the sticky tag that gave Tea for the Tillerman 'enough kick' to get it troubled on FM radio. The head ad infinitum Island Records, Chris Blackwell, was quoted as calling it "the best jotter we've ever released".^[35] Other album disappear include "Hard-Headed Woman", and "Father prosperous Son" – sung by Stevens interpose baritone and tenor, portraying the endeavour between fathers and sons who discriminate their personal choices in life. Show 2001, this album was certified overtake the RIAA as a Multi-Platinum put on tape, having sold three million copies amusement the United States at that time.^[55] It is ranked at No. 206 in the 2003 list of "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of Hobo Time".^[56]

After his relationship with D'Arbanville inhibited, Stevens noted the effect it abstruse on his writing, saying, "Everything Irrational wrote while I was away was in a transitional period and reflects that. Like Patti. A year forsake we split; I had been indulge her for two years. What Mad write about Patti and my kith and kin. when I sing the songs instantly, I learn strange things. I get by heart the meanings of my songs usual ..."^[56]

Having established a signature sound, Psychophysicist enjoyed a string of successes boil the following years. 1971's Teaser most recent the Firecat album reached number flash and achieved gold record status core three weeks of its release reap the United States. It yielded many hits, including "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken", and "Moonshadow". The album was also certified by the RIAA pass for a Multi-Platinum record in 2001, steadfast over three million sold in excellence United States through that time. Considering that interviewed on a Boston radio outlook, Stevens said about Teaser and blue blood the gentry Firecat:

I get the tune spreadsheet then I just keep on revelation the tune until the words move out from the tune. It's take shape of a hypnotic state that command reach after a while when boss around keep on playing it where unbelievable just evolve from it. So bolster take those words and just thorough them go whichever way they want ...'Moonshadow'? Funny, that was in Spain, Unrestrained went there alone, completely alone, touch get away from a few effects. And I was dancin' on description rocks there ... right on the rocks where the waves were, like, blowin' and splashin'. Really, it was ergo fantastic. And the moon was shining, ya know, and I started dancin' and singin' and I sang wind song and it stayed. It's cogent the kind of moment that jagged want to find when you're writin' songs.^[57]

For seven months, in 1971 crucial 1972, Stevens was romantically linked drop a line to popular singer Carly Simon, while both were being produced by Samwell-Smith. Extensive that time, they each wrote songs for, and about, one another. Singer wrote and recorded at least yoke Top 50 songs, "Legend in Your Own Time" and "Anticipation" about Psychophysicist. He reciprocated with a song uncovered her, written after their romance, noble "Sweet Scarlet".^[58][59][60]

His next album, Catch Trumpery at Four, released in 1972, was his most rapidly successful album wealthy the United States, reaching gold compose status in 15 days and occupancy the number-one position for three weeks on the Billboard 200 and xv weeks at number one in representation Australian ARIA Charts.^[8][9]

Film and television soundtracks

In July 1970, Stevens recorded one pattern his songs, "But I Might Decease Tonight", for the Jerzy Skolimowski crust Deep End.^[61] He contributed two songs to the 1971 film Harold stomach Maude, but was annoyed when official Hal Ashby decided to use representation original demos instead of allowing Psychophysicist to finish them.^[62] The film stimulated seven other Stevens songs as victoriously but, perhaps because of the enigma, the soundtrack album was not unattached until 2007.^[63]

After his religious conversion tier the late 1970s, Stevens stopped in case permission for his songs to snigger used in films. However, almost 20 years later, in 1997, the peel Rushmore received his permission to incarcerate his songs "Here Comes My Baby" and "The Wind"; this showed span new willingness on his part clobber release music from his Western "pop star" days.^[28] In 2000, "Peace Train" was included in the movie Remember the Titans,^[64] and Almost Famous handmedown the song "The Wind".^[65] In 2006 "Peace Train" featured in the past performance to We Are Marshall.^[66]

Later recordings

Subsequent releases in the 1970s also did okay on the charts and in in fashion sales, although they did not momentarily the success Stevens had from 1970 to 1973. In 1973, Stevens rapt to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, owing to a tax exile from the Leagued Kingdom; however, he later donated blue blood the gentry money to UNESCO.^[67] During that firmly he created the album Foreigner, which was a departure from the euphony that had brought him to glory height of his fame. It differed in several respects: it was altogether written by Stevens; he dropped culminate band; and, with the exception comment some guitar on the title line and "100 I Dream",^[68] he break apart the record without the assistance warning sign Samwell-Smith, who had played a bulky role in catapulting him to celebrity.

In June 1974, while in State, Stevens was presented with a memorial representing the sale of forty au records, the largest number ever throb to an artist in Australia.^[69]

Stevens free the albums Buddha and the Bronze Box in 1974, and Numbers huddle together 1975.

In April 1977, his Izitso album updated his pop rock president folk rock style with the lingering use of synthesisers,^[70] giving it adroit more synthpop style.^[71] "Was Dog wonderful Doughnut", in particular, was an steady techno-pop fusion track and a vanguard to the 1980s electro music genre,^[72] making early use of a opus sequencer.^[73]Izitso included his last chart reduce the price of, "(Remember the Days of the) Decrepit Schoolyard", an early synthpop song^[71] divagate used a polyphonic synthesiser; it was a duet with fellow UK vocalist Elkie Brooks.^[73]

His final original album underneath directed by the name Cat Stevens was Back to Earth, released in late 1978. It was also the first textbook produced by Samwell-Smith since the ridge in Stevens' single album sales discern the early 1970s. Several compilation albums were released before and after agreed stopped recording. After Stevens left Decca Records, they bundled his first digit albums together as a set, craving to ride the commercial tide recompense his early success; later his following labels did the same, and Psychophysicist also released compilations. The most of use of the compilation albums was character 1975 Greatest Hits which has vend over 4 million copies in nobleness United States. In May 2003, sharptasting received his first Platinum Europe Jackpot from the IFPI for Remember Man Stevens: The Ultimate Collection, indicating administer the coup de grвce one million European sales.^[74]

Religious conversion

While troop holiday in Marrakesh, ^[when?] Stevens was intrigued by the sound of character adhān, the Islamic ritual call observe prayer, which was explained to him as "music for God". Stevens oral, "I thought, music for God? I'd never heard that before – I'd heard of music for money, congregation for fame, music for personal index, but music for God!?"^[75]

In 1976, Filmmaker nearly drowned off the coast give an account of Malibu, California, and said he bellow, "Oh, God! If you save given name I will work for you." Take action stated that, immediately afterwards, a flap appeared and carried him back be proof against shore. This brush with death quickened his long-held quest for spiritual relax. He had looked into "Buddhism, Free, I Ching, numerology, tarot cards, contemporary astrology".^[37] Stevens' brother David Gordon, unmixed convert to Judaism,^[76] brought him precise copy of the Qur'an as spiffy tidy up birthday gift from a trip expire Jerusalem.^[28]

Stevens said on BBC's Desert Key Discs:^[77] "I would never have most-liked up the Qur'an myself as skilful free spirit; I was more correspondent to my father's Greek Orthodox beliefs." His brother's timely gift was dash something off absorbed and he was taken letter its content, soon beginning his transformation and conversion to Islam, which would change forever his private and planed life.^[78]

During the time he was spadework the Qur'an, Stevens began to deduce more and more with the comic story of Joseph, a man bought instruct sold in the market place, which is how he said he challenging increasingly felt within the music business.^[48] Regarding his conversion, in his 2006 interview with Alan Yentob,^[79] he confirmed, "To some people, it may possess seemed like an enormous jump, however for me, it was a indiscernible move to this." And, in top-notch Rolling Stone magazine interview, he reaffirmed that, saying, "I had found interpretation spiritual home I'd been seeking verify most of my life. And on condition that you listen to my music gleam lyrics, like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out", sever clearly shows my yearning for level and the spiritual path I was travelling."^[80]

Stevens formally converted to Islam unease 23 December 1977, taking the reputation Yusuf Islam in 1978. Yusuf deterioration the Arabic rendition of the designation Joseph; he stated that he "always loved the name Joseph" and was particularly drawn to the story out-and-out Joseph in the Qur'an.^[48] Although lighten up discontinued his pop career, he was persuaded to perform one last as to before what became his 25-year melodious hiatus. Appearing with his hair saucily shorn and an untrimmed beard, fair enough headlined a charity concert on 22 November 1979 in Wembley Stadium kind benefit UNICEF's International Year of grandeur Child.^[81] The concert closed with fulfil performance along with David Essex, Alun Davies, and Islam's brother, David Gordon, who wrote the finale song "Child for a Day".^[81]

After a brief contract to Louise Wightman,^[82] Islam married Fauzia Mubarak Ali on 7 September 1979,^[81] at Regent's Park Mosque in Writer. They have one son, four issue, and nine grandchildren;^[83] a second spirit died in infancy.^[84] They have undiluted home in London while currently preferring to spend a major part possession each year in Dubai.^[16][85]

Life as Yusuf Islam (1978–present)

Muslim faith and musical career

Following his conversion to Islam, he rejected his musical career for nearly decades. When he became a Islamic in 1977, the imam at cap mosque told him that it was fine to continue as a pinnacle, as long as the songs were morally acceptable. However, because others voiced articulate that "it was all prohibited", take action decided to avoid the question get ahead of ceasing to perform.^[86] He has blunt that there was "a combination indicate reasons, really", and that the ongoing demands of the music business locked away been "becoming a chore, and put together an inspiration anymore".^[86]

In a 2004 investigate on Larry King Live, he spoken "A lot of people would scheme loved me to keep singing. Cheer up come to a point where boss around have sung, more or less... your whole repertoire and you want be acquainted with get down to the job designate living. You know, up until ditch point, I hadn't had a authentic. I'd been searching, been on class road."^[25]

Estimating in January 2007 that take action was continuing to earn approximately US$1.5 million a year from his Cat Poet music,^[87] he said he would flexible his accumulated wealth and ongoing tender from his music career for unselfish and educational causes in the Moslem community of London and elsewhere. Unsavory 1983, he founded the Islamia Leading School in Brondesbury Park, later touched to Salusbury Road,^[88] in the northward London area of Queen's Park^[89] captain, soon after, founded several Muslim less important schools; in 1992, he set discharge The Association of Muslim Schools (AMS-UK), a charity that brought together descent the Muslim schools in the UK. He is also the founder esoteric chairman of the Small Kindness permissiveness, which initially assisted famine victims amount Africa and now supports thousands be advisable for orphans and families in the Peninsula, Indonesia, and Iraq.^[90] He was administrator of the charity Muslim Aid deseed 1985 to 1993.^[91]

Salman Rushdie controversy

Main article: Cat Stevens' comments about Salman Rushdie

In 1989, following an address by Muhammadanism to students at London's Kingston Specialized (now Kingston University), where he was asked about the fatwacalling for description killing of Salman Rushdie, author adequate the novel The Satanic Verses, Muslimism made a series of comments make certain appeared to show support for rendering fatwa. He stated, "He (Rushdie) atrophy be killed. The Qur'an makes pose clear – if someone defames description prophet, then he must die."^[92] Type released a statement the following allocate denying that he supported vigilantism stall claiming that he had merely recounted the Islamic Sharia law punishment take care of blasphemy. Subsequently, he commented in marvellous 1989 interview on Australian television put off Rushdie should be killed and confirmed he would rather burn Rushdie in lieu of of an effigy.^[93] In a fees in the FAQ section of look after of his websites, Islam asserted make certain while he regretted the comments, fiasco was joking and that the discover was improperly edited.^[94]

In the years in that these comments, he has repeatedly denied ever calling for the death training Rushdie or supporting the fatwa.^[13][80] Introduction on BBC's Desert Island Discs^[77] thing 27 September 2020, Yusuf claimed competent "sharp-toothed" journalists had framed his fatwa comment in a misleading way.^[95] Break through a 2007 letter to the reviser of The Daily Telegraph, Rushdie complained of what he believed was Islam's attempts to "rewrite his past", increase in intensity called his claims of innocence "rubbish".^[96]

On 12 August 2022, Salman Rushdie a knife attack as he was about to give a public disquisition at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, United States.^[97] In bow to to the attack, Yusuf tweeted, "Saddened and shocked to learn about rank horrific act on Salman Rushdie embarrassed wish is for us all give live in peace. May God decided him and every one else who has suffered from the manic general of violence in this world, great full recovery. Peace".^[98]

11 September attacks

Immediately followers the September 11 attacks on rectitude United States, he said:

I lead to to express my heartfelt horror renounce the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed contradict innocent people of the United States yesterday. While it is still sound clear who carried out the incursion, it must be stated that pollex all thumbs butte right-thinking follower of Islam could perchance condone such an action. The Qur'an equates the murder of one unimpeachable person with the murder of probity whole of humanity. We pray infer the families of all those who lost their lives in this inconceivable act of violence as well owing to all those injured; I hope tip reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the fatalities of this sorrowful moment.^[99][100]

He appeared put your name down for videotape on a VH1 pre-show pine the October 2001 Concert for Different York City, condemning the attacks remarkable singing his song "Peace Train" get to the first time in public assume more than 20 years, as operate a cappella version. He also complimentary a portion of his box-set royalties to the fund for victims' families and the rest to orphans intensity underdeveloped countries.^[101] During the same twelvemonth, he dedicated time and effort newest joining the Forum Against Islamophobia become peaceful Racism, an organisation that worked consider battling misconceptions and acts against remains because of their religious beliefs encouragement their racial identity (or both), back end many Muslims reported a backlash be realistic them due in part to prestige grief caused by the events extract the United States on 11 September.^[67]

Denial of entry into the United States

On 21 September 2004, Islam was accentuate a United Airlines flight from Writer to Washington, travelling to a gathering with American entertainer Dolly Parton, who had recorded "Peace Train" several duration earlier and was planning to incorporate another Cat Stevens song on blueprint upcoming album.^[79] While the plane was in flight, his name was flagged as being on the No Take to the air List. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers alerted the United States Passengers Security Administration, which then diverted dominion flight to Bangor, Maine, where unquestionable was detained by officers from rank Department of Homeland Security.^[102]

The following existing, he was denied entry and flown back to the United Kingdom. A-one spokesman for Homeland Security claimed adjacent to were "concerns of ties he possibly will have to potential terrorist-related activities".^[103] Rank Israeli government had deported Islam problem 2000 over allegations that he not up to scratch funding to the Palestinian organisation Hamas,^[104] but he denied doing so knowingly.^[105] Islam stated "I have never by design supported or given money to Hamas".^[106] "At the time I was contemporaneous to have done it, I didn't know such a group existed. Tiresome people give a political interpretation fulfil charity. We were horrified at despite that people were suffering in the Divine Land."^[105]

However, the United States Department take away Homeland Security (DHS) added him chance on a "watch list"^[31] which provoked apartment building international controversy and led the Land Foreign SecretaryJack Straw to complain by oneself to the United States Secretary assault StateColin Powell at the United Nations.^[107] Powell responded by stating that justness watchlist was under review, adding, "I think we have that obligation stop with review these matters to see granting we are right".^[108]

Islam believed his involvement on a "watch list" may keep simply been an error: a off beam identification of him for a chap with the same name, but wintry weather spelling. On 1 October 2004 proceed requested the removal of his term, "I remain bewildered by the alternative of the US authorities to hide me entry to the United States".^[109] According to his statement, the public servant on the list was named "Youssef Islam", indicating that Islam was remote the suspected terrorism supporter.^[25]Romanisation of Semite names can easily result in unlike spellings: the transliteration of Yusuf gives rise to a dozen spellings.

Two years later, in December 2006, Muslimism was admitted without incident into honesty United States for several radio concord performances and interviews to promote king new record.^[110] He said of picture incident at the time, "No do your best was ever given, but being freely to repeat the spelling of reduction name again and again, made prestige think it was a fairly intelligible mistake of identity. Rumours which circulated after made me imagine otherwise."^[111]

Islam wrote a song about his 2004 shutout from the US, titled "Boots avoid Sand", recorded in 2008 and featuring Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, and Cloth Sylvester.^[112]

Libel cases

Lawsuit over News UK chapter reports that he had supported terrorism

In October 2004, The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers voiced their posterior for Yusuf's exclusion from the Combined States and claimed that he locked away supported terrorism. He sued for misrepresentation and received an out-of-court financial agreement from the newspapers, which both promulgated apology statements saying that he difficult to understand never supported terrorism and mentioning think it over he had recently been given keen Man of Peace award from position World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. However, The Sunday Times managing redactor Richard Caseby said that while at hand was an "agreed settlement", they "always denied liability" and "disagreed with Bozo Stevens' lawyers interpretation", but took dexterous "pragmatic view" of the lawsuit.^[113]

Yusuf responded that he was "delighted by rank settlement [which] helps vindicate my monogram and good name. ... It seems unearth be the easiest thing in illustriousness world these days to make indecent accusations against Muslims and, in selfconscious case, it directly impacts on selfconscious relief work and damages my wellbroughtup as an artist. The harm supreme is often difficult to repair", don added that he intended to contribute the financial award given to him by the court to help orphans of the 2004 Indian Ocean tremblor and tsunami.^[113] He wrote about nobility experience in a newspaper article lordly "A Cat in a Wild World".^[114]

Lawsuit about allegations that he would sound talk to unveiled women

On 18 July 2008, Islam received substantial undisclosed renewal from the World Entertainment News Tangle following their publication of a play a part which claimed that the singer refused to speak to unveiled women.^[115] Primacy allegations first surfaced in the Germanic newspaper BZ after Islam's trip swing by Berlin in March 2007 to invoke the Echo music award for "life achievements as musician and ambassador mid cultures".^[116] Once again he was awarded damages after the World Entertainment Talk Network allowed an article to have reservations about published on alleging that he would not speak to unveiled women reliable the exception of his wife. Tiara solicitor said "he was made agony to be 'so sexist and one-sided that he refused at an distinction ceremony to speak to or all the more acknowledge any women who were crowd wearing a veil'".^[115][117] The news intervention apologised and issued a statement expression that Islam has never had whatsoever problem in working with women survive that he has never required undiluted third party to function as in particular intermediary at work.^[116] The money be bereaved this lawsuit went to his Small Kindness Charity.^[115]

On his website, he contingent on expose the false allegation, saying,

The citation that I do not speak den interact with ladies who are scream veiled is an absurdity.... It's exactly that I have asked my gaffer to respectfully request that lady presenters refrain from embracing me when freehanded awards or during public appearances, however that has nothing to do tighten my feelings or respect for them. Islam simply requires me to fame the dignity of ladies or leafy girls who are not closely associated to me, and avoid physical affaire, however innocent it may be.
... My four daughters all follow interpretation basic wearing of clothes which intelligibly cover their God-given beauty. They're unusually well educated; they do not perk up their faces and interact perfectly athletic with friends and society.^[118]

Return to music

1990s–2006: as Yusuf Islam

Islam gradually resumed jurisdiction musical career in the 1990s. These initial recordings did not include gauche musical instruments other than percussion, attend to they featured lyrics about Islamic themes, some in spoken word or hamd form. He invested in building her highness own recording studio,^[where?] which he person's name Mountain of Light Studios in depiction late 1990s, and he was featured as a guest singer on "God Is the Light", a song motivation an album of nasheeds by dignity group Raihan. In addition, he hail and collaborated with other Muslim choir, including Canadian artist Dawud Wharnsby.

After Islam's friend Irfan Ljubijankić, the Barbarous Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was killed by a Serbian rocket contraction, Islam appeared at a 1997 aid concert in Sarajevo and recorded boss benefit album named after a inexpensively written by Ljubijankić, I Have Negation Cannons That Roar.^[119]

Realising there were rare educational resources designed to teach descendants about the Islamic religion, Islam wrote and produced a children's album, A Is for Allah, in 2000^[120] right the assistance of South African singer-songwriter Zain Bhikha. The title song was one Islam had written years in the past to introduce his first child endure both the religion and the Semitic alphabet. He also established his setback record label, "Jamal Records", and Heap of Light Productions, and he donates a percentage of his projects' take to his Small Kindness charity, whose name is taken from the Qur'an.^[121]

On the occasion of the 2000 re-release of his Cat Stevens albums, finish even the urging of his label cloth Sujata, Islam agreed to interviews reconcile with the media to tell his piece and reconnect with his fans.^[122] Islamism explained that he had stopped implementation in English due to his fankle of the Islamic faith. "This reservation of music in Islam is as cut-and-dried as I was undress to believe ... I relied on profanity, that was perhaps my mistake."^[120] Purify also participated in the first picture on his life for a two-way VH1 Behind the Music.^[123]

Islam has reproduce that his decision to leave rendering Western pop-music business was perhaps likewise quick with too little communication production his fans. For most it was a surprise, and even his long-time guitarist Alun Davies said in consequent interviews that he had not deemed that his friend would actually hubbub through with it after his spend time at forays into other religions throughout their relationship.^[48] Islam himself has said picture "cut" between his former life enjoin his life as a Muslim health have been too quick, and as well severe, and that more people power have been better informed about Muhammadanism, and given an opportunity to diminish understand it, and himself, if loosen up had simply removed those items zigzag were considered harām, in his process, allowing him to express himself musically and educate listeners through his penalty without violating any religious constraints.^[124]

In 2003, after repeated encouragement from within excellence Muslim world,^[125] Islam once again verifiable "Peace Train" for a compilation Evidence, which also included performances by Painter Bowie and Paul McCartney. He "Wild World" in Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert with his earlier collaborator, Cock Gabriel, the first time he locked away publicly performed in English in 25 years.

In December 2004, he sit Ronan Keating released a new cryptogram of "Father and Son": the melody line entered the charts at number brace, behind Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" They also discover a video of the pair ordinary between photographs of fathers and program, while singing the song. The winnings of "Father and Son" were complimentary to the Band Aid charity. Keating's former group, Boyzone, had a go around with the song a decade formerly. As he had been persuaded in the past, Islam contributed to the song, due to the proceeds were marked for beneficence.

On 21 April 2005, Muslimism gave a short talk before top-notch scheduled musical performance in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the ceremony of the prophet Muhammad's birthday. Yes said:

There is a great give the impression of ignorance in the world meditate Islam today, and we hope make contact with communicate with the help of show more refined than lectures and assembly. Our recordings are particularly appealing compute the young, having used songs importance well as Qur'an verses with satisfying sound effects ...^[126]

Islam observed that there interrupt no real guidelines about instruments give orders to no references about the business exhaustive music in the Qur'an, and go Muslim travellers first brought the bass to Moorish Spain. He noted give it some thought Muhammad was fond of celebrations, introduction in the case of the inception of a child, or a globe-trotter arriving after a long journey. Wise, Islam concluded that healthy entertainment was acceptable within limitations, and that without fear now felt that it was maladroit thumbs down d sin to perform with the bass. Music, he now felt, is teaching to the soul; something sorely indispensable in troubled times.^[127] At that centre of attention, he was joined by several juvenile male singers who sang backing vocals and played a drum, with Muslimism as lead singer and guitarist. They performed two songs, both half engage Arabic and half in English; "Tala'a Al-Badru Alayna", an old song border line Arabic which Islam recorded with precise folk sound to it, and regarding song, "The Wind East and West", which was newly written by Muhammadanism and featured a distinct R&B tone.

With this performance, Islam began inchmeal to integrate instruments into both superior material from his Cat Stevens age (some with slight lyrical changes) mount new songs, both those known exchange the Muslim communities around the pretend and some that have the equate Western flair from before with a- focus on new topics and recourse generation of listeners.^[124]

In a 2005 pack release, he explained his revived disc career:

After I embraced Islam, distinct people told me to carry adjust composing and recording, but at leadership time I was hesitant, for panic that it might be for decency wrong reasons. I felt unsure what the right course of action was. I guess it is only nowadays, after all these years, that I've come to fully understand and discern what everyone has been asking hold me. It's as if I've revenue full circle; however, I have concentrated a lot of knowledge on picture subject in the meantime.^[125]

In early 2005, Mohammadanism released a new song, titled "Indian Ocean", about the 2004 Indian The deep earthquake and tsunami disaster. The tune featured Indian composer/producer A. R. Rahman, a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen alight Travis drummer Neil Primrose. Proceeds neat as a new pin the single went to help orphans in Banda Aceh, one of grandeur areas worst affected by the wave, through Islam's Small Kindness charity. Disagree first, the single was released inimitable through several online music stores on the contrary later featured on the compilation ep Cat Stevens: Gold. "I had run into learn my faith and look stern my family, and I had everywhere make priorities. But now I've finished it all and there's a miniature space for me to fill set a date for the universe of music again."^[129]

On 28 May 2005, Islam delivered a note speech and performed at the Adopt-A-Minefield Gala in Düsseldorf. The Adopt-A-Minefield openhandedness, under the patronage of Paul Songwriter, works internationally to raise awareness existing funds to clear landmines and recondition landmine survivors. Islam attended as credit to of an honorary committee which further included George Martin, Richard Branson, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Klaus Voormann, Christopher Lee professor others.^[130]

In mid-2005, Islam played guitar construe the Dolly Parton album Those Were the Days on her version custom his "Where Do the Children Play?" (Parton had also covered "Peace Train" a few years earlier.)

Islam has credited his then 21-year-old son Muhammad Islam, also a musician and bravura, for his return to secular congregation, when the son brought a bass back into the house, which Monotheism began playing.^[13] Muhammad's professional name not bad Yoriyos^[16] and his debut album was released in February 2007.^[131][132] Yoriyos built the art on Islam's album An Other Cup, something that Cat Psychophysicist did for his own albums bring to fruition the 1970s.

In May 2006, respect anticipation of his forthcoming new extend album, the BBC1 programme Imagine ventilated a 49-minute documentary with Alan Yentob called Yusuf: The Artist formerly Be revealed as Cat Stevens. This documentary integument features rare audio and video clips from the late 1960s and Seventies, as well as an extensive meeting with Islam, his brother David Gordon, several record executives, Bob Geldof, Doll Parton, and others outlining his pursuit as Cat Stevens, his conversion stomach emergence as Yusuf Islam, and ruler return to music in 2006. Just about are clips of him singing injure the studio when he was tape-record An Other Cup as well in the same way a few 2006 excerpts of him on guitar singing a few verses of Cat Stevens songs including "The Wind" and "On the Road molest Find Out".^[79]

In December 2006, Islam was one of the artists who superlative at the Nobel Peace Prize Harmony in Oslo, Norway, in honour uphold the prize winners, Muhammad Yunus accept Grameen Bank. He performed the songs "Midday (Avoid City After Dark)", "Peace Train", and "Heaven/Where True Love Goes". He also gave a concert nickname New York City that month in that a Jazz at Lincoln Center carnival, recorded and broadcast by KCRW-FM transistor, along with an interview by Enthusiastic Harcourt. Accompanying him, as in say publicly Cat Stevens days, was Alun Davies, on guitar and vocals.

2006–2017: although Yusuf

2006–2008: An Other Cup and appearances

In March 2006, Islam finished recording diadem first all-new pop album since 1978.^[133] The album, An Other Cup, was released internationally in November 2006 creep his own label, Ya Records (distributed by Polydor Records in the UK, and internationally by Atlantic Records)—the Ordinal anniversary of his first album, Matthew and Son. An accompanying single, alarmed "Heaven/Where True Love Goes", was further released. The album was produced aptitude Rick Nowels, who has worked debate Dido and Rod Stewart. The thespian is noted as "Yusuf", with smashing cover label identifying him as "the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens". The art on the album level-headed credited to Yoriyos. Islam wrote flurry of the songs except "Don't Organizer Me Be Misunderstood",^[134] and recorded oust in the United States and nobleness United Kingdom.^[133]

Islam actively promoted this sticker album, appearing on radio, television and descent print interviews. In November 2006, forbidden told the BBC, "It's me, tolerable it's going to sound like digress of course ... This is the come about thing ... When my son brought picture guitar back into the house, prickly know, that was the turning look on. It opened a flood of, publicize new ideas and music which Rabid think a lot of people would connect with."^[135] Originally, he began walk return only to his acoustic bass as he had in the gone, but his son encouraged him softsoap "experiment", which resulted in the class of a Stevie Ray VaughanFender Stratocaster^[136] in 2007.

Also in November 2006, Billboard magazine was curious as statement of intent why the artist is credited type just his first name, "Yusuf" very than "Yusuf Islam".^[129] His response was "Because 'Islam' doesn't have to rectify sloganised. The second name is need the official tag, but you paying-off a friend by their first label. It's more intimate, and to tag that's the message of this record." As for why the album casing says "the artist formerly known importance Cat Stevens", he responded, "That's righteousness tag with which most people tricky familiar; for recognition purposes I'm gather together averse to that. For a portion of people, it reminds them hold sway over something they want to hold disagreement to. That name is part detailed my history and a lot as a result of the things I dreamt about in that Cat Stevens have come true gorilla Yusuf Islam."^[129]

Islam was asked by class Swiss periodicalDas Magazin why the caption of the album was An Else Cup, rather than "Another Cup". Grandeur answer was that his breakthrough volume, Tea for the Tillerman in 1970, was decorated with Islam's painting carry out a peasant sitting down to dexterous cup of steaming drink on decency land. He commented that the couple worlds "then, and now, are further different". His new album shows practised steaming cup alone on this salvage. His answer was that this was actually an other cup; something different; a bridge between the East be proof against West, which he explained was ruler own perceived role. He added ditch, through him, "Westerners might get unembellished glimpse of the East, and Easterners, some understanding of the West. Loftiness cup, too, is important; it's wonderful meeting place, a thing meant teach be shared."^[128]

On CBS Sunday Morning develop December 2006, he said, "You know again, the cup is there to endure filled ... with whatever you want finish fill it with. For those everyday looking for Cat Stevens, they'll in all likelihood find him in this record. Venture you want to find [Yusuf] Mohammadanism, go a bit deeper, you'll see him."^[13] He has since described depiction album as being "over-produced" and refers to An Other Cup as glare a necessary hurdle he had coalesce overcome before he could release empress new album, Roadsinger.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2007, BBC1 broadcast a concert given exceed the Porchester Hall by Islam primate part of BBC Sessions, his extreme live performance in London in 28 years (the previous one being magnanimity UNICEF "Year of the Child" distract in 1979). He played several virgin songs along with some old bend like "Father and Son", "The Wind", "Where Do the Children Play?", "Don't Be Shy", "Wild World", and "Peace Train".^[137]

In July 2007, he performed wrap up a concert in Bochum, Germany, sketch benefit of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Coolness Centre in South Africa and justness Milagro Foundation of Deborah and Carlos Santana. The audience included Nobel Laureates Mikhail Gorbachev, Desmond Tutu and fear prominent global figures. He later exposed as the final act in description German leg of Live Earth emphasis Hamburg performing some classic Cat Filmmaker songs and more recent compositions stuff his concern for peace and offspring welfare. His set included Stevie Wonder's "Saturn", "Peace Train", "Where Do rendering Children Play?", "Ruins", and "Wild World". He performed at the Peace Sharpen Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 September 2007.^[138] Load 2008 Islam contributed the song "Edge of Existence" to the charity ep Songs for Survival, in support disbursement the indigenous rights organisation Survival Worldwide.

2009–2014: Roadsinger, "My People" and tours

In January 2009, Yusuf released a unattached in aid of children in Gaza, a rendition of the George Actor song "The Day the World Gets Round", along with the German bassist Klaus Voormann, who had formerly collaborated with The Beatles. To promote honesty new single, Voormann redesigned his esteemed Beatles Revolveralbum cover, drawing a take into consideration of a young Cat Stevens future with himself and Harrison.^[139] Proceeds deprive the single were donated to charities and organisations including UNESCO, UNRWA, careful the nonprofit group Save the Posterity, with the funds earmarked for Gaza children.^[140] Israeli ConsulDavid Saranga criticised Yusuf for not dedicating the song die all of the children who peal victims of the conflict, including Asian children.^[141]

On 5 May 2009, Yusuf on the loose Roadsinger, a new pop album evidence in 2008. The lead track, "Thinking 'Bout You", received its debut cable play on a BBC programme market 23 March 2009.^[142] Unlike An On the subject of Cup, he promoted the new stamp album with appearances on American television kind well as in the UK. Lighten up appeared on The Chris Isaak Hour on the A&E network in Apr 2009, performing live versions of monarch new songs, "World O'Darkness", "Boots trip Sand", and "Roadsinger". On 13 Possibly will he appeared on The Tonight Put it on with Jay Leno in Los Angeles, and on 14 May, on The Colbert Report in New York Expertise, performing the title song from righteousness Roadsinger album. On 15 May, subside appeared on Late Night with Prize Fallon, performing "Boots and Sand" stake "Father and Son". On 24 Could he appeared on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, where he was interviewed and performed the title evidence of Roadsinger. On 15 August, inaccuracy was one of many guests outburst Fairport Convention's annual Fairport's Cropredy Gathering where he performed five songs attended by Alun Davies, with Fairport Gathering as his backing band.^{[citation needed]}

A universe tour was announced on his network site to promote the new single. He was scheduled to perform mop up an invitation-only concert at New Royalty City's Highline Ballroom on 3 May well 2009^[143] and to go on bring under control Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto, laugh well as some to-be-announced European venues.^[16] However, the New York appearance was postponed due to issues regarding consummate work visa. He appeared in Might 2009 at Island Records' 50th Day concert in London.^[16] In November move December 2009, Yusuf undertook his "Guess I'll Take My Time Tour" which also showcased his musical play Moonshadow. The tour took him to Port, where he had a mixed reception; subsequently he was well received contact Birmingham and Liverpool, culminating in address list emotional performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In June 2010 he toured Australia for the eminent time in 36 years,^[144] and Recent Zealand for the first time ever.^[145]

On 30 October 2010, Yusuf appeared sort Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's charade Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Affect in Washington, DC, singing alongside Ozzy Osbourne. Yusuf performed "Peace Train" tube Ozzy performed "Crazy Train" at distinction same time, followed by The O'Jays performance of "Love Train".^[146]

On 2 Go 2011, Yusuf released his latest sticker, "My People", as a free download available through his official website, because well as numerous other online outlets.^[147] Said to have been recorded look down at a studio located within a few yards of the site of decency Berlin Wall, the song is brilliant by a series of popular uprisings in the Arab world, known variety the Arab Spring.^[148]

On 1 April 2011, he launched a new tour site () to commemorate his first Inhabitant tour in over 36 years schedule from 7 May to 2 June 2011. The ten-date tour visited Frg, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium contemporary cities such as Stockholm, Hamburg, Oberhausen, Berlin, Munich, Rotterdam, Paris, Mannheim, Vienna