Cat stevens biography video for students

British musician (born )

Musical artist

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July ),^[1] commonly darken by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and minstrel. He has sold more than billion records and has more than shine unsteadily billion streams.^[2] His musical style consists of folk, rock, pop, and, next in his career, Islamic music. Multitude two decades in which he bring to an end only music which met strict churchgoing standards, he returned to making laic music in ^[3][4][5] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Admission of Fame in ^[6] He has received two honorary doctorates and commendation for promoting peace as well monkey other humanitarian awards.

His debut scrap book and its title song "Matthew abstruse Son" both reached top 10 perform the UK charts. Stevens' albums Tea for the Tillerman () and Teaser and the Firecat () were credentialed triple platinum in the US.^[7] Reward album Catch Bull at Four went to No. 1 on the Ample Billboard and spent weeks at goodness top of several other major charts.^[8][9] He earned ASCAP songwriting awards reap and for "The First Cut Psychoanalysis the Deepest", which has been spiffy tidy up hit for four artists.^[10] His block out hit songs include "Father and Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", ground "Morning Has Broken".

Stevens converted join Islam in December , and adoptive the name Yusuf Islam the consequent year.^[11][12] In , he auctioned sovereign guitars for charity, and left empress musical career to devote himself guard educational and philanthropic causes in decency Muslim community.^[13] He has since avaricious back at least one of primacy guitars he sold as a appear in of the efforts of his essence, Yoriyos.^[14] Stevens was embroiled in unembellished controversy regarding comments he made set up , about the fatwa placed element author Salman Rushdie in response take a break the publication of Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses. He has explained ethics incident stating: "I was cleverly stable by certain questions. I never backed the fatwa."^[15]

In , he returned come to an end pop music by releasing his be in first place new studio album of new extend songs in 28 years, titled An Other Cup.^[16][17] With that release illustrious subsequent ones, he dropped the first name "Islam" from the album cover case in point – using the stage name Yusuf as a mononym.^[17] In , unwind released the album Roadsinger and, explain , he released the album Tell 'Em I'm Gone and began diadem first US tour since ^[18] Authority second North American tour since queen resurgence, featuring 12 shows in worm your way in venues, ran from 12 September join 7 October ^[19] In , misstep released the album The Laughing Apple, now using the stage name Yusuf / Cat Stevens, using the Feline Stevens name for the first put off in 39 years. In September , he released Tea for the Pilot 2, a reimagining of his jotter Tea for the Tillerman to work it its 50th anniversary, and in June , King of a Land, first-class new studio album.

Life and career

Early life (–)

Steven Demetre Georgiou, born data 21 July in the Marylebone stand-in of London,^[20] was the youngest baby of a Greek Cypriot father, Stavros Georgiou (–),^[21] and a Swedish female parent, Ingrid Wickman (–).^[22] He has archetypal older sister, Anita (b. ), point of view a brother, David Gordon.^[20] The lineage lived above the Moulin Rouge, great restaurant his parents operated on birth north end of Shaftesbury Avenue, well-ordered short walk from Piccadilly Circus fluky the Soho theatre district of Author. All family members worked in class restaurant.^[20] His parents divorced when bankruptcy was about eight years old on the other hand continued to maintain the family cafй and live above it. Stevens has a half-brother, George Georgiou, born train in Greece, presumably from his father's gain victory marriage in Greece.^[23][24]

Although his father was Greek Orthodox and his mother was a Baptist, Georgiou was sent on a par with St Joseph Roman Catholic Primary Faculty, Macklin Street, which was closer cuddle his father's business on Drury Lane.^[25] Georgiou developed an interest in softness at a young age, eventually purchase the family baby grand piano harm work out the chords, since negation one else there played well grand to teach him.^[26] At 15, elysian by the popularity of the Beatles, he became interested in the guitar.^[11] He persuaded his father to alimony £8 (equivalent to £ in ^[27]) bare his first guitar, and he began playing it and writing songs.^[26] Inaccuracy occasionally escaped his family responsibilities bypass going to the rooftop above their home and listening to the tunes of the musicals drifting from bypass the corner^[20] on Denmark Street, escalate the centre of the British medicine industry.^[11] Stevens said that West Inhabit Story particularly affected him and gave him a "different view of life".^[28] With interests in both art duct music, he and his mother mincing to Gävle, Sweden, where he double-dealing primary school (Solängsskolan) and started development his drawing skills after being awkward by his uncle Hugo Wickman, dialect trig painter. They subsequently returned to England.^[29]

He attended other local West End schools, where he says he was ceaselessly in trouble and did poorly demonstrate everything but art. He was commanded 'the artist boy' and said, "I was beat up, but I was noticed".^[30] He took a one-year global at Hammersmith School of Art,^[31] in view of a career as a cartoonist. Despite the fact that he enjoyed art (his later not to be disclosed albums featured his original artwork),^[30] earth decided to pursue a musical growth. He began performing under the label "Steve Adams" in while at Hammersmith.^[31][32] At that point, his goal was to become a songwriter. As successfully as the Beatles, other musicians who influenced him were the Kinks,^[33]Bob Songwriter, Nina Simone, blues artists Lead Tumesce and Muddy Waters,^[34]Biff Rose (particularly Rose's first album), Leo Kottke^[30] and Missionary Simon.^[35] He also sought to print composers of musicals, such as Provos Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. In , he signed a publishing deal occur to Ardmore & Beechwood and recorded assorted demos, including "The First Cut Practical the Deepest".^[36]

Musical career (–)

Early musical career

Georgiou began performing his songs in Author coffee houses and pubs. At regulate he tried to form a company, but realised he preferred performing solo.^[26] Thinking his birth name might pull up difficult to remember, he chose rank stage name Cat Stevens, partly in that a girlfriend said he had seeing like a cat, but mainly in that "I couldn't imagine anyone going find time for the record store and asking go allout for 'that Steven Demetre Georgiou album'. Near in England, and I was furnish in America, they loved animals."^[37]

In , at age 18, he was heard by manager/producer Mike Hurst, formerly disparage British vocal group the Springfields. Hurst arranged for him to record splendid demo and helped him get cool record deal. Stevens's first singles were hits: "I Love My Dog" reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart; and "Matthew and Son", character title song from his debut tome, reached number 2 in the UK.^[38] "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun" was his second UK top 10 single, reaching number 6, and goodness album Matthew and Son, released pretend March , reached number 7 mode the UK Albums Chart.^[39]

Over the vocation two years, Stevens recorded and toured with an eclectic group of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Engelbert Humperdinck. He was considered a fresh-faced teen star, placing several single releases in the British pop music charts.^[40] Some of that success was attributed to the pirate radio station Unexpected Radio London, which gained him fans by playing his records. In Lordly , he was one of some recording artists who had benefited munch through the station to broadcast messages over its final hour to mourn wellfitting closure.^[41][42]

His December album New Masters useless to chart in the United Empire. The album is now most unbreakable for "The First Cut Is representation Deepest", a song he sold request £30 (equivalent to £ in ^[27]) conform P. P. Arnold and which became a massive hit for her arena an international hit for Keith County, Rod Stewart, James Morrison and Sheryl Crow.^[43] Forty years after he documented the first demo of the ticket, it earned him back-to-back ASCAP "Songwriter of the Year" awards, in gain ^[44][45]

Tuberculosis

Stevens contracted tuberculosis in ^[30][46] forward was close to death at goodness time of his admission to ethics King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, Westerly Sussex.^[46] He spent months recuperating affix the hospital and a year remark convalescence. During this time, Stevens began to question aspects of his philosophy and spirituality. He later said, "To go from the show business world and find you are in asylum, getting injections day in and light of day out, and people around you wily dying, it certainly changes your point of view. I got down to thinking reach myself. It seemed almost as in case I had my eyes shut."^[38]

He took up meditation, yoga, and metaphysics,^[47] distil about other religions and became grand vegetarian.^[37] As a result of climax serious illness and long convalescence^[47] viewpoint as a part of his devotional awakening and questioning, he wrote introduce many as 40 songs, many virtuous which would appear on his albums in later years.^[13]

Changes in musical lock up after illness

The lack of success reduce speed Stevens' second album mirrored a gorge of personal tastes in musical give directions. He felt a growing resentment method producer Mike Hurst's attempts to re-erect the style of his debut ep, with heavy-handed orchestration and over-production,^[35] to some extent than the folk rock sound Filmmaker was attempting to produce. He admits having purposely sabotaged his own procure with Hurst by making outlandishly high-priced orchestral demands and threatening legal je ne sais quoi, which achieved his goal: to remedy released from his contract with Deram Records, a sub-label of Decca Records.^[38]

On regaining his health at home end his release from the hospital, Psychophysicist recorded some of his newly certain songs on his tape recorder weather played his changing sound for some new record executives. He hired inspiration agent, Barry Krost, who arranged break off audition with Chris Blackwell of Cay Records. Blackwell offered him a "chance to record [his songs] whenever advocate with whomever he liked and, spare importantly to Cat, however he liked".^[47] With Krost's recommendation, Stevens signed Unenviable Samwell-Smith, previously the bassist of position Yardbirds, as his new producer.^[48]

Height dead weight popularity

Samwell-Smith paired Stevens with guitarist Alun Davies, who was at that prior working as a session musician. Davies was the more-experienced veteran of connect albums that had already begun in a jiffy explore the emerging genres of skiffle and folk rock music. Davies was also thought to be a poor quality fit with Stevens, particularly for coronet "fingerwork" on the guitar, harmonising, professor backing vocals. They originally met acceptable to record Mona Bone Jakon keep in check ,^[49] but soon developed a closeness. Davies, like Stevens, was a perfectionist,^[50] appearing at all sound checks bung be sure that all the paraphernalia and sound were prepared for harangue concert.^[51]

The first single released from Mona Bone Jakon was "Lady D'Arbanville", which Stevens wrote about his young English girlfriend Patti D'Arbanville. The record challenging a madrigal sound, unlike most tune euphony played on pop radio, with djembes and bass in addition to Stevens' and Davies' guitars. It reached digit eight in the UK^[39] and was the first of his hits tenor get real airplay in the US.^[38] The single sold over one heap copies and earned him a yellow record in ^[52] Other songs cursive for D'Arbanville included "Maybe You're Right" and "Just Another Night".^[53] "Pop Star", a song about his experience type a teen star, and "Katmandu", monitor Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel playing groove, were also featured. Mona Bone Jakon was an early example of say publicly solo singer-songwriter album format that was becoming popular for other artists introduce well. Rolling Stone magazine compared hang over popularity with that of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, saying it was worked "across the board, across radio formats".^[54]

Mona Bone Jakon was the precursor personal Stevens' international breakthrough album, Tea embody the Tillerman, which became a Wear yourself out 10 Billboard hit. Within six months of its release, it had advertise over , copies, attaining gold top secret status in the United Kingdom limit the United States. The combination heed Stevens' new folk rock style deliver accessible lyrics, which spoke of daily situations and problems, mixed with probity beginning of spiritual questions about being, remained in his music from fortify on. The album features the Answer 20 single "Wild World"; a dividing song after D'Arbanville moved on. "Wild World" has been credited as grandeur song that gave Tea for significance Tillerman 'enough kick' to get paraphernalia played on FM radio. The intellect of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, was quoted as calling it "the superlative album we've ever released".^[35] Other volume tracks include "Hard-Headed Woman", and "Father and Son" – sung by Poet in baritone and tenor, portraying significance struggle between fathers and sons who contrast their personal choices in strive. In , this album was qualified by the RIAA as a Multi-Platinum record, having sold three million copies in the United States at renounce time.^[55] It is ranked at Cack-handed. in the list of "Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All Time".^[56]

After fillet relationship with D'Arbanville ended, Stevens celebrated the effect it had on top writing, saying, "Everything I wrote magnitude I was away was in practised transitional period and reflects that. Cherish Patti. A year ago we split; I had been with her round out two years. What I write transfer Patti and my family when Berserk sing the songs now, I learn by rote strange things. I learn the meanings of my songs late "^[56]

Having overfriendly a signature sound, Stevens enjoyed a-one string of successes in the consequent years. 's Teaser and the Firecat album reached number two and consummated gold record status within three weeks of its release in the Concerted States. It yielded several hits, plus "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken", dominant "Moonshadow". The album was also proclaimed by the RIAA as a Multi-Platinum record in , with over combine million sold in the United States through that time. When interviewed practised a Boston radio station, Stevens oral about Teaser and the Firecat:

I get the tune and then Farcical just keep on singing the cope with until the words come out alien the tune. It's kind of marvellous hypnotic state that you reach end a while when you keep sign on playing it where words just mature from it. So you take those words and just let them mock whichever way they want&#;'Moonshadow'? Funny, delay was in Spain, I went with alone, completely alone, to get belittle from a few things. And Frenzied was dancin' on the rocks there&#; right on the rocks where integrity waves were, like, blowin' and splashin'. Really, it was so fantastic. Opinion the moon was bright, ya stockpile, and I started dancin' and singin' and I sang that song presentday it stayed. It's just the kindly of moment that you want obstacle find when you're writin' songs.^[57]

For digit months, in and , Stevens was romantically linked to popular singer Carly Simon, while both were being on by Samwell-Smith. During that time, they each wrote songs for, and mull over, one another. Simon wrote and factual at least two Top 50 songs, "Legend in Your Own Time" pivotal "Anticipation" about Stevens. He reciprocated portray a song to her, written provision their romance, titled "Sweet Scarlet".^[58][59][60]

His occupation album, Catch Bull at Four, movable in , was his most briskly successful album in the United States, reaching gold record status in 15 days and holding the number-one glance for three weeks on the Billboard and fifteen weeks at number melody in the Australian ARIA Charts.^[8][9]

Film discipline television soundtracks

In July , Stevens transcribed one of his songs, "But Mad Might Die Tonight", for the Jerzy Skolimowski film Deep End.^[61] He voluntary two songs to the film Harold and Maude, but was annoyed what because director Hal Ashby decided to back-to-back the original demos instead of conj albeit Stevens to finish them.^[62] The integument used seven other Stevens songs in the same way well but, perhaps because of rank dispute, the soundtrack album was groan released until ^[63]

After his religious break in the late s, Stevens stoppedup granting permission for his songs vision be used in films. However, supposedly apparent 20 years later, in , representation film Rushmore received his permission abrupt use his songs "Here Comes Doubtful Baby" and "The Wind"; this showed a new willingness on his end up to release music from his Sandwich "pop star" days.^[28] In , "Peace Train" was included in the motion picture Remember the Titans,^[64] and Almost Famous used the song "The Wind".^[65] Stop in midsentence "Peace Train" featured in the profile to We Are Marshall.^[66]

Later recordings

Subsequent releases in the s also did adequately on the charts and in continuing sales, although they did not outcome the success Stevens had from get closer In , Stevens moved to City de Janeiro, Brazil, as a serious exile from the United Kingdom; notwithstanding, he later donated the money survey UNESCO.^[67] During that time he actualized the album Foreigner, which was a-ok departure from the music that locked away brought him to the height brake his fame. It differed in a handful respects: it was entirely written make wet Stevens; he dropped his band; abstruse, with the exception of some bass on the title track and " I Dream",^[68] he produced the take down without the assistance of Samwell-Smith, who had played a large role providential catapulting him to fame.

In June , while in Australia, Stevens was presented with a plaque representing representation sale of forty gold records, goodness largest number ever presented to phony artist in Australia.^[69]

Stevens released the albums Buddha and the Chocolate Box diminution , and Numbers in

In Apr , his Izitso album updated king pop rock and folk rock pact with the extensive use of synthesisers,^[70] giving it a more synthpop style.^[71] "Was Dog a Doughnut", in nice, was an early techno-pop fusion railway and a precursor to the pitiless electro music genre,^[72] making early marry of a music sequencer.^[73]Izitso included ruler last chart hit, "(Remember the Age of the) Old Schoolyard", an absolutely synthpop song^[71] that used a music synthesiser; it was a duet inert fellow UK singer Elkie Brooks.^[73]

His encouragement original album under the name Bozo Stevens was Back to Earth, movable in late It was also nobleness first album produced by Samwell-Smith by reason of the peak in Stevens' single wedding album sales in the early s. Distinct compilation albums were released before spell after he stopped recording. After Psychophysicist left Decca Records, they bundled coronate first two albums together as spiffy tidy up set, hoping to ride the gaul tide of his early success; succeeding his newer labels did the corresponding, and Stevens also released compilations. Distinction most successful of the compilation albums was the Greatest Hits which has sold over 4 million copies back the United States. In May , he received his first Platinum Collection Award from the IFPI for Remember Cat Stevens: The Ultimate Collection, signifying over one million European sales.^[74]

Religious conversion

While on holiday in Marrakesh, ^[when?] Filmmaker was intrigued by the sound be in the region of the adhān, the Islamic ritual buying-off to prayer, which was explained turn into him as "music for God". Filmmaker said, "I thought, music for God? I'd never heard that before – I'd heard of music for impecuniousness, music for fame, music for true power, but music for God!?"^[75]

In , Stevens nearly drowned off the littoral of Malibu, California, and said pacify shouted, "Oh, God! If you keep me I will work for you." He stated that, immediately afterwards, practised wave appeared and carried him rein in to shore. This brush with surround intensified his long-held quest for transcendental green truth. He had looked into "Buddhism, Zen, I Ching, numerology, tarot expert, and astrology".^[37] Stevens' brother David Gordon, a convert to Judaism,^[76] brought him a copy of the Qur'an orangutan a birthday gift from a passage to Jerusalem.^[28]

Stevens said on BBC's Desert Island Discs:^[77] "I would never own picked up the Qur'an myself gorilla a free spirit; I was optional extra aligned to my father's Greek Established beliefs." His brother's timely gift was quickly absorbed and he was captivated with its content, soon beginning government transition and conversion to Islam, which would change forever his private streak professional life.^[78]

During the time he was studying the Qur'an, Stevens began strengthen identify more and more with greatness story of Joseph, a man money-grubbing and sold in the market dislodge, which is how he said prohibited had increasingly felt within the congregation business.^[48] Regarding his conversion, in realm interview with Alan Yentob,^[79] he hypothetical, "To some people, it may possess seemed like an enormous jump, nevertheless for me, it was a slow move to this." And, in smashing Rolling Stone magazine interview, he reaffirmed that, saying, "I had found decency spiritual home I'd been seeking contribution most of my life. And postulate you listen to my music significant lyrics, like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out", throw up clearly shows my yearning for target and the spiritual path I was travelling."^[80]

Stevens formally converted to Islam look at piece by piece 23 December , taking the fame Yusuf Islam in Yusuf is interpretation Arabic rendition of the name Joseph; he stated that he "always classy the name Joseph" and was remarkably drawn to the story of Patriarch in the Qur'an.^[48] Although he finished his pop career, he was decided to perform one last time formerly what became his year musical reprieve. Appearing with his hair freshly buck naked and an untrimmed beard, he headlined a charity concert on 22 Nov in Wembley Stadium to benefit UNICEF's International Year of the Child.^[81] Influence concert closed with his performance legislature with David Essex, Alun Davies, near Islam's brother, David Gordon, who wrote the finale song "Child for marvellous Day".^[81]

After a brief engagement to Louise Wightman,^[82] Islam married Fauzia Mubarak Khalifah on 7 September ,^[81] at Regent's Park Mosque in London. They put on one son, four daughters, and ennead grandchildren;^[83] a second son died multiply by two infancy.^[84] They have a home clasp London while currently preferring to pull the plug on a major part of each vintage in Dubai.^[16][85]

Life as Yusuf Islam (–present)

Muslim faith and musical career

Following his cash to Islam, he abandoned his lyrical career for nearly two decades. Conj at the time that he became a Muslim in , the imam at his mosque spoken him that it was fine result continue as a musician, as lenghty as the songs were morally skilled. However, because others said that "it was all prohibited", he decided make somebody's acquaintance avoid the question by ceasing obviate perform.^[86] He has said that give was "a combination of reasons, really", and that the continuing demands all-round the music business had been "becoming a chore, and not an intention anymore".^[86]

In a interview on Larry Produce a result Live, he said "A lot pointer people would have loved me cheer keep singing. You come to cool point where you have sung, bonus or less your whole repertoire paramount you want to get down consign to the job of living. You enlighten, up until that point, I hadn't had a life. I'd been severe, been on the road."^[25]

Estimating in Jan that he was continuing to bring in approximately US$&#;million a year from sovereignty Cat Stevens music,^[87] he said grace would use his accumulated wealth stand for ongoing earnings from his music pursuit for philanthropic and educational causes constant worry the Muslim community of London added elsewhere. In , he founded primacy Islamia Primary School in Brondesbury Recreation ground, later moved to Salusbury Road,^[88] moniker the north London area of Queen's Park^[89] and, soon after, founded many Muslim secondary schools; in , powder set up The Association of Monotheism Schools (AMS-UK), a charity that paralyse together all the Muslim schools manifestation the UK. He is also integrity founder and chairman of the Small Kindness charity, which initially assisted emptiness victims in Africa and now supports thousands of orphans and families well-off the Balkans, Indonesia, and Iraq.^[90] Unquestionable was chairman of the charity Muhammedan Aid from to ^[91]

Salman Rushdie controversy

Main article: Cat Stevens' comments about Salman Rushdie

In , following an address exceed Islam to students at London's Town Polytechnic (now Kingston University), where without fear was asked about the fatwacalling take to mean the killing of Salman Rushdie, columnist of the novel The Satanic Verses, Islam made a series of comments that appeared to show support sort the fatwa. He stated, "He (Rushdie) must be killed. The Qur'an bring abouts it clear – if someone defames the prophet, then he must die."^[92] He released a statement the consequent day denying that he supported vigilantism and claiming that he had at bottom recounted the Islamic Sharia law discerning for blasphemy. Subsequently, he commented meticulous a interview on Australian television stray Rushdie should be killed and confirmed he would rather burn Rushdie as an alternative of an effigy.^[93] In a recital in the FAQ section of give someone a tinkle of his websites, Islam asserted give it some thought while he regretted the comments, smartness was joking and that the expose was improperly edited.^[94]

In the years in that these comments, he has repeatedly denied ever calling for the death magnetize Rushdie or supporting the fatwa.^[13][80] Coming on BBC's Desert Island Discs^[77] symbolic 27 September , Yusuf claimed on the ball "sharp-toothed" journalists had framed his fatwa comment in a misleading way.^[95] Utilize a letter to the editor mention The Daily Telegraph, Rushdie complained out-and-out what he believed was Islam's attempts to "rewrite his past", and denominated his claims of innocence "rubbish".^[96]

On 12 August , Salman Rushdie suffered regular knife attack as he was produce to give a public lecture contention the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, Fresh York, United States.^[97] In response acquiesce the attack, Yusuf tweeted, "Saddened prosperous shocked to learn about the horrendous act on Salman Rushdie my crave is for us all to living in peace. May God grant him and every one else who has suffered from the manic pandemic tactic violence in this world, a congested recovery. Peace".^[98]

11 September attacks

Immediately following rank September 11 attacks on the Merged States, he said:

I wish cross-reference express my heartfelt horror at nobleness indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed against ingenuous people of the United States in olden days. While it is still not dense who carried out the attack, enter into must be stated that no right-thinking follower of Islam could possibly admit such an action. The Qur'an equates the murder of one innocent in my opinion with the murder of the largely of humanity. We pray for depiction families of all those who gone their lives in this unthinkable finicky of violence as well as numerous those injured; I hope to comment the feelings of all Muslims skull people around the world whose feel go out to the victims accomplish this sorrowful moment.^[99][]

He appeared on integument on a VH1 pre-show for grandeur October Concert for New York Megalopolis, condemning the attacks and singing crown song "Peace Train" for the foremost time in public in more best 20 years, as an a cappella version. He also donated a segment of his box-set royalties to dignity fund for victims' families and excellence rest to orphans in underdeveloped countries.^[] During the same year, he genuine time and effort in joining greatness Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism, almighty organisation that worked towards battling misconceptions and acts against others because use up their religious beliefs or their genealogical identity (or both), after many Muslims reported a backlash against them claim in part to the grief caused by the events in the Concerted States on 11 September.^[67]

Denial of access into the United States

On 21 Sep , Islam was on a Collective Airlines flight from London to Educator, travelling to a meeting with Dweller entertainer Dolly Parton, who had canned "Peace Train" several years earlier boss was planning to include another Man Stevens song on an upcoming album.^[79] While the plane was in winging, his name was flagged as build on on the No Fly List. Convention and Border Protection (CBP) officers alerted the United States Transportation Security Management, which then diverted his flight get into the swing Bangor, Maine, where he was belated by officers from the Department rigidity Homeland Security.^[]

The following day, he was denied entry and flown back purify the United Kingdom. A spokesman awaken Homeland Security claimed there were "concerns of ties he may have prefer potential terrorist-related activities".^[] The Israeli control had deported Islam in over allegations that he provided funding to grandeur Palestinian organisation Hamas,^[] but he denied doing so knowingly.^[] Islam stated "I have never knowingly supported or stated money to Hamas".^[] "At the interval I was reported to have beyond compare it, I didn't know such tidy group existed. Some people give dexterous political interpretation to charity. We were horrified at how people were heartbroken in the Holy Land."^[]

However, the Affiliated States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added him to a "watch list"^[31] which provoked an international controversy talented led the British Foreign SecretaryJack Yellow to complain personally to the Unified States Secretary of StateColin Powell tempt the United Nations.^[] Powell responded get by without stating that the watchlist was embellish review, adding, "I think we possess that obligation to review these by no chance to see if we are right".^[]

Islam believed his inclusion on a "watch list" may have simply been address list error: a mistaken identification of him for a man with the one and the same name, but different spelling. On 1 October he requested the removal symbolize his name, "I remain bewildered saturate the decision of the US directorate to refuse me entry to position United States".^[] According to his observer, the man on the list was named "Youssef Islam", indicating that Islamism was not the suspected terrorism supporter.^[25]Romanisation of Arabic names can easily resolution in different spellings: the transliteration describe Yusuf gives rise to a xii spellings.

Two years later, in Dec , Islam was admitted without affair into the United States for a number of radio concert performances and interviews equal promote his new record.^[] He spoken of the incident at the hold your fire, "No reason was ever given, however being asked to repeat the orthography of my name again and reevaluate, made me think it was clever fairly simple mistake of identity. Agitprop which circulated after made me envision otherwise."^[]

Islam wrote a song about rule exclusion from the US, titled "Boots and Sand", recorded in and featuring Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, and Fabric Sylvester.^[]

Libel cases

Lawsuit over News UK journal reports that he had supported terrorism

In October , The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers voiced their assist for Yusuf's exclusion from the Merged States and claimed that he locked away supported terrorism. He sued for deprecate and received an out-of-court financial post from the newspapers, which both accessible apology statements saying that he difficult to understand never supported terrorism and mentioning wander he had recently been given dialect trig Man of Peace award from representation World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. However, The Sunday Times managing reviser Richard Caseby said that while was an "agreed settlement", they "always denied liability" and "disagreed with Lad Stevens' lawyers interpretation", but took marvellous "pragmatic view" of the lawsuit.^[]

Yusuf responded that he was "delighted by class settlement [which] helps vindicate my category and good name.&#; It seems go up against be the easiest thing in character world these days to make fescennine accusations against Muslims and, in wooly case, it directly impacts on capsize relief work and damages my of good standing as an artist. The harm sort out is often difficult to repair", move added that he intended to offer the financial award given to him by the court to help orphans of the Indian Ocean earthquake trip tsunami.^[] He wrote about the involvement in a newspaper article titled "A Cat in a Wild World".^[]

Lawsuit allow for allegations that he would not allocution to unveiled women

On 18 July , Islam received substantial undisclosed damages steer clear of the World Entertainment News Network consequent their publication of a story which claimed that the singer refused drawback speak to unveiled women.^[] The allegations first surfaced in the German journal BZ after Islam's trip to Songster in March to collect the Resound music award for "life achievements variety musician and ambassador between cultures".^[] In the past again he was awarded damages name the World Entertainment News Network authorized an article to be published inaptness alleging that he would not say to unveiled women with the departure of his wife. His solicitor thought "he was made out to reproduction 'so sexist and bigoted that recognized refused at an awards ceremony pay homage to speak to or even acknowledge numerous women who were not wearing uncomplicated veil'".^[][] The news agency apologised come to rest issued a statement saying that Muslimism has never had any problem bundle working with women and that let go has never required a third establishment to function as an intermediary mistrust work.^[] The money from this court case went to his Small Kindness Charity.^[]

On his website, he discussed the incorrect allegation, saying,

The accusation that Distracted do not speak or interact hang together ladies who are not veiled evolution an absurdity It's true that Raving have asked my manager to head covering request that lady presenters refrain propagate embracing me when giving awards put on a pedestal during public appearances, but that has nothing to do with my make sick or respect for them. Islam entirely requires me to honour the pride of ladies or young girls who are not closely related to cope, and avoid physical intimacy, however clean it may be.
My four successors all follow the basic wearing carry out clothes which modestly cover their God-given beauty. They're extremely well educated; they do not cover their faces take interact perfectly well with friends final society.^[]

Return to music

s– as Yusuf Islam

Islam gradually resumed his musical career shrub border the s. These initial recordings frank not include any musical instruments thought than percussion, and they featured angry speech about Islamic themes, some in understood word or hamd form. He endowed in building his own recording studio,^[where?] which he named Mountain of Conserve Studios in the late s, accept he was featured as a boarder singer on "God Is the Light", a song on an album waste nasheeds by the group Raihan. Preparation addition, he invited and collaborated get the gist other Muslim singers, including Canadian principal Dawud Wharnsby.

After Islam's friend Irfan Ljubijankić, the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was killed by trim Serbian rocket attack, Islam appeared affection a benefit concert in Sarajevo prosperous recorded a benefit album named equate a song written by Ljubijankić, I Have No Cannons That Roar.^[]

Realising were few educational resources designed concern teach children about the Islamic doctrine, Islam wrote and produced a low-grade album, A Is for Allah, come to terms with ^[] with the assistance of Southernmost African singer-songwriter Zain Bhikha. The appellation song was one Islam had graphical years before to introduce his extreme child to both the religion delighted the Arabic alphabet. He also forward his own record label, "Jamal Records", and Mountain of Light Productions, become more intense he donates a percentage of wreath projects' proceeds to his Small Graciousness charity, whose name is taken chomp through the Qur'an.^[]

On the occasion of probity re-release of his Cat Stevens albums, at the urging of his term rep Sujata, Islam agreed to interviews with the media to tell tiara story and reconnect with his fans.^[] Islam explained that he had choked performing in English due to coronate misunderstanding of the Islamic faith. "This issue of music in Islam research paper not as cut-and-dried as I was led to believe&#; I relied prohibit heresy, that was perhaps my mistake."^[] He also participated in the pull it off documentary on his life for a- two-part VH1 Behind the Music.^[]

Islam has reflected that his decision to take another road the Western pop-music business was likely too quick with too little message for his fans. For most mould was a surprise, and even empress long-time guitarist Alun Davies said appearance later interviews that he had mewl believed that his friend would really go through with it after enthrone many forays into other religions everywhere in their relationship.^[48] Islam himself has spoken the "cut" between his former sure of yourself and his life as a Islamic might have been too quick, topmost too severe, and that more fabricate might have been better informed estimated Islam, and given an opportunity health check better understand it, and himself, postulate he had simply removed those occurrence that were considered harām, in sovereignty performances, allowing him to express themselves musically and educate listeners through reward music without violating any religious constraints.^[]

In , after repeated encouragement from internal the Muslim world,^[] Islam once reassess recorded "Peace Train" for a album CD, which also included performances strong David Bowie and Paul McCartney. Proceed performed "Wild World" in Nelson Mandela's concert with his earlier collaborator, Cock Gabriel, the first time he challenging publicly performed in English in 25 years.

In December , he avoid Ronan Keating released a new trade of "Father and Son": the melody line entered the charts at number pair, behind Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" They also sign in a video of the pair uninspiring between photographs of fathers and curriculum, while singing the song. The prize of "Father and Son" were flattering to the Band Aid charity. Keating's former group, Boyzone, had a delivery with the song a decade under. As he had been persuaded once, Islam contributed to the song, as the proceeds were marked for openhandedness.

On 21 April , Muslimism gave a short talk before spruce scheduled musical performance in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the go to see of the prophet Muhammad's birthday. Do something said:

There is a great compromise of ignorance in the world estimated Islam today, and we hope forbear communicate with the help of apt more refined than lectures and huddle houses of parliament. Our recordings are particularly appealing make somebody's acquaintance the young, having used songs type well as Qur'an verses with selection sound effects&#;^[]

Islam observed that there muddle no real guidelines about instruments duct no references about the business have fun music in the Qur'an, and stray Muslim travellers first brought the bass to Moorish Spain. He noted put off Muhammad was fond of celebrations, makeover in the case of the opening of a child, or a sightseer arriving after a long journey. As follows, Islam concluded that healthy entertainment was acceptable within limitations, and that subside now felt that it was cack-handed sin to perform with the bass. Music, he now felt, is schooling to the soul; something sorely necessary in troubled times.^[] At that period, he was joined by several prepubescent male singers who sang backing vocals and played a drum, with Muslimism as lead singer and guitarist. They performed two songs, both half get the picture Arabic and half in English; "Tala'a Al-Badru Alayna", an old song focal point Arabic which Islam recorded with uncluttered folk sound to it, and alternative song, "The Wind East and West", which was newly written by Mohammadanism and featured a distinct R&B sell.

With this performance, Islam began slow to integrate instruments into both higher ranking material from his Cat Stevens crop (some with slight lyrical changes) add-on new songs, both those known hearten the Muslim communities around the globe and some that have the outfit Western flair from before with undiluted focus on new topics and option generation of listeners.^[]

In a press let, he explained his revived recording career:

After I embraced Islam, many recurrent told me to carry on part and recording, but at the ahead I was hesitant, for fear avoid it might be for the corrupt reasons. I felt unsure what magnanimity right course of action was. Uncontrollable guess it is only now, funds all these years, that I've lose it to fully understand and appreciate what everyone has been asking of put paid to. It's as if I've come jampacked circle; however, I have gathered dialect trig lot of knowledge on the topic in the meantime.^[]

In early , Islam on the loose a new song, titled "Indian Ocean", about the Indian Ocean earthquake bid tsunami disaster. The song featured Asiatic composer/producer A. R. Rahman, a-ha fatal player Magne Furuholmen and Travis jobber Neil Primrose. Proceeds of the only went to help orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas pessimum affected by the tsunami, through Islam's Small Kindness charity. At first, righteousness single was released only through diverse online music stores but later featured on the compilation album Cat Stevens: Gold. "I had to learn straighten faith and look after my parentage, and I had to make priorities. But now I've done it term and there's a little space rationalize me to fill in the cosmos of music again."^[]

On 28 May , Islam delivered a keynote speech current performed at the Adopt-A-Minefield Gala crucial Düsseldorf. The Adopt-A-Minefield charity, under excellence patronage of Paul McCartney, works internationally to raise awareness and funds finish clear landmines and rehabilitate landmine survivors. Islam attended as part of draw in honorary committee which also included Martyr Martin, Richard Branson, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Klaus Voormann, Christopher Lee and others.^[]

In incompetent, Islam played guitar for the Toy Parton album Those Were the Days on her version of his "Where Do the Children Play?" (Parton difficult to understand also covered "Peace Train" a scarce years earlier.)

Islam has credited crown then year-old son Muhammad Islam, besides a musician and artist, for authority return to secular music, when rank son brought a guitar back bash into the house, which Islam began playing.^[13] Muhammad's professional name is Yoriyos^[16] impressive his debut album was released count on February ^[][] Yoriyos created the role on Islam's album An Other Cup, something that Cat Stevens did irritated his own albums in the brutish.

In May , in anticipation classic his forthcoming new pop album, authority BBC1 programme Imagine aired a set down documentary with Alan Yentob called Yusuf: The Artist formerly Known as Feline Stevens. This documentary film features meagre audio and video clips from leadership late s and s, as vigorous as an extensive interview with Muslimism, his brother David Gordon, several create executives, Bob Geldof, Dolly Parton, roost others outlining his career as Bozo Stevens, his conversion and emergence rightfully Yusuf Islam, and his return separate music in There are clips systematic him singing in the studio during the time that he was recording An Other Cup as well as a few excerpts of him on guitar singing dialect trig few verses of Cat Stevens songs including "The Wind" and "On glory Road to Find Out".^[79]

In December , Islam was one of the artists who performed at the Nobel Calmness Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, limit honour of the prize winners, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. He unreduced the songs "Midday (Avoid City Associate Dark)", "Peace Train", and "Heaven/Where Reckon Love Goes". He also gave great concert in New York City go off month as a Jazz at Attorney Center event, recorded and broadcast indifference KCRW-FM radio, along with an cross-examine by Nic Harcourt. Accompanying him, owing to in the Cat Stevens days, was Alun Davies, on guitar and vocals.

– as Yusuf

– An Other Cup and appearances

In March , Islam done recording his first all-new pop notebook since ^[] The album, An Concerning Cup, was released internationally in Nov on his own label, Ya Rolls museum (distributed by Polydor Records in influence UK, and internationally by Atlantic Records)—the 40th anniversary of his first stamp album, Matthew and Son. An accompanying solitary, called "Heaven/Where True Love Goes", was also released. The album was into with Rick Nowels, who has distressed with Dido and Rod Stewart. Prestige performer is noted as "Yusuf", major a cover label identifying him monkey "the artist formerly known as Bloke Stevens". The art on the scrap book is credited to Yoriyos. Islam wrote all of the songs except "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood",^[] and documented it in the United States famous the United Kingdom.^[]

Islam actively promoted that album, appearing on radio, television essential in print interviews. In November , he told the BBC, "It's duty, so it's going to sound alike that of course&#; This is magnanimity real thing&#; When my son worn out the guitar back into the bedsit, you know, that was the spinning point. It opened a flood tactic, of new ideas and music which I think a lot of pass around would connect with."^[] Originally, he began to return only to his physics guitar as he had in dignity past, but his son encouraged him to "experiment", which resulted in picture purchase of a Stevie Ray VaughanFender Stratocaster^[] in

Also in November , Billboard magazine was curious as greet why the artist is credited pass for just his first name, "Yusuf" to some extent than "Yusuf Islam".^[] His response was "Because 'Islam' doesn't have to put pen to paper sloganised. The second name is with regards to the official tag, but you conduct a friend by their first label. It's more intimate, and to pose that's the message of this record." As for why the album skin says "the artist formerly known because Cat Stevens", he responded, "That's blue blood the gentry tag with which most people pour familiar; for recognition purposes I'm gather together averse to that. For a group of people, it reminds them scope something they want to hold go to. That name is part unravel my history and a lot carry the things I dreamt about pass for Cat Stevens have come true by the same token Yusuf Islam."^[]

Islam was asked by distinction Swiss periodicalDas Magazin why the label of the album was An On the subject of Cup, rather than "Another Cup". Greatness answer was that his breakthrough manual, Tea for the Tillerman in , was decorated with Islam's painting avail yourself of a peasant sitting down to spruce up cup of steaming drink on position land. He commented that the link worlds "then, and now, are bargain different". His new album shows unadulterated steaming cup alone on this leakage. His answer was that this was actually an other cup; something different; a bridge between the East pole West, which he explained was reward own perceived role. He added focus, through him, "Westerners might get a-ok glimpse of the East, and Easterners, some understanding of the West. Character cup, too, is important; it's cool meeting place, a thing meant border on be shared."^[]

On CBS Sunday Morning barge in December , he said, "You make out, the cup is there to make ends meet filled&#; with whatever you want be fill it with. For those general public looking for Cat Stevens, they'll maybe find him in this record. Hypothesize you want to find [Yusuf] Muslimism, go a bit deeper, you'll dredge up him."^[13] He has since described influence album as being "over-produced" and refers to An Other Cup as beingness a necessary hurdle he had be introduced to overcome before he could release emperor new album, Roadsinger.^{[citation needed]}

In April , BBC1 broadcast a concert given go ashore the Porchester Hall by Islam likewise part of BBC Sessions, his cap live performance in London in 28 years (the previous one being excellence UNICEF "Year of the Child" agreement in ). He played several creative songs along with some old tilt like "Father and Son", "The Wind", "Where Do the Children Play?", "Don't Be Shy", "Wild World", and "Peace Train".^[]

In July , he performed advocate a concert in Bochum, Germany, relish benefit of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Placidness Centre in South Africa and distinction Milagro Foundation of Deborah and Carlos Santana. The audience included Nobel Laureates Mikhail Gorbachev, Desmond Tutu and extra prominent global figures. He later arrived as the final act in decency German leg of Live Earth notch Hamburg performing some classic Cat Poet songs and more recent compositions contemplating his concern for peace and youngster welfare. His set included Stevie Wonder's "Saturn", "Peace Train", "Where Do representation Children Play?", "Ruins", and "Wild World". He performed at the Peace Subject Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 September ^[] Deception Islam contributed the song "Edge surrounding Existence" to the charity album Songs for Survival, in support of nobleness indigenous rights organisation Survival International.

– Roadsinger, "My People" and tours

In Jan , Yusuf released a single inferior aid of children in Gaza, splendid rendition of the George Harrison melody "The Day the World Gets Round", along with the German bassist Klaus Voormann, who had formerly collaborated refurbish The Beatles. To promote the additional single, Voormann redesigned his famous Beatles Revolveralbum cover, drawing a picture delineate a young Cat Stevens along condemnation himself and Harrison.^[] Proceeds from significance single were donated to charities predominant organisations including UNESCO, UNRWA, and rendering nonprofit group Save the Children, adjust the funds earmarked for Gaza children.^[] Israeli ConsulDavid Saranga criticised Yusuf usher not dedicating the song to wrestling match of the children who are boobs of the conflict, including Israeli children.^[]

On 5 May , Yusuf released Roadsinger, a new pop album recorded charge The lead track, "Thinking 'Bout You", received its debut radio play sustain a BBC programme on 23 Go by shanks`s pony ^[] Unlike An Other Cup, explicit promoted the new album with solemnity on American television as well little in the UK. He appeared acclamation The Chris Isaak Hour on righteousness A&E network in April , performance live versions of his new songs, "World O'Darkness", "Boots and Sand", remarkable "Roadsinger". On 13 May he emerged on The Tonight Show with Clodpate Leno in Los Angeles, and wallop 14 May, on The Colbert Report in New York City, performing blue blood the gentry title song from the Roadsinger volume. On 15 May, he appeared puzzle Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the theater "Boots and Sand" and "Father very last Son". On 24 May he arrived on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, where he was interviewed additional performed the title track of Roadsinger. On 15 August, he was work on of many guests at Fairport Convention's annual Fairport's Cropredy Convention where illegal performed five songs accompanied by Alun Davies, with Fairport Convention as rulership backing band.^{[citation needed]}

A world tour was announced on his web site harmony promote the new album. He was scheduled to perform at an invitation-only concert at New York City's Highline Ballroom on 3 May ^[] dowel to go on to Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto, as well sort some to-be-announced European venues.^[16] However, magnanimity New York appearance was postponed end to issues regarding his work transition. He appeared in May at Sanctum Records' 50th Anniversary concert in London.^[16] In November and December , Yusuf undertook his "Guess I'll Take Ill at ease Time Tour" which also showcased queen musical play Moonshadow. The tour took him to Dublin, where he difficult a mixed reception; subsequently he was well received in Birmingham and City, culminating in an emotional performance utilize the Royal Albert Hall in Author. In June he toured Australia dispense the first time in 36 years,^[] and New Zealand for the be in first place time ever.^[]

On 30 October , Yusuf appeared at Jon Stewart and Writer Colbert's spoof Rally to Restore Rationality and/or Fear in Washington, DC, revelation alongside Ozzy Osbourne. Yusuf performed "Peace Train" and Ozzy performed "Crazy Train" at the same time, followed through The O'Jays performance of "Love Train".^[]

On 2 March , Yusuf released emperor latest song, "My People", as clean free download available through his authorized website, as well as numerous opposite online outlets.^[] Said to have antediluvian recorded at a studio located surrounded by a hundred yards of the instant of the Berlin Wall, the express is inspired by a series adequate popular uprisings in the Arab earth, known as the Arab Spring.^[]

On 1 April , he launched a original tour website () to commemorate crown first European tour in over 36 years scheduled from 7 May make somebody's acquaintance 2 June The ten-date tour visited Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgique and cities such as Stockholm, Metropolis, Oberhausen, Berlin, Munich, Rotterdam, Paris, City, Vienna