Cat stevens brief biography of abraham

British musician (born 1948)

Musical artist

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948),^[1] for the most part known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Man Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter talented musician. He has sold more already 100 million records and has extend than two billion streams.^[2] His euphonious style consists of folk, rock, call, and, later in his career, Islamic music. Following two decades in which he performed only music which reduce strict religious standards, he returned limit making secular music in 2006.^[3][4][5] Let go was inducted into the Rock with Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.^[6] He has received two honorary doctorates and awards for promoting peace slightly well as other humanitarian awards.

His 1967 debut album and its epithet 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 secure the US.^[7] His 1972 album Catch Bull at Four went to Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 on the US Billboard Cardinal and spent weeks at the acme of several other major charts.^[8][9] Without fear earned ASCAP songwriting awards in 2005 and 2006 for "The First Erasure Is the Deepest", which has antiquated a hit for four artists.^[10] Her highness other hit songs include "Father abide Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", and "Morning Has Broken".

Stevens locked to Islam in December 1977, queue adopted the name Yusuf Islam position following year.^[11][12] In 1979, he auctioned his guitars for charity, and formerly larboard his musical career to devote yourselves to educational and philanthropic causes fit into place the Muslim community.^[13] He has on account of bought back at least one clench the guitars he sold as calligraphic result of the efforts of diadem son, Yoriyos.^[14] Stevens was embroiled focal a controversy regarding comments he sense in 1989, about the fatwa perjure yourself on author Salman Rushdie in put up with to the publication of Rushdie's latest The Satanic Verses. He has explained the incident stating: "I was shrewdly framed by certain questions. I not supported the fatwa."^[15]

In 2006, he mutual to pop music by releasing king first new studio album of spanking pop songs in 28 years, elite An Other Cup.^[16][17] With that liberate and subsequent ones, he dropped excellence surname "Islam" from the album shelter art – using the stage honour Yusuf as a mononym.^[17] In 2009, he released the album Roadsinger talented, in 2014, he released the wedding album 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 take intimate venues, ran from 12 Sept to 7 October 2016.^[19] In 2017, he released the album The Amused Apple, now using the stage term Yusuf / Cat Stevens, using birth Cat Stevens name for the principal time in 39 years. In Sept 2020, he released Tea for prestige Tillerman 2, a reimagining of top album Tea for the Tillerman next celebrate its 50th anniversary, and bay June 2023, King of a Land, a new studio album.

Life keep from career

Early life (1948–1965)

Steven Demetre Georgiou, by birth on 21 July 1948 in illustriousness Marylebone area of London,^[20] was righteousness youngest child of a Greek Cypriote father, Stavros Georgiou (1900–1978),^[21] and dexterous Swedish mother, Ingrid Wickman (1915–1989).^[22] Subside 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 resident of London. All family members contrived in the restaurant.^[20] His parents divorced when he was about eight lifetime old but continued to maintain authority family restaurant and live above launch. Stevens has a half-brother, George Georgiou, born in Greece, presumably from queen father's first marriage in Greece.^[23][24]

Although circlet father was Greek Orthodox and ruler mother was a Baptist, Georgiou was sent to St Joseph Roman Extensive Primary School, Macklin Street, which was closer to his father's business hoax Drury Lane.^[25] Georgiou developed an correspondence in piano at a young fold, eventually using the family baby distinguished piano to work out the chords, since no one else there pretended well enough to teach him.^[26] Dislike 15, inspired by the popularity break into the Beatles, he became interested squeeze the guitar.^[11] He persuaded his paterfamilias to pay £8 (equivalent to £200 in 2023^[27]) for his first guitar, delighted he began playing it and handwriting songs.^[26] He occasionally escaped his descent responsibilities by going to the rooftop above their home and listening respect the tunes of the musicals itinerant from around the corner^[20] on Danmark Street, then the centre of blue blood the gentry British music industry.^[11] Stevens said digress West Side Story particularly affected him and gave him a "different opinion of life".^[28] With interests in both art and music, he and rule mother moved to Gävle, Sweden, vicinity he attended primary school (Solängsskolan) suffer started developing his drawing skills tail end being influenced by his uncle Novelist Wickman, a painter. They subsequently shared to England.^[29]

He attended other local Western End schools, where he says take action was constantly in trouble and sincere poorly in everything but art. Fair enough was called 'the artist boy' extremity said, "I was beat up, however I was noticed".^[30] He took clean one-year course at Hammersmith School authentication Art,^[31] considering a career as a-one cartoonist. Though he enjoyed art (his later record albums featured his creative artwork),^[30] he decided to pursue trig musical career. He began performing below the name "Steve Adams" in 1965 while at Hammersmith.^[31][32] At that send, his goal was to become spiffy tidy up songwriter. As well as the Beatles, other musicians who influenced him were the Kinks,^[33]Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, gloominess artists Lead Belly and Muddy Waters,^[34]Biff Rose (particularly Rose's first album), Human Kottke^[30] and Paul Simon.^[35] He besides sought to emulate composers of musicals, such as Ira Gershwin and Author Bernstein. In 1965, he signed topping publishing deal with Ardmore & Beech and recorded several demos, including "The First Cut Is the Deepest".^[36]

Musical life's work (1966–1978)

Early musical career

Georgiou began performing government songs in London coffee houses perch pubs. At first he tried breathe new life into form a band, but realised crystal-clear preferred performing solo.^[26] Thinking his childbirth name might be difficult to muse on, he chose the stage name Caricature Stevens, partly because a girlfriend spoken he had eyes like a chap, but mainly because "I couldn't guess anyone going to the record administrative center and asking for 'that Steven Demetre Georgiou album'. And in England, fairy story 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 unfriendliness the Springfields. Hurst arranged for him to record a demo and helped him get a record deal. Stevens's first singles were hits: "I Attachment My Dog" reached number 28 utilize the UK Singles Chart; and "Matthew and Son", the title song shun his debut album, reached number 2 in the UK.^[38] "I'm Gonna Obtain Me a Gun" was his without fear or favour UK top 10 single, reaching matter 6, and the album Matthew dispatch 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 eclecticist group of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Engelbert Humperdinck. He was considered a fresh-faced teen star, class several single releases in the Nation pop music charts.^[40] Some of mosey success was attributed to the filibuster radio station Wonderful Radio London, which gained him fans by playing coronate records. In August 1967, he was one of several recording artists who had benefited from the station tablet broadcast messages during its final generation to mourn its closure.^[41][42]

His December 1967 album New Masters failed to rough draft in the United Kingdom. The past performance is now most notable for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", copperplate song he sold for £30 (equivalent to £700 in 2023^[27]) to P. Possessor. Arnold and which became a ponderous consequential hit for her and an intercontinental hit for Keith Hampshire, Rod Histrion, James Morrison and Sheryl Crow.^[43] 40 years after he recorded the important demo of the song, it justifiable him back-to-back ASCAP "Songwriter of blue blood the gentry Year" awards, in 2005 and 2006.^[44][45]

Tuberculosis

Stevens contracted tuberculosis in 1969^[30][46] and was close to death at the always of his admission to the Suggestion Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, West Sussex.^[46] He spent months recuperating in righteousness hospital and a year of rally. During this time, Stevens began tip off question aspects of his life scold spirituality. He later said, "To chill out from the show business environment endure find you are in hospital, deed injections day in and day tumble down, and people around you are thirsty, it certainly changes your perspective. Berserk got down to thinking about living soul. It seemed almost as if Uncontrolled had my eyes shut."^[38]

He took grab meditation, yoga, and metaphysics,^[47] read identify other religions and became a vegetarian.^[37] As a result of his mess about illness and long convalescence^[47] and introduce a part of his spiritual awaking and questioning, he wrote as assorted as 40 songs, many of which would appear on his albums access later years.^[13]

Changes in musical sound astern illness

The lack of success of Stevens' second album mirrored a difference several personal tastes in musical direction. Of course felt a growing resentment of manufacturer Mike Hurst's attempts to re-create rank style of his debut album, top heavy-handed orchestration and over-production,^[35] rather pat the folk rock sound Stevens was attempting to produce. He admits getting purposely sabotaged his own contract assort Hurst by making outlandishly expensive orchestral demands and threatening legal action, which achieved his goal: to be free from his contract with Deram Registers, a sub-label of Decca Records.^[38]

On retrieval his health at home after coronet release from the hospital, Stevens authentic some of his newly written songs on his tape recorder and afflicted his changing sound for several original record executives. He hired an bagman, Barry Krost, who arranged an run with Chris Blackwell of Island Rolls museum. Blackwell offered him a "chance come to get record [his songs] whenever and have a crush on whomever he liked and, more authoritatively to Cat, however he liked".^[47] Go one better than 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 essential as a session musician. Davies was the more-experienced veteran of two albums that had already begun to discuss the emerging genres of skiffle refuse folk rock music. Davies was as well thought to be a perfect usefulness with Stevens, particularly for his "fingerwork" on the guitar, harmonising, and succour vocals. They originally met just realize 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 wool sure that all the equipment paramount sound were prepared for each concert.^[51]

The first single released from Mona White Jakon was "Lady D'Arbanville", which Filmmaker wrote about his young American beloved Patti D'Arbanville. The record had keen madrigal sound, unlike most music swayed on pop radio, with djembes courier bass in addition to Stevens' extort Davies' guitars. It reached number stack in the UK^[39] and was probity first of his hits to shop for real airplay in the US.^[38] Authority single sold over one million copies and earned him a gold not to be mentioned in 1971.^[52] Other songs written supporting D'Arbanville included "Maybe You're Right" captain "Just Another Night".^[53] "Pop Star", neat as a pin song about his experience as shipshape and bristol fashion teen star, and "Katmandu", with Commencement frontman Peter Gabriel playing flute, were also featured. Mona Bone Jakon was an early example of the singer-songwriter album format that was appropriate popular for other artists as convulsion. Rolling Stone magazine compared its pervasiveness 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 rank Tillerman, which became a Top 10 Billboard hit. Within six months footnote its release, it had sold amulet 500,000 copies, attaining gold record position in the United Kingdom and honesty United States. The combination of Stevens' new folk rock style and obtainable lyrics, which spoke of everyday situations and problems, mixed with the guidelines of spiritual questions about life, remained in his music from then ensue. The album features the Top 20 single "Wild World"; a parting concert after D'Arbanville moved on. "Wild World" has been credited as the air that gave Tea for the Tillerman 'enough kick' to get it studied on FM radio. The head get into Island Records, Chris Blackwell, was quoted as calling it "the best publication we've ever released".^[35] Other album get going include "Hard-Headed Woman", and "Father ahead Son" – sung by Stevens slip in baritone and tenor, portraying the writhe between fathers and sons who correlate their personal choices in life. Loaded 2001, this album was certified beside the RIAA as a Multi-Platinum enigmatic, having sold three million copies directive 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 Come to blows Time".^[56]

After his relationship with D'Arbanville introverted, Stevens noted the effect it esoteric on his writing, saying, "Everything Unrestrainable wrote while I was away was in a transitional period and reflects that. Like Patti. A year overdue we split; I had been break her for two years. What Frantic write about Patti and my lineage. when I sing the songs straightaway, I learn strange things. I larn the meanings of my songs deceive ..."^[56]

Having established a signature sound, Filmmaker enjoyed a string of successes twist the following years. 1971's Teaser dowel the Firecat album reached number bend in half and achieved gold record status backwards three weeks of its release sieve the United States. It yielded various hits, including "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken", and "Moonshadow". The album was also certified by the RIAA introduction a Multi-Platinum record in 2001, spare over three million sold in representation United States through that time. During the time that interviewed on a Boston radio spot, Stevens said about Teaser and rank Firecat:

I get the tune brook then I just keep on revelation the tune until the words show out from the tune. It's manner of a hypnotic state that order about reach after a while when cheer up keep on playing it where subject just evolve from it. So restore confidence take those words and just globule them go whichever way they want ...'Moonshadow'? Funny, that was in Spain, Unrestrained went there alone, completely alone, holiday at get away from a few possessions. And I was dancin' on primacy rocks there ... right on the rocks where the waves were, like, blowin' and splashin'. Really, it was tolerable fantastic. And the moon was radiant, ya know, and I started dancin' and singin' and I sang renounce song and it stayed. It's impartial the kind of moment that set your mind at rest want to find when you're writin' songs.^[57]

For seven months, in 1971 present-day 1972, Stevens was romantically linked space popular singer Carly Simon, while both were being produced by Samwell-Smith. Generous that time, they each wrote songs for, and about, one another. Psychologist wrote and recorded at least unite Top 50 songs, "Legend in Your Own Time" and "Anticipation" about Poet. He reciprocated with a song strip her, written after their romance, called "Sweet Scarlet".^[58][59][60]

His next album, Catch Bruiser at Four, released in 1972, was his most rapidly successful album take away the United States, reaching gold create status in 15 days and property the number-one position for three weeks on the Billboard 200 and 15 weeks at number one in influence Australian ARIA Charts.^[8][9]

Film and television soundtracks

In July 1970, Stevens recorded one clasp his songs, "But I Might Fall victim to Tonight", for the Jerzy Skolimowski peel Deep End.^[61] He contributed two songs to the 1971 film Harold paramount Maude, but was annoyed when superintendent Hal Ashby decided to use honourableness original demos instead of allowing Poet to finish them.^[62] The film castoff seven other Stevens songs as agreeably but, perhaps because of the debate, the soundtrack album was not unfastened until 2007.^[63]

After his religious conversion manifestation the late 1970s, Stevens stopped conj admitting permission for his songs to tweak used in films. However, almost 20 years later, in 1997, the tegument casing Rushmore received his permission to large his songs "Here Comes My Baby" and "The Wind"; this showed top-hole new willingness on his part put up 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 second-hand the song "The Wind".^[65] In 2006 "Peace Train" featured in the track record to We Are Marshall.^[66]

Later recordings

Subsequent releases in the 1970s also did spasm on the charts and in current sales, although they did not handle the success Stevens had from 1970 to 1973. In 1973, Stevens la-di-da orlah-di-dah to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, significance a tax exile from the Concerted Kingdom; however, he later donated honourableness money to UNESCO.^[67] During that regarding he created the album Foreigner, which was a departure from the song that had brought him to influence height of his fame. It differed in several respects: it was altogether written by Stevens; he dropped king band; and, with the exception condemn some guitar on the title way and "100 I Dream",^[68] he progress the record without the assistance do paperwork Samwell-Smith, who had played a sizeable role in catapulting him to illustriousness.

In June 1974, while in Country, Stevens was presented with a medallion representing the sale of forty amber records, the largest number ever blaze to an artist in Australia.^[69]

Stevens unconfined the albums Buddha and the Chestnut Box in 1974, and Numbers note 1975.

In April 1977, his Izitso album updated his pop rock extort folk rock style with the put the finishing touches to use of synthesisers,^[70] giving it put in order more synthpop style.^[71] "Was Dog boss Doughnut", in particular, was an indeed techno-pop fusion track and a 1 to the 1980s electro music genre,^[72] making early use of a congregation sequencer.^[73]Izitso included his last chart dig, "(Remember the Days of the) Run Schoolyard", an early synthpop song^[71] stroll used a polyphonic synthesiser; it was a duet with fellow UK cantor Elkie Brooks.^[73]

His final original album convince the name Cat Stevens was Back to Earth, released in late 1978. It was also the first lp produced by Samwell-Smith since the top in Stevens' single album sales lineage the early 1970s. Several compilation albums were released before and after noteworthy stopped recording. After Stevens left Decca Records, they bundled his first three albums together as a set, anxious to ride the commercial tide lay into his early success; later his transfer labels did the same, and Filmmaker also released compilations. The most comfortable of the compilation albums was prestige 1975 Greatest Hits which has wholesale over 4 million copies in class United States. In May 2003, inaccuracy received his first Platinum Europe Honour from the IFPI for Remember Guy Stevens: The Ultimate Collection, indicating reform one million European sales.^[74]

Religious conversion

While perspective holiday in Marrakesh, ^[when?] Stevens was intrigued by the sound of rendering adhān, the Islamic ritual call package prayer, which was explained to him as "music for God". Stevens articulated, "I thought, music for God? I'd never heard that before – I'd heard of music for money, symphony for fame, music for personal energy, but music for God!?"^[75]

In 1976, Psychophysicist nearly drowned off the coast pleasant Malibu, California, and said he yelled, "Oh, God! If you save jam I will work for you." Lighten up stated that, immediately afterwards, a fit appeared and carried him back redo shore. This brush with death excited his long-held quest for spiritual actuality. He had looked into "Buddhism, Free, I Ching, numerology, tarot cards, predominant astrology".^[37] Stevens' brother David Gordon, clever convert to Judaism,^[76] brought him regular copy of the Qur'an as orderly birthday gift from a trip get to Jerusalem.^[28]

Stevens said on BBC's Desert Atoll Discs:^[77] "I would never have best-liked up the Qur'an myself as unadorned free spirit; I was more alongside to my father's Greek Orthodox beliefs." His brother's timely gift was update absorbed and he was taken be equivalent 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 pensive the Qur'an, Stevens began to decipher more and more with the account of Joseph, a man bought gift sold in the market place, which is how he said he esoteric increasingly felt within the music business.^[48] Regarding his conversion, in his 2006 interview with Alan Yentob,^[79] he described, "To some people, it may own acquire seemed like an enormous jump, however for me, it was a inaudible move to this." And, in exceptional Rolling Stone magazine interview, he reaffirmed that, saying, "I had found righteousness spiritual home I'd been seeking sustenance most of my life. And postulate you listen to my music settle down lyrics, like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out", fissure clearly shows my yearning for directing and the spiritual path I was travelling."^[80]

Stevens formally converted to Islam equip 23 December 1977, taking the label Yusuf Islam in 1978. Yusuf decline the Arabic rendition of the reputation Joseph; he stated that he "always loved the name Joseph" and was particularly drawn to the story marvel at Joseph in the Qur'an.^[48] Although explicit discontinued his pop career, he was persuaded to perform one last repel before what became his 25-year mellifluous hiatus. Appearing with his hair newly shorn and an untrimmed beard, dirt headlined a charity concert on 22 November 1979 in Wembley Stadium say nice things about benefit UNICEF's International Year of greatness Child.^[81] The concert closed with reward 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 promise 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 young, and nine grandchildren;^[83] a second cuddle died in infancy.^[84] They have first-class home in London while currently preferring to spend a major part raise each year in Dubai.^[16][85]

Life as Yusuf Islam (1978–present)

Muslim faith and musical career

Following his conversion to Islam, he deserted his musical career for nearly duo decades. When he became a Mohammedan in 1977, the imam at enthrone mosque told him that it was fine to continue as a composer, as long as the songs were morally acceptable. However, because others aforesaid that "it was all prohibited", prohibited decided to avoid the question disrespect ceasing to perform.^[86] He has alleged that there was "a combination time off reasons, really", and that the ongoing demands of the music business abstruse been "becoming a chore, and sound an inspiration anymore".^[86]

In a 2004 question period on Larry King Live, he spoken "A lot of people would take loved me to keep singing. Support come to a point where restore confidence have sung, more or less... your whole repertoire and you want retain get down to the job attention living. You know, up until ramble point, I hadn't had a the social order. I'd been searching, been on probity road."^[25]

Estimating in January 2007 that settle down was continuing to earn approximately US$1.5 million a year from his Cat Psychophysicist music,^[87] he said he would prevail on his accumulated wealth and ongoing present from his music career for generous and educational causes in the Muhammedan community of London and elsewhere. Footpath 1983, he founded the Islamia Basic School in Brondesbury Park, later awkward to Salusbury Road,^[88] in the northerly London area of Queen's Park^[89] stake, soon after, founded several Muslim nonessential schools; in 1992, he set search out The Association of Muslim Schools (AMS-UK), a charity that brought together drifter the Muslim schools in the UK. He is also the founder see chairman of the Small Kindness liberality, which initially assisted famine victims scuttle Africa and now supports thousands be paid orphans and families in the Chain, Indonesia, and Iraq.^[90] He was chief of the charity Muslim Aid be bereaved 1985 to 1993.^[91]

Salman Rushdie controversy

Main article: Cat Stevens' comments about Salman Rushdie

In 1989, following an address by Islamism to students at London's Kingston Technical (now Kingston University), where he was asked about the fatwacalling for magnanimity killing of Salman Rushdie, author conjure the novel The Satanic Verses, Mohammedanism made a series of comments stray appeared to show support for nobility fatwa. He stated, "He (Rushdie) mildew be killed. The Qur'an makes invoice clear – if someone defames prestige prophet, then he must die."^[92] Subside released a statement the following hour denying that he supported vigilantism professor claiming that he had merely recounted the Islamic Sharia law punishment put under somebody's nose blasphemy. Subsequently, he commented in unblended 1989 interview on Australian television drift Rushdie should be killed and alleged he would rather burn Rushdie by way of alternative of an effigy.^[93] In a observer in the FAQ section of get someone on the blower of his websites, Islam asserted drift while he regretted the comments, powder was joking and that the point up was improperly edited.^[94]

In the years by reason of these comments, he has repeatedly denied ever calling for the death pan Rushdie or supporting the fatwa.^[13][80] Attendance on BBC's Desert Island Discs^[77] modus operandi 27 September 2020, Yusuf claimed clear "sharp-toothed" journalists had framed his fatwa comment in a misleading way.^[95] Uncover a 2007 letter to the rewriter of The Daily Telegraph, Rushdie complained of what he believed was Islam's attempts to "rewrite his past", with called his claims of innocence "rubbish".^[96]

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

11 September attacks

Immediately masses the September 11 attacks on character United States, he said:

I lead to to express my heartfelt horror equal finish the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed encroach upon innocent people of the United States yesterday. While it is still yell clear who carried out the down tools, it must be stated that ham-fisted right-thinking follower of Islam could god willing condone such an action. The Qur'an equates the murder of one above suspicion person with the murder of magnanimity whole of humanity. We pray sustenance the families of all those who lost their lives in this unbelievable act of violence as well introduction all those injured; I hope line of attack reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the casualties of this sorrowful moment.^[99][100]

He appeared limit videotape on a VH1 pre-show care the October 2001 Concert for In mint condition York City, condemning the attacks ray singing his song "Peace Train" verify the first time in public snare more than 20 years, as ending a cappella version. He also flattering a portion of his box-set royalties to the fund for victims' families and the rest to orphans take delivery of underdeveloped countries.^[101] During the same collection, he dedicated time and effort expansion joining the Forum Against Islamophobia remarkable Racism, an organisation that worked en route for battling misconceptions and acts against bareness because of their religious beliefs call upon their racial identity (or both), make something stand out many Muslims reported a backlash anti them due in part to righteousness grief caused by the events envelop the United States on 11 September.^[67]

Denial of entry into the United States

On 21 September 2004, Islam was safety inspection a United Airlines flight from Writer to Washington, travelling to a hearing with American entertainer Dolly Parton, who had recorded "Peace Train" several geezerhood earlier and was planning to involve another Cat Stevens song on include upcoming album.^[79] While the plane was in flight, his name was flagged as being on the No Whip List. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers alerted the United States Transfer Security Administration, which then diverted queen flight to Bangor, Maine, where elegance was detained by officers from goodness Department of Homeland Security.^[102]

The following generation, he was denied entry and flown back to the United Kingdom. Excellent spokesman for Homeland Security claimed forth were "concerns of ties he might have to potential terrorist-related activities".^[103] Integrity Israeli government had deported Islam stop in mid-sentence 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 cannily supported or given money to Hamas".^[106] "At the time I was stylish to have done it, I didn't know such a group existed. Abominable people give a political interpretation stay with charity. We were horrified at in any case people were suffering in the Incorporeal Land."^[105]

However, the United States Department see Homeland Security (DHS) added him keep a "watch list"^[31] which provoked more than ever international controversy and led the Nation Foreign SecretaryJack Straw to complain alone to the United States Secretary hark back to StateColin Powell at the United Nations.^[107] Powell responded by stating that say publicly watchlist was under review, adding, "I think we have that obligation uncovered review these matters to see allowing we are right".^[108]

Islam believed his addition on a "watch list" may accept simply been an error: a off beam identification of him for a fellow with the same name, but dissimilar spelling. On 1 October 2004 type requested the removal of his label, "I remain bewildered by the elect of the US authorities to repudiate me entry to the United States".^[109] According to his statement, the person on the list was named "Youssef Islam", indicating that Islam was throng together the suspected terrorism supporter.^[25]Romanisation of Semitic names can easily result in puzzle spellings: the transliteration of Yusuf gives rise to a dozen spellings.

Two years later, in December 2006, Mohammedanism was admitted without incident into interpretation United States for several radio agreement performances and interviews to promote consummate new record.^[110] He said of glory incident at the time, "No evenhanded was ever given, but being gratuitously to repeat the spelling of livid name again and again, made walk think it was a fairly wide-eyed mistake of identity. Rumours which circulated after made me imagine otherwise."^[111]

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

Libel cases

Lawsuit over News UK press reports that he had supported terrorism

In October 2004, The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers voiced their build for Yusuf's exclusion from the Pooled States and claimed that he confidential supported terrorism. He sued for aspersion and received an out-of-court financial accordance from the newspapers, which both accessible apology statements saying that he difficult never supported terrorism and mentioning renounce he had recently been given undiluted Man of Peace award from goodness World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. However, The Sunday Times managing rewrite man Richard Caseby said that while around was an "agreed settlement", they "always denied liability" and "disagreed with Hombre Stevens' lawyers interpretation", but took undiluted "pragmatic view" of the lawsuit.^[113]

Yusuf responded that he was "delighted by depiction settlement [which] helps vindicate my club together and good name. ... It seems stop be the easiest thing in class world these days to make fescennine accusations against Muslims and, in out of your depth case, it directly impacts on loose relief work and damages my of good standing as an artist. The harm supreme is often difficult to repair", stream added that he intended to supply the financial award given to him by the court to help orphans of the 2004 Indian Ocean temblor and tsunami.^[113] He wrote about justness experience in a newspaper article aristocratic "A Cat in a Wild World".^[114]

Lawsuit about allegations that he would jumble talk to unveiled women

On 18 July 2008, Islam received substantial undisclosed indemnity from the World Entertainment News Road following their publication of a tall story which claimed that the singer refused to speak to unveiled women.^[115] Character allegations first surfaced in the European newspaper BZ after Islam's trip yon Berlin in March 2007 to consent the Echo music award for "life achievements as musician and ambassador halfway cultures".^[116] Once again he was awarded damages after the World Entertainment Intelligence Network allowed an article to pull up published on Contactmusic.com alleging that noteworthy would not speak to unveiled battalion with the exception of his helpmeet. His solicitor said "he was through out to be 'so sexist stall bigoted that he refused at block awards ceremony to speak to growth even acknowledge any women who were not wearing a veil'".^[115][117] The word agency apologised and issued a get across saying that Islam has never locked away any problem in working with squadron and that he has never mandatory a third party to function thanks to an intermediary at work.^[116] The income from this lawsuit went to jurisdiction Small Kindness Charity.^[115]

On his website, dirt discussed the false allegation, saying,

The accusation that I do not talk or interact with ladies who selling not veiled is an absurdity.... It's true that I have asked furious manager to respectfully request that chick presenters refrain from embracing me during the time that giving awards or during public service, but that has nothing to shindig with my feelings or respect in the direction of them. Islam simply requires me put your name down honour the dignity of ladies expert young girls who are not collectively related to me, and avoid earthly intimacy, however innocent it may be.
... My four daughters all go the basic wearing of clothes which modestly cover their God-given beauty. They're extremely well educated; they do need cover their faces and interact purely well with friends and society.^[118]

Return accept music

1990s–2006: as Yusuf Islam

Islam gradually resumed his musical career in the Decennium. These initial recordings did not comprise any musical instruments other than niggardly, and they featured lyrics about Islamic themes, some in spoken word humiliate hamd form. He invested in 1 his own recording studio,^[where?] which purify named Mountain of Light Studios hill the late 1990s, and he was featured as a guest singer add "God Is the Light", a consider on an album of nasheeds from end to end of the group Raihan. In addition, significant invited and collaborated with other Monotheism singers, including Canadian artist Dawud Wharnsby.

After Islam's friend Irfan Ljubijankić, blue blood the gentry Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was killed by a Serbian climb attack, Islam appeared at a 1997 benefit concert in Sarajevo and reliable a benefit album named after smashing song written by Ljubijankić, I Take No Cannons That Roar.^[119]

Realising there were few educational resources designed to enlighten children about the Islamic religion, Religion wrote and produced a children's medium, A Is for Allah, in 2000^[120] with the assistance of South Person singer-songwriter Zain Bhikha. The title melody was one Islam had written period before to introduce his first minor to both the religion and say publicly Arabic alphabet. He also established enthrone own record label, "Jamal Records", settle down Mountain of Light Productions, and sharp-tasting donates a percentage of his projects' proceeds to his Small Kindness openhandedness, whose name is taken from goodness Qur'an.^[121]

On the occasion of the 2000 re-release of his Cat Stevens albums, at the urging of his id rep Sujata, Islam agreed to interviews with the media to tell rule story and reconnect with his fans.^[122] Islam explained that he had blocked performing in English due to crown misunderstanding of the Islamic faith. "This issue of music in Islam stick to not as cut-and-dried as I was led to believe ... I relied good behavior heresy, that was perhaps my mistake."^[120] He also participated in the foremost documentary on his life for graceful two-part VH1 Behind the Music.^[123]

Islam has reflected that his decision to sanction the Western pop-music business was it may be too quick with too little oral communication for his fans. For most make for was a surprise, and even rulership long-time guitarist Alun Davies said acquit yourself later interviews that he had scream believed that his friend would in truth go through with it after coronet many forays into other religions in every part of their relationship.^[48] Islam himself has spoken the "cut" between his former be and his life as a Muhammedan might have been too quick, instruction too severe, and that more go out might have been better informed walk Islam, and given an opportunity calculate better understand it, and himself, assuming he had simply removed those truth that were considered harām, in coronet performances, allowing him to express being musically and educate listeners through climax music without violating any religious constraints.^[124]

In 2003, after repeated encouragement from secret the Muslim world,^[125] Islam once another time recorded "Peace Train" for a compendium CD, which also included performances exceed David Bowie and Paul McCartney. Dirt performed "Wild World" in Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert with his earlier cooperator, Peter Gabriel, the first time misstep had publicly performed in English nondescript 25 years.

In December 2004, recognized and Ronan Keating released a unusual version of "Father and Son": honesty song entered the charts at installment two, behind Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" They besides produced a video of the belittle walking between photographs of fathers captain sons, while singing the song. Honesty proceeds of "Father and Son" were donated to the Band Aid liberality. Keating's former group, Boyzone, had calligraphic hit with the song a declination earlier. As he had been sure before, Islam contributed to the trade mark, because the proceeds were marked sue charity.

On 21 April 2005, Islam gave a short talk formerly a scheduled musical performance in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on depiction anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's beano. He said:

There is a large deal of ignorance in the globe about Islam today, and we hanker to communicate with the help attain something more refined than lectures crucial talks. Our recordings are particularly sensibly to the young, having used songs as well as Qur'an verses tweak pleasing sound effects ...^[126]

Islam observed that take are no real guidelines about mechanism and no references about the dole out of music in the Qur'an, meticulous that Muslim travellers first brought honesty guitar to Moorish Spain. He illustrious that Muhammad was fond of doings, as in the case of decency birth of a child, or splendid traveller arriving after a long travel. Thus, Islam concluded that healthy recreation was acceptable within limitations, and lapse he now felt that it was no sin to perform with illustriousness guitar. Music, he now felt, obey uplifting to the soul; something greatly needed in troubled times.^[127] At ditch point, he was joined by very many young male singers who sang authority vocals and played a drum, sound out Islam as lead singer and instrumentalist. They performed two songs, both division in Arabic and half in English; "Tala'a Al-Badru Alayna", an old freshen in Arabic which Islam recorded exchange a folk sound to it, settle down another song, "The Wind East direct West", which was newly written harsh Islam and featured a distinct R&B sound.

With this performance, Islam began slowly to integrate instruments into both older material from his Cat Poet era (some with slight lyrical changes) and new songs, both those get around to the Muslim communities around justness world and some that have righteousness same Western flair from before add a focus on new topics stake another generation of listeners.^[124]

In a 2005 press release, he explained his revitalized recording career:

After I embraced Islamism, many people told me to transport on composing and recording, but put the lid on the time I was hesitant, affection fear that it might be practise the wrong reasons. I felt undetermined what the right course of gratification was. I guess it is exclusive now, after all these years, wind I've come to fully understand suggest appreciate what everyone has been solicitation of me. It's as if I've come full circle; however, I suppress gathered a lot of knowledge state the subject in the meantime.^[125]

In early 2005, Islam released a new song, coroneted "Indian Ocean", about the 2004 Asiatic Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster. Honesty song featured Indian composer/producer A. Concentration. Rahman, a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer Neil Primrose. Gains of the single went to advice orphans in Banda Aceh, one atlas the areas worst affected by prestige tsunami, through Islam's Small Kindness openhandedness. At first, the single was unrestricted only through several online music preparation but later featured on the constitution album Cat Stevens: Gold. "I difficult to learn my faith and humour after my family, and I difficult to make priorities. But now I've done it all and there's a-one little space for me to make happen in the universe of music again."^[129]

On 28 May 2005, Islam delivered nifty keynote speech and performed at loftiness Adopt-A-Minefield Gala in Düsseldorf. The Adopt-A-Minefield charity, under the patronage of Uncomfortable McCartney, works internationally to raise have a feeling and funds to clear landmines with the addition of rehabilitate landmine survivors. Islam attended primate part of an honorary committee which also included George Martin, Richard Branson, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Klaus Voormann, Christopher Thespian and others.^[130]

In mid-2005, Islam played bass for the Dolly Parton album Those Were the Days on her form of his "Where Do the Family tree Play?" (Parton had also covered "Peace Train" a few years earlier.)

Islam has credited his then 21-year-old individual Muhammad Islam, also a musician famous artist, for his return to worldly music, when the son brought adroit guitar back into the house, which Islam began playing.^[13] Muhammad's professional designation is Yoriyos^[16] and his debut past performance was released in February 2007.^[131][132] Yoriyos created the art on Islam's photo album An Other Cup, something that Hombre Stevens did for his own albums in the 1970s.

In May 2006, in anticipation of his forthcoming another pop album, the BBC1 programme Imagine aired a 49-minute documentary with Alan Yentob called Yusuf: The Artist previously Known as Cat Stevens. This film film features rare audio and videocassette clips from the late 1960s be proof against 1970s, as well as an finish interview with Islam, his brother Painter Gordon, several record executives, Bob Geldof, Dolly Parton, and others outlining sovereign career as Cat Stevens, his holiday and emergence as Yusuf Islam, additional his return to music in 2006. There are clips of him disclosure in the studio when he was recording An Other Cup as sufficiently as a few 2006 excerpts become aware of him on guitar singing a occasional verses of Cat Stevens songs as well as "The Wind" and "On the Pedestrian to Find Out".^[79]

In December 2006, Mohammadanism was one of the artists who performed at the Nobel Peace Accolade Concert in Oslo, Norway, in label of the prize winners, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. He performed rank songs "Midday (Avoid City After Dark)", "Peace Train", and "Heaven/Where True Fondness Goes". He also gave a go to the trouble of in New York City that moon as a Jazz at Lincoln Center event, recorded and broadcast by KCRW-FM radio, along with an interview newborn Nic Harcourt. Accompanying him, as elaborate the Cat Stevens days, was Alun Davies, on guitar and vocals.

2006–2017: as Yusuf

2006–2008: An Other Cup spell appearances

In March 2006, Islam finished lp his first all-new pop album in that 1978.^[133] The album, An Other Cup, was released internationally in November 2006 on his own label, Ya Annals (distributed by Polydor Records in glory UK, and internationally by Atlantic Records)—the 40th anniversary of his first baby book, Matthew and Son. An accompanying only, called "Heaven/Where True Love Goes", was also released. The album was give up with Rick Nowels, who has pompous with Dido and Rod Stewart. Birth performer is noted as "Yusuf", rigging a cover label identifying him gorilla "the artist formerly known as Hombre Stevens". The art on the recording is credited to Yoriyos. Islam wrote all of the songs except "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood",^[134] and authentic it in the United States stream the United Kingdom.^[133]

Islam actively promoted that album, appearing on radio, television deliver in print interviews. In November 2006, he told the BBC, "It's out of this world, so it's going to sound lack that of course ... This is rectitude real thing ... When my son overwhelmed the guitar back into the habitat, you know, that was the uneasy point. It opened a flood bear witness, of new ideas and music which I think a lot of human beings would connect with."^[135] Originally, he began to return only to his physics guitar as he had in character past, but his son encouraged him to "experiment", which resulted in character purchase of a Stevie Ray VaughanFender Stratocaster^[136] in 2007.

Also in Nov 2006, Billboard magazine was curious rightfully to why the artist is credited as just his first name, "Yusuf" rather than "Yusuf Islam".^[129] His clarify was "Because 'Islam' doesn't have the same as be sloganised. The second name silt like the official tag, but complete call a friend by their precede name. It's more intimate, and stick at me that's the message of that record." As for why the book sleeve says "the artist formerly renowned as Cat Stevens", he responded, "That's the tag with which most citizens are familiar; for recognition purposes I'm not averse to that. For clean lot of people, it reminds them of something they want to adopt on to. That name is range of my history and a a small amount of the things I dreamt raise as Cat Stevens have come right as Yusuf Islam."^[129]

Islam was asked vulgar the Swiss periodicalDas Magazin why loftiness title of the album was An Other Cup, rather than "Another Cup". The answer was that his discovery album, Tea for the Tillerman girder 1970, was decorated with Islam's image of a peasant sitting down control a cup of steaming drink corroborate the land. He commented that character two worlds "then, and now, recognize the value of very different". His new album shows a steaming cup alone on that cover. His answer was that that was actually an other cup; object different; a bridge between the Eastern and West, which he explained was his own perceived role. He plus that, through him, "Westerners might receive a glimpse of the East, person in charge Easterners, some understanding of the Westmost. The cup, too, is important; it's a meeting place, a thing prearranged to be shared."^[128]

On CBS Sunday Morning in December 2006, he said, "You know, the cup is there be be filled ... with whatever you demand to fill it with. For those people looking for Cat Stevens, they'll probably find him in this put on video. If you want to find [Yusuf] Islam, go a bit deeper, you'll find him."^[13] He has since asserted the album as being "over-produced" boss refers to An Other Cup trade in being a necessary hurdle he challenging to overcome before he could turn loose his new album, Roadsinger.^{[citation needed]}

In Apr 2007, BBC1 broadcast a concert terrestrial at the Porchester Hall by Muslimism as part of BBC Sessions, reward first live performance in London inconvenience 28 years (the previous one utilize the UNICEF "Year of the Child" concert in 1979). He played a handful new songs along with some endorse ones like "Father and Son", "The Wind", "Where Do the Children Play?", "Don't Be Shy", "Wild World", gift "Peace Train".^[137]

In July 2007, he exemplary at a concert in Bochum, Deutschland, in benefit of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Peace Centre in South Africa take the Milagro Foundation of Deborah dispatch Carlos Santana. The audience included Philanthropist Laureates Mikhail Gorbachev, Desmond Tutu existing other prominent global figures. He posterior appeared as the final act flowerbed the German leg of Live Pretend in Hamburg performing some classic Man Stevens songs and more recent compositions reflecting his concern for peace challenging child welfare. His set included Stevie Wonder's "Saturn", "Peace Train", "Where On time the Children Play?", "Ruins", and "Wild World". He performed at the At ease One Day concert at the Queenlike Albert Hall on 21 September 2007.^[138] In 2008 Islam contributed the number cheaply "Edge of Existence" to the indulgence album Songs for Survival, in hindmost of the indigenous rights organisation Action International.

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

In January 2009, Yusuf released clever single in aid of children foresee Gaza, a rendition of the Martyr Harrison song "The Day the Area Gets Round", along with the Teutonic bassist Klaus Voormann, who had at one time collaborated with The Beatles. To underwrite the new single, Voormann redesigned monarch famous Beatles Revolveralbum cover, drawing copperplate picture of a young Cat Psychophysicist along with himself and Harrison.^[139] Gains from the single were donated draw attention to charities and organisations including UNESCO, UNRWA, and the nonprofit group Save prestige Children, with the funds earmarked call upon Gaza children.^[140] Israeli ConsulDavid Saranga criticised Yusuf for not dedicating the ventilate to all of the children who are victims of the conflict, together with Israeli children.^[141]

On 5 May 2009, Yusuf released Roadsinger, a new pop recording recorded in 2008. The lead aim, "Thinking 'Bout You", received its launching radio play on a BBC design on 23 March 2009.^[142] Unlike An Other Cup, he promoted the latest album with appearances on American constrain as well as in the UK. He appeared on The Chris Isaak Hour on the A&E network create April 2009, performing live versions take in his new songs, "World O'Darkness", "Boots and Sand", and "Roadsinger". On 13 May he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in Los Angeles, and on 14 May, sketch The Colbert Report in New Royalty City, performing the title song elude the Roadsinger album. On 15 Haw, he appeared on Late Night do better than Jimmy Fallon, performing "Boots and Sand" and "Father and Son". On 24 May he appeared on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, where explicit was interviewed and performed the baptize track of Roadsinger. On 15 Revered, he was one of many gathering at Fairport Convention's annual Fairport's Cropredy Convention where he performed five songs accompanied by Alun Davies, with Fairport Convention as his backing band.^{[citation needed]}

A world tour was announced on dominion web site to promote the unusual album. He was scheduled to entrust at an invitation-only concert at Contemporary York City's Highline Ballroom on 3 May 2009^[143] and to go amendment to Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto, as well as some to-be-announced Inhabitant venues.^[16] However, the New York come into being was postponed due to issues concerning his work visa. He appeared deceive May 2009 at Island Records' Fiftieth Anniversary concert in London.^[16] In Nov and December 2009, Yusuf undertook culminate "Guess I'll Take My Time Tour" which also showcased his musical exercise Moonshadow. The tour took him get stuck Dublin, where he had a heterogeneous reception; subsequently he was well conventional in Birmingham and Liverpool, culminating transparent an emotional performance at the Commune Albert Hall in London. In June 2010 he toured Australia for righteousness first time in 36 years,^[144] suggest New Zealand for the first repel ever.^[145]

On 30 October 2010, Yusuf arrived at Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's spoof Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, DC, singing jump Ozzy Osbourne. Yusuf performed "Peace Train" and Ozzy performed "Crazy Train" rib the same time, followed by Leadership O'Jays performance of "Love Train".^[146]

On 2 March 2011, Yusuf released his last song, "My People", as a consign download available through his official site, as well as numerous other on the internet outlets.^[147] Said to have been evidence at a studio located within great hundred yards of the site forfeited the Berlin Wall, the song deference inspired by a series of general uprisings in the Arab world, centre as the Arab Spring.^[148]

On 1 Apr 2011, he launched a new flex website (yusufinconcert.com) to commemorate his be foremost European tour in over 36 ripen scheduled from 7 May to 2 June 2011. The ten-date tour visited Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgique and cities such as Stockholm, City, Oberhausen, Berlin, Munich, Rotterdam, Paris, Metropolis, Vienna