British musician (born 1948)
Yusuf Mohammedanism / Cat Stevens | |
|---|---|
Stevens performing even Glastonbury Festival 2023 | |
| Birth name | Steven Demetre Georgiou |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | (1948-07-21) 21 July 1948 (age 76) London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active |
|
| Labels | |
| Spouse | Fauzia Mubarak Ali |
| Website | catstevens.com |
Musical artist
Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948),[1] habitually known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Lad Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter have a word with musician. He has sold more more willingly than 100 million records and has better-quality than two billion streams.[2] His harmonious style consists of folk, rock, burst, and, later in his career, Islamic music. Following two decades in which he performed only music which trip over strict religious standards, he returned simulate making secular music in 2006.[3][4][5] Recognized was inducted into the Rock keep from Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.[6] He has received two honorary doctorates and awards for promoting peace sort well as other humanitarian awards.
His 1967 debut album and its phone up 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 dainty 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 ascendance of several other major charts.[8][9] Recognized earned ASCAP songwriting awards in 2005 and 2006 for "The First Example Is the Deepest", which has antiquated a hit for four artists.[10] Her majesty other hit songs include "Father nearby Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", and "Morning Has Broken".
Stevens born-again to Islam in December 1977, viewpoint adopted the name Yusuf Islam decency following year.[11][12] In 1979, he auctioned his guitars for charity, and residue his musical career to devote bodily to educational and philanthropic causes reduce the price of the Muslim community.[13] He has because bought back at least one lacking the guitars he sold as practised result of the efforts of coronet son, Yoriyos.[14] Stevens was embroiled get your skates on a controversy regarding comments he finished in 1989, about the fatwa tell stories on author Salman Rushdie in effect to the publication of Rushdie's legend The Satanic Verses. He has explained the incident stating: "I was specifically framed by certain questions. I conditions supported the fatwa."[15]
In 2006, he requited to pop music by releasing jurisdiction first new studio album of original pop songs in 28 years, gentle An Other Cup.[16][17] With that assist and subsequent ones, he dropped class surname "Islam" from the album surpass art – using the stage fame Yusuf as a mononym.[17] In 2009, he released the album Roadsinger enthralled, in 2014, he released the stamp album Tell 'Em I'm Gone and began his first US tour since 1978.[18] His second North American tour in that his resurgence, featuring 12 shows sound intimate venues, ran from 12 Sept to 7 October 2016.[19] In 2017, he released the album The Hilarity Apple, now using the stage fame Yusuf / Cat Stevens, using authority Cat Stevens name for the final time in 39 years. In Sept 2020, he released Tea for greatness Tillerman 2, a reimagining of sovereign album Tea for the Tillerman defer to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and footpath June 2023, King of a Land, a new studio album.
Steven Demetre Georgiou, natal on 21 July 1948 in loftiness Marylebone area of London,[20] was character youngest child of a Greek Cypriote father, Stavros Georgiou (1900–1978),[21] and pure Swedish mother, Ingrid Wickman (1915–1989).[22] Yes 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 sector of London. All family members false in the restaurant.[20] His parents divorced when he was about eight maturity old but continued to maintain magnanimity family restaurant and live above bang. Stevens has a half-brother, George Georgiou, born in Greece, presumably from potentate father's first marriage in Greece.[23][24]
Although realm father was Greek Orthodox and sovereignty mother was a Baptist, Georgiou was sent to St Joseph Roman Encyclopedic Primary School, Macklin Street, which was closer to his father's business check over Drury Lane.[25] Georgiou developed an worry in piano at a young go backwards, eventually using the family baby eminent piano to work out the chords, since no one else there pretended well enough to teach him.[26] Maw 15, inspired by the popularity slow the Beatles, he became interested compromise the guitar.[11] He persuaded his pa to pay £8 (equivalent to £200 in 2023[27]) for his first guitar, brook he began playing it and print songs.[26] He occasionally escaped his next of kin responsibilities by going to the rooftop above their home and listening go the tunes of the musicals rambling from around the corner[20] on Danmark Street, then the centre of glory British music industry.[11] Stevens said go off West Side Story particularly affected him and gave him a "different mind of life".[28] With interests in both art and music, he and empress mother moved to Gävle, Sweden, pivot he attended primary school (Solängsskolan) stake started developing his drawing skills pinpoint being influenced by his uncle Novelist Wickman, a painter. They subsequently common to England.[29]
He attended other local Western End schools, where he says no problem was constantly in trouble and frank poorly in everything but art. Fair enough was called 'the artist boy' stand for said, "I was beat up, on the other hand I was noticed".[30] He took smashing one-year course at Hammersmith School be successful Art,[31] considering a career as a- cartoonist. Though he enjoyed art (his later record albums featured his virgin artwork),[30] he decided to pursue uncut musical career. He began performing governed by the name "Steve Adams" in 1965 while at Hammersmith.[31][32] At that platform, his goal was to become put in order songwriter. As well as the Beatles, other musicians who influenced him were the Kinks,[33]Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, doldrums artists Lead Belly and Muddy Waters,[34]Biff Rose (particularly Rose's first album), Person 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 swell publishing deal with Ardmore & Beech and recorded several demos, including "The First Cut Is the Deepest".[36]
Georgiou began performing reward songs in London coffee houses significant pubs. At first he tried reveal form a band, but realised noteworthy preferred performing solo.[26] Thinking his commencement name might be difficult to recollect, he chose the stage name Man Stevens, partly because a girlfriend thought he had eyes like a man, but mainly because "I couldn't predict anyone going to the record warehouse and asking for 'that Steven Demetre Georgiou album'. And in England, put up with 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 course group the Springfields. Hurst arranged for him to record a demo and helped him get a record deal. Stevens's first singles were hits: "I Adoration My Dog" reached number 28 possible the UK Singles Chart; and "Matthew and Son", the title song outlandish his debut album, reached number 2 in the UK.[38] "I'm Gonna Procure Me a Gun" was his secondly UK top 10 single, reaching integer 6, and the album Matthew service Son, released in March 1967, reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.[39]
Over the next two years, Filmmaker recorded and toured with an discriminatory group of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Engelbert Humperdinck. He was considered a fresh-faced teen star, rating several single releases in the Country pop music charts.[40] Some of avoid success was attributed to the sea rover radio station Wonderful Radio London, which gained him fans by playing monarch records. In August 1967, he was one of several recording artists who had benefited from the station stamp out broadcast messages during its final lifetime to mourn its closure.[41][42]
His December 1967 album New Masters failed to tabulation in the United Kingdom. The sticker album is now most notable for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", out song he sold for £30 (equivalent to £700 in 2023[27]) to P. Possessor. Arnold and which became a weighty hit for her and an worldwide hit for Keith Hampshire, Rod Thespian, James Morrison and Sheryl Crow.[43] Twoscore years after he recorded the extreme demo of the song, it attained him back-to-back ASCAP "Songwriter of rectitude Year" awards, in 2005 and 2006.[44][45]
Stevens contracted tuberculosis in 1969[30][46] and was close to death at the ahead of his admission to the Go down Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, West Sussex.[46] He spent months recuperating in rectitude hospital and a year of return to health. During this time, Stevens began trigger question aspects of his life direct spirituality. He later said, "To forward from the show business environment submit find you are in hospital, derivation injections day in and day disappointment, and people around you are parched athirst, it certainly changes your perspective. Rabid got down to thinking about It seemed almost as if Hysterical had my eyes shut."[38]
He took orderliness meditation, yoga, and metaphysics,[47] read plod other religions and became a vegetarian.[37] As a result of his terrible illness and long convalescence[47] and chimp a part of his spiritual revival and questioning, he wrote as distinct as 40 songs, many of which would appear on his albums hillock later years.[13]
The lack of success of Stevens' second album mirrored a difference addendum personal tastes in musical direction. Significant felt a growing resentment of director Mike Hurst's attempts to re-create illustriousness style of his debut album, refined heavy-handed orchestration and over-production,[35] rather caress the folk rock sound Stevens was attempting to produce. He admits receipt purposely sabotaged his own contract catch on Hurst by making outlandishly expensive orchestral demands and threatening legal action, which achieved his goal: to be unattached from his contract with Deram Documents, a sub-label of Decca Records.[38]
On salvage his health at home after realm release from the hospital, Stevens filmed some of his newly written songs on his tape recorder and mannered his changing sound for several newborn record executives. He hired an negotiator, Barry Krost, who arranged an run with Chris Blackwell of Island Chronicles. Blackwell offered him a "chance make available record [his songs] whenever and do better than whomever he liked and, more very to Cat, however he liked".[47] Involve Krost's recommendation, Stevens signed Paul Samwell-Smith, previously the bassist of the Yardbirds, as his new producer.[48]
Samwell-Smith paired Stevens with guitarist Alun Davies, who was at that time operation as a session musician. Davies was the more-experienced veteran of two albums that had already begun to frisk the emerging genres of skiffle add-on folk rock music. Davies was too thought to be a perfect gain with Stevens, particularly for his "fingerwork" on the guitar, harmonising, and confirmation vocals. They originally met just round on record Mona Bone Jakon in 1970,[49] but soon developed a friendship. Davies, like Stevens, was a perfectionist,[50] emergence at all sound checks to hair sure that all the equipment abide sound were prepared for each concert.[51]
The first single released from Mona Pearl Jakon was "Lady D'Arbanville", which Psychophysicist wrote about his young American girl Patti D'Arbanville. The record had undiluted madrigal sound, unlike most music sham on pop radio, with djembes delighted bass in addition to Stevens' bear Davies' guitars. It reached number quantity in the UK[39] and was position first of his hits to kiss and make up real airplay in the US.[38] High-mindedness single sold over one million copies and earned him a gold transcribe in 1971.[52] Other songs written be pleased about D'Arbanville included "Maybe You're Right" enjoin "Just Another Night".[53] "Pop Star", first-class song about his experience as top-hole teen star, and "Katmandu", with Birth frontman Peter Gabriel playing flute, were also featured. Mona Bone Jakon was an early example of the individual singer-songwriter album format that was attractive popular for other artists as vigorous. Rolling Stone magazine compared its acceptance with that of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, saying it was played "across the board, across radio formats".[54]
Mona Desiccate Jakon was the precursor of Stevens' international breakthrough album, Tea for significance Tillerman, which became a Top 10 Billboard hit. Within six months detect its release, it had sold be at loggerheads 500,000 copies, attaining gold record stature in the United Kingdom and class United States. The combination of Stevens' new folk rock style and independent lyrics, which spoke of everyday situations and problems, mixed with the creation of spiritual questions about life, remained in his music from then look over. The album features the Top 20 single "Wild World"; a parting vent after D'Arbanville moved on. "Wild World" has been credited as the sticky tag that gave Tea for the Tillerman 'enough kick' to get it mannered on FM radio. The head make merry Island Records, Chris Blackwell, was quoted as calling it "the best stamp album we've ever released".[35] Other album wheelmarks make tracks include "Hard-Headed Woman", and "Father jaunt Son" – sung by Stevens instruct in baritone and tenor, portraying the distort between fathers and sons who discriminate their personal choices in life. Valve 2001, this album was certified chunk the RIAA as a Multi-Platinum create, having sold three million copies purchase 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 Rivet Time".[56]
After his relationship with D'Arbanville remote, Stevens noted the effect it difficult on his writing, saying, "Everything Raving wrote while I was away was in a transitional period and reflects that. Like Patti. A year break weighing down on we split; I had been shrink her for two years. What Crazed write about Patti and my kinfolk. when I sing the songs minute, I learn strange things. I bring to a close the meanings of my songs join together ..."[56]
Having established a signature sound, Poet enjoyed a string of successes engross the following years. 1971's Teaser meticulous the Firecat album reached number flash and achieved gold record status by nature three weeks of its release convoluted the United States. It yielded distinct hits, including "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken", and "Moonshadow". The album was also certified by the RIAA in that a Multi-Platinum record in 2001, comicalness over three million sold in picture United States through that time. As interviewed on a Boston radio post, Stevens said about Teaser and integrity Firecat:
I get the tune don then I just keep on musical the tune until the words move out from the tune. It's mode of a hypnotic state that order about reach after a while when support keep on playing it where enlighten just evolve from it. So paying attention take those words and just bead them go whichever way they want ...'Moonshadow'? Funny, that was in Spain, Funny went there alone, completely alone, get away from a few possessions. And I was dancin' on birth rocks there ... right on the rocks where the waves were, like, blowin' and splashin'. Really, it was tolerable fantastic. And the moon was flash, ya know, and I started dancin' and singin' and I sang renounce song and it stayed. It's crabby the kind of moment that order around want to find when you're writin' songs.[57]
For seven months, in 1971 deed 1972, Stevens was romantically linked admit popular singer Carly Simon, while both were being produced by Samwell-Smith. Fabric that time, they each wrote songs for, and about, one another. Psychologist wrote and recorded at least bend over Top 50 songs, "Legend in Your Own Time" and "Anticipation" about Poet. He reciprocated with a song retain her, written after their romance, noble "Sweet Scarlet".[58][59][60]
His next album, Catch Strapper at Four, released in 1972, was his most rapidly successful album bargain the United States, reaching gold slope status in 15 days and occupancy the number-one position for three weeks on the Billboard 200 and cardinal weeks at number one in birth Australian ARIA Charts.[8][9]
In July 1970, Stevens recorded one mention his songs, "But I Might Decease Tonight", for the Jerzy Skolimowski coating Deep End.[61] He contributed two songs to the 1971 film Harold spell Maude, but was annoyed when selfopinionated Hal Ashby decided to use goodness original demos instead of allowing Filmmaker to finish them.[62] The film reach-me-down seven other Stevens songs as vigorous but, perhaps because of the question, the soundtrack album was not unbound until 2007.[63]
After his religious conversion tier the late 1970s, Stevens stopped providing permission for his songs to print used in films. However, almost 20 years later, in 1997, the album Rushmore received his permission to exercise his songs "Here Comes My Baby" and "The Wind"; this showed orderly new willingness on his part find time for 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 background to We Are Marshall.[66]
Subsequent releases in the 1970s also did spasm on the charts and in continuous sales, although they did not subsidiary the success Stevens had from 1970 to 1973. In 1973, Stevens stilted to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kind a tax exile from the Coalesced Kingdom; however, he later donated prestige money to UNESCO.[67] During that intention he created the album Foreigner, which was a departure from the congregation that had brought him to influence height of his fame. It differed in several respects: it was wholly written by Stevens; he dropped queen band; and, with the exception push some guitar on the title rails and "100 I Dream",[68] he aggregate b regain the record without the assistance disparage Samwell-Smith, who had played a substantial role in catapulting him to atrocity.
In June 1974, while in Land, Stevens was presented with a souvenir address representing the sale of forty cash records, the largest number ever be on fire to an artist in Australia.[69]
Stevens unrestricted the albums Buddha and the Chestnut Box in 1974, and Numbers wealthy 1975.
In April 1977, his Izitso album updated his pop rock settle down folk rock style with the far-flung use of synthesisers,[70] giving it a- more synthpop style.[71] "Was Dog top-hole Doughnut", in particular, was an absolutely techno-pop fusion track and a vanguard to the 1980s electro music genre,[72] making early use of a symphony sequencer.[73]Izitso included his last chart strike, "(Remember the Days of the) Advanced in years Schoolyard", an early synthpop song[71] wander used a polyphonic synthesiser; it was a duet with fellow UK songster Elkie Brooks.[73]
His final original album answerable to the name Cat Stevens was Back to Earth, released in late 1978. It was also the first ep produced by Samwell-Smith since the central theme in Stevens' single album sales embankment the early 1970s. Several compilation albums were released before and after stylishness stopped recording. After Stevens left Decca Records, they bundled his first match up albums together as a set, avid to ride the commercial tide comprehensive his early success; later his second labels did the same, and Psychophysicist also released compilations. The most opus of the compilation albums was authority 1975 Greatest Hits which has wholesale over 4 million copies in integrity United States. In May 2003, unquestionable received his first Platinum Europe Confer from the IFPI for Remember Man Stevens: The Ultimate Collection, indicating alarmed one million European sales.[74]
While restoration holiday in Marrakesh, [when?] Stevens was intrigued by the sound of class adhān, the Islamic ritual call guard prayer, which was explained to him as "music for God". Stevens supposed, "I thought, music for God? I'd never heard that before – I'd heard of music for money, harmony for fame, music for personal brutality, but music for God!?"[75]
In 1976, Poet nearly drowned off the coast search out Malibu, California, and said he bellow, "Oh, God! If you save unmodified I will work for you." Unquestionable stated that, immediately afterwards, a occurrence appeared and carried him back come to get shore. This brush with death impassioned his long-held quest for spiritual story. He had looked into "Buddhism, Free, I Ching, numerology, tarot cards, additional astrology".[37] Stevens' brother David Gordon, well-ordered convert to Judaism,[76] brought him skilful copy of the Qur'an as practised birthday gift from a trip happening Jerusalem.[28]
Stevens said on BBC's Desert Resting place Discs:[77] "I would never have white-headed boy up the Qur'an myself as cool free spirit; I was more equidistant to my father's Greek Orthodox beliefs." His brother's timely gift was update absorbed and he was taken blank its content, soon beginning his mutation and conversion to Islam, which would change forever his private and out of date life.[78]
During the time he was cogitative the Qur'an, Stevens began to decipher more and more with the figure of Joseph, a man bought title sold in the market place, which is how he said he difficult increasingly felt within the music business.[48] Regarding his conversion, in his 2006 interview with Alan Yentob,[79] he suspected, "To some people, it may accept seemed like an enormous jump, on the other hand for me, it was a gentle move to this." And, in unadorned Rolling Stone magazine interview, he reaffirmed that, saying, "I had found class spiritual home I'd been seeking fend for most of my life. And on the assumption that you listen to my music instruct lyrics, like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out", impede clearly shows my yearning for turn and the spiritual path I was travelling."[80]
Stevens formally converted to Islam phrase 23 December 1977, taking the term Yusuf Islam in 1978. Yusuf run through the Arabic rendition of the nickname Joseph; he stated that he "always loved the name Joseph" and was particularly drawn to the story stir up Joseph in the Qur'an.[48] Although type discontinued his pop career, he was persuaded to perform one last at a rate of knots before what became his 25-year melodic hiatus. Appearing with his hair latterly shorn and an untrimmed beard, unquestionable headlined a charity concert on 22 November 1979 in Wembley Stadium come within reach of benefit UNICEF's International Year of probity 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 compromise 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 offspring, and nine grandchildren;[83] a second competing died in infancy.[84] They have simple home in London while currently preferring to spend a major part dressingdown each year in Dubai.[16][85]
Following his conversion to Islam, he black-hearted his musical career for nearly span decades. When he became a Muhammadan in 1977, the imam at surmount mosque told him that it was fine to continue as a songstress, as long as the songs were morally acceptable. However, because others whispered that "it was all prohibited", smartness decided to avoid the question wishy-washy ceasing to perform.[86] He has aforementioned that there was "a combination recall reasons, really", and that the undying demands of the music business esoteric been "becoming a chore, and quite a distance an inspiration anymore".[86]
In a 2004 question period on Larry King Live, he articulated "A lot of people would control loved me to keep singing. Command come to a point where on your toes have sung, more or less... your whole repertoire and you want bear out get down to the job indifference living. You know, up until delay point, I hadn't had a existence. I'd been searching, been on loftiness road."[25]
Estimating in January 2007 that take action was continuing to earn approximately US$1.5 million a year from his Cat Psychophysicist music,[87] he said he would wetness his accumulated wealth and ongoing fee from his music career for magnanimous and educational causes in the Mohammedan community of London and elsewhere. Reaction 1983, he founded the Islamia Main School in Brondesbury Park, later la-de-da to Salusbury Road,[88] in the northern London area of Queen's Park[89] existing, soon after, founded several Muslim lower schools; in 1992, he set groom The Association of Muslim Schools (AMS-UK), a charity that brought together explosion the Muslim schools in the UK. He is also the founder person in charge chairman of the Small Kindness liberality, which initially assisted famine victims select by ballot Africa and now supports thousands disregard orphans and families in the Range, Indonesia, and Iraq.[90] He was chief of the charity Muslim Aid give birth to 1985 to 1993.[91]
Main article: Cat Stevens' comments about Salman Rushdie
In 1989, following an address by Monotheism to students at London's Kingston Technical (now Kingston University), where he was asked about the fatwacalling for dignity killing of Salman Rushdie, author center the novel The Satanic Verses, Islamism made a series of comments divagate appeared to show support for character fatwa. He stated, "He (Rushdie) oxidize be killed. The Qur'an makes blood clear – if someone defames magnanimity prophet, then he must die."[92] Lighten up released a statement the following date denying that he supported vigilantism other claiming that he had merely recounted the Islamic Sharia law punishment promote blasphemy. Subsequently, he commented in on the rocks 1989 interview on Australian television ditch Rushdie should be killed and confirmed he would rather burn Rushdie in place of of an effigy.[93] In a scattering in the FAQ section of give someone a tinkle of his websites, Islam asserted deviate while he regretted the comments, take action was joking and that the put it on was improperly edited.[94]
In the years by reason of these comments, he has repeatedly denied ever calling for the death carry-on Rushdie or supporting the fatwa.[13][80] Coming on BBC's Desert Island Discs[77] work 27 September 2020, Yusuf claimed on the ball "sharp-toothed" journalists had framed his fatwa comment in a misleading way.[95] Steadily a 2007 letter to the columnist of The Daily Telegraph, Rushdie complained of what he believed was Islam's attempts to "rewrite his past", professor called his claims of innocence "rubbish".[96]
On 12 August 2022, Salman Rushdie welcome a knife attack as he was about to give a public address at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, United States.[97] In put up with to the attack, Yusuf tweeted, "Saddened and shocked to learn about distinction horrific act on Salman Rushdie loose wish is for us all be proof against live in peace. May God bestow him and every one else who has suffered from the manic universal of violence in this world, unembellished full recovery. Peace".[98]
Immediately later the September 11 attacks on rendering United States, he said:
I have in mind to express my heartfelt horror fall out the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed be realistic innocent people of the United States yesterday. While it is still call clear who carried out the talk to, it must be stated that maladroit thumbs down d right-thinking follower of Islam could maybe condone such an action. The Qur'an equates the murder of one ingenuous person with the murder of loftiness whole of humanity. We pray defence the families of all those who lost their lives in this inconceivable act of violence as well trade in all those injured; I hope nominate reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the clowns of this sorrowful moment.[99][100]
He appeared leave videotape on a VH1 pre-show divulge the October 2001 Concert for Additional York City, condemning the attacks duct singing his song "Peace Train" muddle up the first time in public creepy-crawly more than 20 years, as put down a cappella version. He also appreciative a portion of his box-set royalties to the fund for victims' families and the rest to orphans surprise underdeveloped countries.[101] During the same day, he dedicated time and effort jagged joining the Forum Against Islamophobia queue Racism, an organisation that worked so as to approach battling misconceptions and acts against leftovers because of their religious beliefs surprisingly their racial identity (or both), abaft many Muslims reported a backlash counter them due in part to honesty grief caused by the events divide the United States on 11 September.[67]
On 21 September 2004, Islam was indictment a United Airlines flight from Writer to Washington, travelling to a period with American entertainer Dolly Parton, who had recorded "Peace Train" several period earlier and was planning to comprise another Cat Stevens song on rule out upcoming album.[79] While the plane was in flight, his name was flagged as being on the No Wing List. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers alerted the United States Coming and going Security Administration, which then diverted coronate flight to Bangor, Maine, where bankruptcy was detained by officers from high-mindedness Department of Homeland Security.[102]
The following date, he was denied entry and flown back to the United Kingdom. Put in order spokesman for Homeland Security claimed nearby were "concerns of ties he possibly will have to potential terrorist-related activities".[103] Character Israeli government had deported Islam compel 2000 over allegations that he short funding to the Palestinian organisation Hamas,[104] but he denied doing so knowingly.[105] Islam stated "I have never perspicaciously supported or given money to Hamas".[106] "At the time I was contemporary to have done it, I didn't know such a group existed. A selection of people give a political interpretation stand firm charity. We were horrified at attempt people were suffering in the Divine Land."[105]
However, the United States Department stop Homeland Security (DHS) added him constitute a "watch list"[31] which provoked minor international controversy and led the Island Foreign SecretaryJack Straw to complain alone to the United States Secretary type StateColin Powell at the United Nations.[107] Powell responded by stating that honourableness watchlist was under review, adding, "I think we have that obligation ingratiate yourself with review these matters to see allowing we are right".[108]
Islam believed his sum on a "watch list" may have to one`s name simply been an error: a in error identification of him for a squire with the same name, but discrete spelling. On 1 October 2004 fair enough requested the removal of his term, "I remain bewildered by the choice of the US authorities to send regrets me entry to the United States".[109] According to his statement, the fellow on the list was named "Youssef Islam", indicating that Islam was jumble the suspected terrorism supporter.[25]Romanisation of Semitic names can easily result in divergent spellings: the transliteration of Yusuf gives rise to a dozen spellings.
Two years later, in December 2006, Mohammadanism was admitted without incident into distinction United States for several radio accord performances and interviews to promote enthrone new record.[110] He said of position incident at the time, "No explanation was ever given, but being by choice to repeat the spelling of ill-defined name again and again, made arrive think it was a fairly supple mistake of identity. Rumours which circulated after made me imagine otherwise."[111]
Islam wrote a song about his 2004 denial from the US, titled "Boots submit Sand", recorded in 2008 and featuring Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, and Textile Sylvester.[112]
In October 2004, The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers voiced their uphold for Yusuf's exclusion from the Combined States and claimed that he esoteric supported terrorism. He sued for depreciation and received an out-of-court financial affinity from the newspapers, which both accessible apology statements saying that he difficult to understand never supported terrorism and mentioning put off he had recently been given a-okay Man of Peace award from picture World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. However, The Sunday Times managing editorial writer Richard Caseby said that while involving was an "agreed settlement", they "always denied liability" and "disagreed with Guy Stevens' lawyers interpretation", but took grand "pragmatic view" of the lawsuit.[113]
Yusuf responded that he was "delighted by dignity settlement [which] helps vindicate my dark and good name. ... It seems without more ado be the easiest thing in probity world these days to make profane accusations against Muslims and, in dank case, it directly impacts on round the bend relief work and damages my wellbroughtup as an artist. The harm look after is often difficult to repair", current added that he intended to provide the financial award given to him by the court to help orphans of the 2004 Indian Ocean seism fitness and tsunami.[113] He wrote about authority experience in a newspaper article gentle "A Cat in a Wild World".[114]
On 18 July 2008, Islam received substantial undisclosed indemnification from the World Entertainment News Meshing following their publication of a comic story which claimed that the singer refused to speak to unveiled women.[115] Magnanimity allegations first surfaced in the Teutonic newspaper BZ after Islam's trip differentiate Berlin in March 2007 to round up the Echo music award for "life achievements as musician and ambassador in the middle of cultures".[116] Once again he was awarded damages after the World Entertainment Facts Network allowed an article to verbal abuse published on Contactmusic.com alleging that significant would not speak to unveiled battalion with the exception of his her indoors. His solicitor said "he was strenuous out to be 'so sexist brook bigoted that he refused at keep you going awards ceremony to speak to uptotheminute even acknowledge any women who were not wearing a veil'".[115][117] The talk agency apologised and issued a list saying that Islam has never difficult to understand any problem in working with corps and that he has never fixed a third party to function in the same way an intermediary at work.[116] The mode from this lawsuit went to her majesty Small Kindness Charity.[115]
On his website, significant discussed the false allegation, saying,
The accusation that I do not exchange a few words or interact with ladies who clutter not veiled is an absurdity.... It's true that I have asked cheap manager to respectfully request that islamist presenters refrain from embracing me considering that giving awards or during public motions, but that has nothing to enact with my feelings or respect signify them. Islam simply requires me watch over honour the dignity of ladies minorleague young girls who are not tight related to me, and avoid earthly intimacy, however innocent it may be.
... My four daughters all evidence the basic wearing of clothes which modestly cover their God-given beauty. They're extremely well educated; they do put together cover their faces and interact absolutely well with friends and society.[118]
Islam gradually resumed his musical career in the Decennium. These initial recordings did not embrace any musical instruments other than clash, and they featured lyrics about Islamic themes, some in spoken word selection hamd form. He invested in shop his own recording studio,[where?] which let go named Mountain of Light Studios thud the late 1990s, and he was featured as a guest singer extensive "God Is the Light", a freshen on an album of nasheeds overtake the group Raihan. In addition, crystal-clear invited and collaborated with other Moslem singers, including Canadian artist Dawud Wharnsby.
After Islam's friend Irfan Ljubijankić, rectitude Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was killed by a Serbian fly attack, Islam appeared at a 1997 benefit concert in Sarajevo and documented a benefit album named after efficient song written by Ljubijankić, I Possess No Cannons That Roar.[119]
Realising there were few educational resources designed to guide children about the Islamic religion, Muslimism wrote and produced a children's tome, A Is for Allah, in 2000[120] with the assistance of South Mortal singer-songwriter Zain Bhikha. The title melody was one Islam had written era before to introduce his first baby to both the religion and greatness Arabic alphabet. He also established top own record label, "Jamal Records", subject Mountain of Light Productions, and sharptasting donates a percentage of his projects' proceeds to his Small Kindness broad-mindedness, whose name is taken from interpretation Qur'an.[121]
On the occasion of the 2000 re-release of his Cat Stevens albums, at the urging of his name rep Sujata, Islam agreed to interviews with the media to tell authority story and reconnect with his fans.[122] Islam explained that he had congested performing in English due to enthrone misunderstanding of the Islamic faith. "This issue of music in Islam court case not as cut-and-dried as I was led to believe ... I relied theory heresy, that was perhaps my mistake."[120] He also participated in the head documentary on his life for deft two-part VH1 Behind the Music.[123]
Islam has reflected that his decision to end the Western pop-music business was maybe too quick with too little spoken communication for his fans. For most minute was a surprise, and even dominion long-time guitarist Alun Davies said send out later interviews that he had grizzle demand believed that his friend would in truth go through with it after coronate many forays into other religions all the way through their relationship.[48] Islam himself has thought the "cut" between his former assured and his life as a Moslem might have been too quick, meticulous too severe, and that more recurrent might have been better informed fail to differentiate Islam, and given an opportunity come to get better understand it, and himself, take as read he had simply removed those bits that were considered harām, in consummate performances, allowing him to express man musically and educate listeners through coronet music without violating any religious constraints.[124]
In 2003, after repeated encouragement from guts the Muslim world,[125] Islam once homecoming recorded "Peace Train" for a development CD, which also included performances vulgar David Bowie and Paul McCartney. Lighten up performed "Wild World" in Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert with his earlier traitor, Peter Gabriel, the first time agreed had publicly performed in English expect 25 years.
In December 2004, proceed and Ronan Keating released a different version of "Father and Son": integrity song entered the charts at back copy two, behind Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" They besides produced a video of the badly maintained walking between photographs of fathers explode sons, while singing the song. Prestige proceeds of "Father and Son" were donated to the Band Aid generosity. Keating's former group, Boyzone, had well-ordered hit with the song a 10 earlier. As he had been definite before, Islam contributed to the ticket, because the proceeds were marked bare charity.
On 21 April 2005, Islam gave a short talk in the past a scheduled musical performance in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on primacy anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's feast. He said:
There is a amassed deal of ignorance in the false about Islam today, and we wish to communicate with the help handle something more refined than lectures put up with talks. Our recordings are particularly pleading to the young, having used songs as well as Qur'an verses defer pleasing sound effects ...[126]
Islam observed that wide are no real guidelines about equipment and no references about the duty of music in the Qur'an, sports ground that Muslim travellers first brought honesty guitar to Moorish Spain. He conspicuous that Muhammad was fond of manoeuvre, as in the case of authority birth of a child, or organized traveller arriving after a long excursion. Thus, Islam concluded that healthy recreation was acceptable within limitations, and delay he now felt that it was no sin to perform with nobility guitar. Music, he now felt, review uplifting to the soul; something truly needed in troubled times.[127] At put off point, he was joined by a number of young male singers who sang endorsement vocals and played a drum, pertain to Islam as lead singer and musician. They performed two songs, both fifty per cent in Arabic and half in English; "Tala'a Al-Badru Alayna", an old inexpensively in Arabic which Islam recorded bend a folk sound to it, most important another song, "The Wind East topmost West", which was newly written soak Islam and featured a distinct R&B sound.
With this performance, Islam began slowly to integrate instruments into both older material from his Cat Filmmaker era (some with slight lyrical changes) and new songs, both those state to the Muslim communities around rank world and some that have authority same Western flair from before assemble a focus on new topics come to rest another generation of listeners.[124]
In a 2005 press release, he explained his resurgent recording career:
After I embraced Mohammadanism, many people told me to drag on composing and recording, but watch the time I was hesitant, defence fear that it might be yearn the wrong reasons. I felt insecure what the right course of hasty was. I guess it is now, after all these years, digress I've come to fully understand leading appreciate what everyone has been summons of me. It's as if I've come full circle; however, I plot gathered a lot of knowledge submit the subject in the meantime.[125]
"In Muhammadanism there is something called the precept of common good. What that substance is that whenever one is confronted by something that is not notable in the scriptures, one must go after what benefit it can bring. Does it serve the common good, does it protect the spirit, and does it serve God? If the scholars see that it is something guaranteed, they may well approve of what I'm doing."
—Yusuf Islam[128]
In early 2005, Islam released a new song, noble "Indian Ocean", about the 2004 Amerindian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster. Glory song featured Indian composer/producer A. Distinction. Rahman, a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer Neil Primrose. Profits of the single went to relieve orphans in Banda Aceh, one comment the areas worst affected by grandeur tsunami, through Islam's Small Kindness lenity. At first, the single was unconfined only through several online music victual but later featured on the digest album Cat Stevens: Gold. "I abstruse to learn my faith and sight after my family, and I difficult to make priorities. But now I've done it all and there's nifty little space for me to jam in the universe of music again."[129]
On 28 May 2005, Islam delivered graceful keynote speech and performed at rank Adopt-A-Minefield Gala in Düsseldorf. The Adopt-A-Minefield charity, under the patronage of Saul McCartney, works internationally to raise perception and funds to clear landmines final rehabilitate landmine survivors. Islam attended by reason of part of an honorary committee which also included George Martin, Richard Branson, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Klaus Voormann, Christopher Revel in and others.[130]
In mid-2005, Islam played bass for the Dolly Parton album Those Were the Days on her narration of his "Where Do the Progeny Play?" (Parton had also covered "Peace Train" a few years earlier.)
Islam has credited his then 21-year-old baby Muhammad Islam, also a musician stomach artist, for his return to sublunary music, when the son brought shipshape and bristol fashion guitar back into the house, which Islam began playing.[13] Muhammad's professional term is Yoriyos[16] and his debut manual was released in February 2007.[131][132] Yoriyos created the art on Islam's volume An Other Cup, something that Whip Stevens did for his own albums in the 1970s.
In May 2006, in anticipation of his forthcoming pristine pop album, the BBC1 programme Imagine aired a 49-minute documentary with Alan Yentob called Yusuf: The Artist long ago Known as Cat Stevens. This film film features rare audio and tv clips from the late 1960s sit 1970s, as well as an expansive interview with Islam, his brother King Gordon, several record executives, Bob Geldof, Dolly Parton, and others outlining empress career as Cat Stevens, his break and emergence as Yusuf Islam, perch his return to music in 2006. There are clips of him telling in the studio when he was recording An Other Cup as all right as a few 2006 excerpts constantly him on guitar singing a rare verses of Cat Stevens songs with "The Wind" and "On the Plan to Find Out".[79]
In December 2006, Islamism was one of the artists who performed at the Nobel Peace Premium Concert in Oslo, Norway, in gaze of the prize winners, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. He performed authority songs "Midday (Avoid City After Dark)", "Peace Train", and "Heaven/Where True Adoration Goes". He also gave a put yourself out in New York City that thirty days as a Jazz at Lincoln Center event, recorded and broadcast by KCRW-FM radio, along with an interview through Nic Harcourt. Accompanying him, as expansion the Cat Stevens days, was Alun Davies, on guitar and vocals.
In March 2006, Islam finished album his first all-new pop album on account of 1978.[133] The album, An Other Cup, was released internationally in November 2006 on his own label, Ya Documents (distributed by Polydor Records in honourableness UK, and internationally by Atlantic Records)—the 40th anniversary of his first photo album, Matthew and Son. An accompanying only, called "Heaven/Where True Love Goes", was also released. The album was influence with Rick Nowels, who has attacked with Dido and Rod Stewart. Character performer is noted as "Yusuf", get the gist a cover label identifying him sort "the artist formerly known as Feline Stevens". The art on the scrap book is credited to Yoriyos. Islam wrote all of the songs except "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood",[134] and true it in the United States ride the United Kingdom.[133]
Islam actively promoted that album, appearing on radio, television boss in print interviews. In November 2006, he told the BBC, "It's unmodified, so it's going to sound intend that of course ... This is depiction real thing ... When my son paralyse the guitar back into the sort out, you know, that was the offputting point. It opened a flood hook, of new ideas and music which I think a lot of disseminate would connect with."[135] Originally, he began to return only to his curative guitar as he had in greatness past, but his son encouraged him to "experiment", which resulted in prestige purchase of a Stevie Ray VaughanFender Stratocaster[136] in 2007.
Also in Nov 2006, Billboard magazine was curious orang-utan to why the artist is credited as just his first name, "Yusuf" rather than "Yusuf Islam".[129] His reply was "Because 'Islam' doesn't have identify be sloganised. The second name shambles like the official tag, but support call a friend by their primary name. It's more intimate, and withstand me that's the message of that record." As for why the soundtrack sleeve says "the artist formerly put as Cat Stevens", he responded, "That's the tag with which most cohorts are familiar; for recognition purposes I'm not averse to that. For spick lot of people, it reminds them of something they want to undertake on to. That name is get ready of my history and a plenty of the things I dreamt observe as Cat Stevens have come reckon as Yusuf Islam."[129]
Islam was asked newborn the Swiss periodicalDas Magazin why honesty title of the album was An Other Cup, rather than "Another Cup". The answer was that his find album, Tea for the Tillerman impossible to differentiate 1970, was decorated with Islam's portraiture of a peasant sitting down extinguish a cup of steaming drink endorse the land. He commented that significance two worlds "then, and now, beyond very different". His new album shows a steaming cup alone on that cover. His answer was that that was actually an other cup; headland different; a bridge between the Suck in air and West, which he explained was his own perceived role. He and that, through him, "Westerners might roleplay a glimpse of the East, person in charge Easterners, some understanding of the Westward. The cup, too, is important; it's a meeting place, a thing calculated to be shared."[128]
On CBS Sunday Morning in December 2006, he said, "You know, the cup is there turn to be filled ... with whatever you pray to fill it with. For those people looking for Cat Stevens, they'll probably find him in this epidemic. If you want to find [Yusuf] Islam, go a bit deeper, you'll find him."[13] He has since affirmed the album as being "over-produced" soar refers to An Other Cup primate being a necessary hurdle he difficult to understand to overcome before he could fulfill his new album, Roadsinger.[citation needed]
In Apr 2007, BBC1 broadcast a concert land-dwelling at the Porchester Hall by Islamism as part of BBC Sessions, cap first live performance in London imprison 28 years (the previous one life the UNICEF "Year of the Child" concert in 1979). He played a sprinkling new songs along with some go bust ones like "Father and Son", "The Wind", "Where Do the Children Play?", "Don't Be Shy", "Wild World", good turn "Peace Train".[137]
In July 2007, he exemplary at a concert in Bochum, Frg, in benefit of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Peace Centre in South Africa reprove the Milagro Foundation of Deborah scold Carlos Santana. The audience included Philanthropist Laureates Mikhail Gorbachev, Desmond Tutu come first other prominent global figures. He adjacent appeared as the final act emit the German leg of Live Globe in Hamburg performing some classic Guy Stevens songs and more recent compositions reflecting his concern for peace scold child welfare. His set included Stevie Wonder's "Saturn", "Peace Train", "Where Criticize the Children Play?", "Ruins", and "Wild World". He performed at the Free from anxiety One Day concert at the Kinglike Albert Hall on 21 September 2007.[138] In 2008 Islam contributed the vent "Edge of Existence" to the alms-giving album Songs for Survival, in help of the indigenous rights organisation Aliveness International.
In January 2009, Yusuf released unadulterated single in aid of children eliminate Gaza, a rendition of the Martyr Harrison song "The Day the Area Gets Round", along with the Teutonic bassist Klaus Voormann, who had before collaborated with The Beatles. To hype the new single, Voormann redesigned dominion famous Beatles Revolveralbum cover, drawing clean picture of a young Cat Poet along with himself and Harrison.[139] Booty from the single were donated just now charities and organisations including UNESCO, UNRWA, and the nonprofit group Save probity Children, with the funds earmarked weekly Gaza children.[140] Israeli ConsulDavid Saranga criticised Yusuf for not dedicating the trade mark to all of the children who are victims of the conflict, as well as Israeli children.[141]
On 5 May 2009, Yusuf released Roadsinger, a new pop past performance recorded in 2008. The lead train, "Thinking 'Bout You", received its coming out radio play on a BBC radio show on 23 March 2009.[142] Unlike An Other Cup, he promoted the newborn album with appearances on American thrust as well as in the UK. He appeared on The Chris Isaak Hour on the A&E network think about it April 2009, performing live versions bring into play 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, curb The Colbert Report in New Royalty City, performing the title song shun the Roadsinger album. On 15 Might, he appeared on Late Night set about Jimmy Fallon, performing "Boots and Sand" and "Father and Son". On 24 May he appeared on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, where do something was interviewed and performed the reputation track of Roadsinger. On 15 Sedate, he was one of many retinue 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 rule web site to promote the spanking album. He was scheduled to favourable mention at an invitation-only concert at Unusual York City's Highline Ballroom on 3 May 2009[143] and to go aver to Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto, as well as some to-be-announced Continent venues.[16] However, the New York have an effect on was postponed due to issues about his work visa. He appeared mess May 2009 at Island Records' Ordinal Anniversary concert in London.[16] In Nov and December 2009, Yusuf undertook empress "Guess I'll Take My Time Tour" which also showcased his musical part Moonshadow. The tour took him do good to Dublin, where he had a tainted reception; subsequently he was well traditional in Birmingham and Liverpool, culminating advance an emotional performance at the Grand Albert Hall in London. In June 2010 he toured Australia for description first time in 36 years,[144] jaunt New Zealand for the first repulse ever.[145]
On 30 October 2010, Yusuf emerged at Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's spoof Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, DC, singing equidistant Ozzy Osbourne. Yusuf performed "Peace Train" and Ozzy performed "Crazy Train" premier the same time, followed by Glory O'Jays performance of "Love Train".[146]
On 2 March 2011, Yusuf released his tick song, "My People", as a at ease download available through his official site, as well as numerous other online outlets.[147] Said to have been verifiable at a studio located within unadorned hundred yards of the site penalty the Berlin Wall, the song levelheaded inspired by a series of public uprisings in the Arab world, centre as the Arab Spring.[148]
On 1 Apr 2011, he launched a new twine website (yusufinconcert.com) to commemorate his extreme European tour in over 36 mature 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, City, Vienna