"[105], However, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added him to a "watch list"[32] which provoked an international controversy and led the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to complain personally to the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell at the United Nations. Yusuf Islam Now: Cat Stevens on Islam and His Return to Music - Rolling On 16June 2023, Yusuf/Cat Stevens released King of a Land, a new studio album with children's music and religious music influences,[177]. [93] In a statement in the FAQ section of one of his websites, Islam asserted that while he regretted the comments, he was joking and that the show was improperly edited. His father was a Greek Cypriot and his mother was Swedish, and they divorced when he was 8 years old. Decca declined, insisting that Stevens had been positioned to appeal to a teen audience and should continue in this vein. Around this time, while swimming at a Malibu beach, Stevens nearly drowned. Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948 ), [1] commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Cat Stevens - Biography Trend On 12 June 2023 at Citadel Music Festival 2023. [113], Yusuf responded that he was "delighted by the settlement [which] helps vindicate my character and good name. In 2006, he released his album An Other Cup to positive critical reviews. Davies, like Stevens, was a perfectionist,[51] appearing at all sound checks to be sure that all the equipment and sound were prepared for each concert. When interviewed on a Boston radio station, Stevens said about Teaser and the Firecat: I get the tune and then I just keep on singing the tune until the words come out from the tune. A year ago we split; I had been with her for two years. He has since bought back at least one of these guitars as a result of the efforts of his son Yoriyos. Astrological Sign: Cancer, Article Title: Cat Stevens Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/cat-stevens, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: June 26, 2020, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. In September 2020, he released Tea for the Tillerman 2, a reimagining of his classic album Tea for the Tillerman to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and in June 2023, King of a Land, a new studio album with children's music and religious music influences. [26] Georgiou developed an interest in piano at a young age, eventually using the family baby grand piano to work out the chords, since no one else there played well enough to teach him. Mr Islam, a Muslim convert,. What that means is that whenever one is confronted by something that is not mentioned in the scriptures, one must observe what benefit it can bring. [156][157][158] A record of his travel from Dubai to New York is captured in an episode of the National Geographic Channel television show Ultimate Airport Dubai (season 2, episode 6), first aired in China on 17 January 2015. Subsequent releases in the 1970s also did well on the charts and in ongoing sales, although they did not touch the success Stevens had from 1970 to 1973. [27] He occasionally escaped his family responsibilities by going to the rooftop above their home and listening to the tunes of the musicals drifting from around the corner[21] on Denmark Street, then the centre of the British music industry. Cat Stevens was born in the Marylebone area of London. Cat Stevens - Songs, Albums & Career - Biography Islam believed his inclusion on a "watch list" may have simply been an error: a mistaken identification of him for a man with the same name, but different spelling. Soon after this brush with mortality, Stevens' brother gave him with a copy of the Koran as a birthday present. [18] In 2009, he released the album Roadsinger and, in 2014, he released the album Tell 'Em I'm Gone and began his first US tour since 1978. [122] Islam explained that he had stopped performing in English due to his misunderstanding of the Islamic faith. In 1983, he founded the Islamia Primary School in Brondesbury Park, later moved to Salusbury Road,[89] in the north London area of Queen's Park[2] and, soon after, founded several Muslim secondary schools; in 1992, he set up The Association of Muslim Schools (AMS-UK), a charity that brought together all the Muslim schools in the UK. They're extremely well educated; they do not cover their faces and interact perfectly well with friends and society. [29] With interests in both art and music, he and his mother moved to Gvle, Sweden, where he attended primary school (Solngsskolan) and started developing his drawing skills after being influenced by his uncle Hugo Wickman, a painter. Career Cat Stevens decided to pursue a career in music and started by plying his trade in the pubs and bars of London. On 1 October 2004 he requested the removal of his name, "I remain bewildered by the decision of the US authorities to refuse me entry to the United States". [169][170] The album earned him his first nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. I didn't. Cat Stevens Birthday, Real Name, Age, Weight, Height, Family, Facts ", "Yusuf Islam Plots Intimate North American Tour", "Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) and his anti-war and pro peace protest songs: from hippy peace to Islamic peace", "Interview With Yusuf Islam, Formerly Cat Stevens, Larry King Live", "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "VH1 Profiles Cat Stevens in "Behind the Music", "The Radio London story part six: Peel, Pepper and the final hour", "Profile: Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens: Not so much a zealot more a lost musician". He was called 'the artist boy' and said, "I was beat up, but I was noticed". Cat Stevens's real name is Steven Katz, and he cleverly switched it around to sound more like an entertainer and . Funny, that was in Spain, I went there alone, completely alone, to get away from a few things. Cat Stevens was born Stephen Demetre Georgiou on July 21, 1948, in London, England as the youngest of three children. 2 (2017), Almost Famous (2000) and Rushmore (1998). He also donated a portion of his box-set royalties to the fund for victims' families and the rest to orphans in underdeveloped countries. How old is Cat Stevens now? Cat Stevens Career Cat Stevens decided to pursue a music career and began performing in London's pubs and bars. The Qur'an makes it clear if someone defames the prophet, then he must die. He commented that the two worlds "then, and now, are very different". When he became a Muslim in 1977, the Imam at his mosque told him that it was fine to continue as a musician, as long as the songs were morally acceptable, but others were saying that "it was all prohibited", and he decided to avoid the question by ceasing to perform. Where does Cat Stevens live now? - IronSet The release experienced mild success. Stevens has a half-brother, George Georgiou, born in Greece, presumably from his father's first marriage in Greece. [87] He has said that there was "a combination of reasons, really", and that the continuing demands of the music business had been "becoming a chore, and not an inspiration anymore". [129] His response was "Because 'Islam' doesn't have to be sloganised. [20] In 2017, he released the album The Laughing Apple, now using the stage name Yusuf / Cat Stevens, using the Cat Stevens name for the first time in 39 years. [21] 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 district of London. . [168] The album is credited to "Yusuf / Cat Stevens" and is his first record under the Cat Stevens name since Back to Earth in 1978. Two years later, in December 2006, Islam was admitted without incident into the United States for several radio concert performances and interviews to promote his new record. "[92] He released a statement the following day denying that he supported vigilantism and claiming that he had merely recounted the Islamic Sharia law punishment for blasphemy. [86] Yusuf is one of a small number of guests that have chosen their own music as a desert island choice, however he picked the Stevie Wonder Motown hit 'As' for his favoured choice in front of his own recording, if only one could be saved. [45][46], Stevens contracted tuberculosis in 1969[31][47] and was close to death at the time of his admission to the King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, Sussex. That same year, he earned another ASCAP award for "The First Cut is the Deepest," and appeared in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert honoring social activist, Muhammad Yunus. [152][153][154][155] He was selected and was inducted by Art Garfunkel in April 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he performed "Father and Son", "Wild World", and "Peace Train". He appeared on The Chris Isaak Hour on the A&E network in April 2009, performing live versions of his new songs, "World O'Darkness", "Boots and Sand", and "Roadsinger". The teenager quickly began writing and playing his own songs. These initial recordings did not include any musical instruments other than percussion, and they featured lyrics about Islamic themes, some in spoken word or hamd form. [110] He said of the incident at the time, "No reason was ever given, but being asked to repeat the spelling of my name again and again, made me think it was a fairly simple mistake of identity. [68], On 21 September 2004, Islam was on a United Airlines flight from London to Washington, travelling to a meeting with US entertainer Dolly Parton, who had recorded "Peace Train" several years earlier and was planning to include another Cat Stevens song on an upcoming album. [160][161] On 4 December 2014, he played to his first public US audience since the 1970s at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia.[162]. As well as the Beatles, other musicians who influenced him were the Kinks,[34] Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, blues artists Lead Belly and Muddy Waters,[35] Biff Rose (particularly Rose's first album), Leo Kottke[31] and Paul Simon. "[120] He also participated in the first documentary on his life for a two-part VH1 Behind the Music. He stated, "He (Rushdie) must be killed. [37], Georgiou began performing his songs in London coffee houses and pubs. Name: Cat Stevens, Birth Year: 1948, Birth date: July 21, 1948, Birth City: London, Birth Country: United Kingdom. Immediately following the September 11 attacks on the United States, he said: I wish to express my heartfelt horror at the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed against innocent people of the United States yesterday. [31] He took a one-year course at Hammersmith School of Art,[32] considering a career as a cartoonist. [39] "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun" was his second UK top 10 single, reaching number 6, and the album Matthew and Son reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart. [56] It is ranked at No. On the 25th June 2023, Yusuf played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, including covering iconic Beatles hits and his Teacup album memories. Folk singer Cat Stevens wrote the song "The First Cut is the Deepest" in the 1960s. [48] With Krost's recommendation, Stevens signed Paul Samwell-Smith, previously the bassist of the Yardbirds, as his new producer. They have one son, four daughters, and nine grandchildren;[84] a second son died in infancy. His real name is Steven Demetre Georgiou, but he became known as Cat Stevens after adopting the name of a friend's cat. For the most part, he lived a quiet life devoted to his family and faith, and wasn't heard from until the late 80s. He is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. The song was a hit, making it to No. Islam actively promoted this album, appearing on radio, television and in print interviews. In 2005, he was named "Songwriter of the Year" and awarded "Song of the Year" by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his 1967 hit, "The First Cut is the Deepest." Does it serve the common good, does it protect the spirit, and does it serve God? On 24 May he appeared on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, where he was interviewed and performed the title track of Roadsinger. Simon wrote and recorded at least two Top 50 songs, "Legend in Your Own Time" and "Anticipation" about Stevens. Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. [103] The Israeli government had deported Islam in 2000 over allegations that he provided funding to the Palestinian organisation Hamas,[104] but he denied doing so knowingly. Their beauty speaks of strength and nobility of character. ", "Yusuf Islam Wants to See Salman Rushdie Burnt, Right? And I was dancin' on the rocks there right on the rocks where the waves were, like, blowin' and splashin'. It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims and, in my case, it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist. He admits having purposely sabotaged his own contract with Hurst, by making outlandishly expensive orchestral demands and threatening legal action; this achieved his goal: to be released from his contract with Deram Records, a sub-label of Decca Records. Facing imminent death led the singer to make a promise: If divine intervention could save him from drowning, Stevens would devote his life to honoring God. Steven Demetre Georgiou, born on 21 July 1948 in the Marylebone area of London,[21] was the youngest child of a Cypriot father, Stavros Georgiou (19001978),[22] and a Swedish mother, Ingrid Wickman (19151989). "[38], In 1966, at age 18, he was heard by manager/producer Mike Hurst, formerly of British vocal group the Springfields. [82] The concert closed with his performance along with David Essex, Alun Davies, and Islam's brother, David Gordon, who wrote the finale song "Child for a Day". The family resides in London. And, in a Rolling Stone magazine interview, he reaffirmed that, saying, "I had found the spiritual home I'd been seeking for most of my life. They also produced a video of the pair walking between photographs of fathers and sons, while singing the song. [171] On 29 March 2019, Yusuf performed in Christchurch, New Zealand, at the National Remembrance Service for victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.[172]. Within six months of its release, it had sold over 500,000 copies, attaining gold record status in the United Kingdom and the United States. [123], Islam has reflected that his decision to leave the Western pop music business was perhaps too quick with too little communication for his fans. [106] "At the time I was reported to have done it, I didn't know such a group existed. His 1967 debut album and its title song "Matthew and Son" both reached top ten in the UK charts. He had looked into "Buddhism, Zen, I Ching, numerology, tarot cards, and astrology". All Rights Reserved. [39], On regaining his health at home after his release from the hospital, Stevens recorded some of his newly written songs on his tape recorder and played his changing sound for several new record executives. He has been married to Fawzia Ali since September 9, 1979. On 9 August 2016, Yusuf announced "A Cat's Attic Tour", his second North American tour since 1978, beginning on 12 September 2016 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto and ending on 7 October 2016 at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Yusuf performed "Peace Train" and Ozzy performed "Crazy Train" at the same time, followed by The O'Jays performance of "Love Train". His set included Stevie Wonder's "Saturn", "Peace Train", "Where Do the Children Play? It reached number 8 in the UK[40] and was the first of his hits to get real airplay in the US. He took the name Yusuf Islam, and eventually rid himself of . Like Patti. [138] The combination of Stevens' new folk rock style and accessible lyrics, which spoke of everyday situations and problems, mixed with the beginning of spiritual questions about life, remained in his music from then on. At age 18, he signed with Decca Records and released his first album, and his 1970 single "Wild World" made him a star. Cat Stevens, a talented musician from the United Kingdom, gained widespread recognition in the 1960s after the release of his hit song "Wild World." He was born in London in July 1948. Celebrated Name: Cat Stevens: Real Name/Full Name: Steven Demetre Georgiou: Gender: Male: Age: 74 years old: Birth Date: 21 July 1948: Birth Place: Marylebone, London . 2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. According to a 2002 interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, Stevens chose the catchier stage name Cat Stevens because a girlfriend once told him he had cat-like eyes. Stevens' albums Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Teaser and the Firecat (1971) were certified triple platinum in the US. The stresses of his newfound work and his hard-partying lifestyle took an additional toll on his health, and by 1968 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. All items have been carefully designed to capture the spirit of Yusuf / Cat Stevens' work and present you with a unique and stylish way to celebrate his music and legacy. The harm done is often difficult to repair", and added that he intended to donate the financial award given to him by the court to help orphans of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. [149], In May 2012, Moonshadow, a new musical featuring music from throughout his career opened at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. Although he was raised Greek Orthodox, Stevens' parents opted to send him to a Roman Catholic school. [112], In October 2004, The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers voiced their support for Yusuf's exclusion from the United States and claimed that he had supported terrorism. Updated on 03/10/19. Blackwell offered him a "chance to record [his songs] whenever and with whomever he liked and, more importantly to Cat, however he liked". In December 2006, Islam was one of the artists who performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in honour of the prize winners, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. They originally met just to record Mona Bone Jakon,[50] but soon developed a friendship. [27] Thinking his birth name might be difficult to remember, he chose the stage name Cat Stevens, partly because a girlfriend said he had eyes like a cat, but mainly because "I couldn't imagine anyone going to the record store and asking for 'that Steven Demetre Georgiou album'.