“Music is a lady that I still love because she gives me the air that I breathe. We need all sorts of nourishment, and music satisfies and nourishes the hunger within ourselves for connection and harmony.”
– Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948), commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, humanitarian, education philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam.
His early 1970s record albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat were both certified triple platinum in the United States by the RIAA. His 1972 album Catch Bull at Four sold half a million copies in the first two weeks of release alone and was Billboard’s number-one LP for three consecutive weeks. He has also earned two ASCAP songwriting awards in consecutive years for “The First Cut Is the Deepest”, which has been a hit single for four different artists.
Stevens converted to Islam in December 1977 and adopted the name Yusuf Islam the following year. In 1979, he auctioned all his guitars for charity and left his music career to devote himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community. He has been given several awards for his work in promoting peace in the world, including the 2003 World Award, the 2004 Man for Peace Award, and the 2007 Mediterranean Prize for Peace. In 2006, he returned to pop music with his first album of new pop songs in 28 years, entitled An Other Cup. He now goes professionally by the single name Yusuf.His most recent album, Roadsinger, was released on 5 May 2009.
Below are two videos with Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), one from 1971 and the other from 2008.
Enjoy!
Cat Stevens – In Concert featuring Alun Davies and Larry Steele (live at the BBC 1971)
00:00 Moonshadow 02:57 Tuesday’s Dead 07:20 Wild World 11:42 How Can I Tell You 16:24 Maybe You’re Right 20:49 I Love My Dog 24:04 Father And Son
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) – “Peace Train” (2008)
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