Cat Stevens Biography

Cat Stevens, considered one of the most influential musicians in music history, began his career in the 1960s and has since converted himself into one of the most important artists in history! His life has been an adventure in terms of his search for meaning, in addition to his music. In 1967, he had early chart success with songs like "I Love My Dog" and "Matthew and Son." Songs like "Here Comes My Baby" and "The First Cut Is The Deepest" were written for other singers that year, with the latter being an international mega-hit. Cat Stevens developed TB in 1968 as a result of his intense workload of touring, TV appearances, and pop-star living, and he was hospitalized for many months. It sparked a period of introspection and meditation. Following his recuperation and with a fresh outlook on life, Cat Stevens underwent a profound artistic metamorphosis, during which he composed over 40 songs and reflected on many elements of his personal life. His songs grew more ethereal and intuitive, and he began to delve into spiritual topics. He recorded and published the albums that cemented his reputation as a prominent singer-songwriter of his time from 1970 to 1974. Tea for the Tillerman, his second significant album, was released in 1970 and went gold in the United States, with songs including Wild World, Hard Headed Woman, Where Do the Children Play?, and Father & Son, which was re-released years later as a massive hit for the young Irish band Boyzone in the 1990s. Teaser and the Firecat in 1971, with songs like Morning, Has Broken, Peace Train, and Moonshadow, undoubtedly made him a megastar. In 1975, he had another life-changing incident when he nearly drowned while swimming in the Pacific Ocean in Malibu. Cat acquired a copy of the Koran shortly after and converted to Islam in 1977. He adored the name Joseph and changed his name to Yusuf, the Arabic equivalent. Then he stunned the world by abandoning his reputation and profession as a musician in order to establish a family and devote himself to charity and education. “I wasn't too concerned about what other people thought; people will eventually understand,” I told myself. After all, everyone knew I was "on the hunt for answers." Yusuf became interested in education and humanitarian aid after marrying and having children. Yusuf learned in 1998 while driving to Sarajevo, that the elementary school he had created in 1983 had been granted grant–maintained status, a historical first for the nation. Yusuf and his wife, Fawziah, founded the assistance organization Small Kindness in the late 1990s, with the goal of assisting orphans, poor families, and widows in the Balkans following recent wars and conflicts. Yusuf also started his own label, Mountain of Light, to provide instructional records, starting with "The Life of the Last Prophet." Since 2000, he has focused on records for a younger audience, including “A is for Allah” and “I Look I See,” two of the most successful CDs for kids. Yusuf chose to give his voice to the appeal for peace after the sad events of 9/11 and sung Peace Train once more. He spoke out against the growth of extremism and the conflicts that resulted as a result of it. Yusuf was awarded the ‘World Social Award' by an International World Awards Jury in Germany in 2003 for “dedicating his life to assisting the poor and the ill.” In 2004, Mikhail Gorbachev, on behalf of a committee of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, awarded him with the Man of Peace medal for “alleviating the agony of thousands of children and their parents and committing himself to promote peace, reconciling people, and condemning terrorism.” With the publication of An Other Cup, he truly rediscovered music (2006). Hearing his gentle voice, melodies, and words again was a dream come true for many people. His reappearance was formally announced three years later with the release of Roadsinger (2009), a lovely album of new songs that was supported by a tour of the UK (Guess I'll Take My Time Tour), Australia (2010), and Europe (2011). In 2012, he took his musical research to a new level with the production of Moonshadow, an intriguing new musical that premiered in Australia in May. The narrative depicts a mystical fight between a young man and his Moonshadow against the approaching darkness. Yusuf's triumphant comeback and the warm embrace of his fans and admirers have been eagerly anticipated, nowhere more so than in the United States, where his performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in New York was a highlight. Yusuf has finished a new record, which he hopes will delight a wide range of listeners. Tell 'Em I'm Gone is the band's first single after the release of Roadster. Richard Thompson, blues harmonica icon Charlie Musselwhite, singer-songwriter Bonnie ‘Prince' Billy, Tuareg ensemble Tinariwen, and guitarist Matt Sweeney all contribute to the album, which was produced by Rick Rubin. Tell 'Em I'm Gone revives the age-old themes of freedom and peace that have dominated Yusuf's musical career for more than four decades. Yusuf returns to his adolescent musical inspirations, American blues, and R&B, on this album, using these genres to describe humanity's journey to freedom with songs that harken back to his days as a budding singer-songwriter in London. “I hope this record will help rekindle the spirit of Freedom...and re-ignite some of the enthusiasm of those incredible days when every musical door seemed to push us in the direction of freedom.”

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