Cat Stevens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens
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Stevens performing at Glastonbury Festival 2023
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Demetre Georgiou |
| Also known as |
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| Born | 21 July 1948 London, England |
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| Associated acts | Alun Davies |
Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948), known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer and songwriter. He has sold over 100 million records and has more than two billion streams of his music online. His songs mix folk, rock, and pop styles. Later in his career, he also made Islamic music.
After about 20 years of only performing religious music, he started making popular music again in 2006. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. He has also received awards for promoting peace and helping others.
His first album in 1967, Matthew and Son, and its main song, "Matthew and Son", both became top 10 hits in the UK. His albums Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Teaser and the Firecat (1971) sold millions of copies in the US. His 1972 album Catch Bull at Four reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. He won awards for songwriting in 2005 and 2006 for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", a song that has been a hit for many other artists. Some of his other famous songs include "Father and Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", and "Morning Has Broken".
Stevens became a Muslim in December 1977 and changed his name to Yusuf Islam the next year. In 1979, he sold his guitars for charity and took a break from music to focus on helping the Muslim community with education and charity work. He has since bought back some of his old guitars, thanks to his son, Yoriyos. In 2006, he returned to pop music with his album An Other Cup. For this and later albums, he used the name Yusuf. In 2009, he released Roadsinger, and in 2014, Tell 'Em I'm Gone. He also went on his first US tour since 1978. In 2017, he released The Laughing Apple, using the name Yusuf / Cat Stevens for the first time in 39 years. In 2020, he released Tea for the Tillerman 2, a new version of his 1970 album, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In June 2023, he released a new album called King of a Land.
Contents
Life and Career Journey
Early Years (1948–1965)
Steven Demetre Georgiou was born in London, England, on 21 July 1948. He was the youngest child of a Greek Cypriot father and a Swedish mother. His family lived above their restaurant, the Moulin Rouge, in the Soho area of London. Everyone in the family worked in the restaurant. His parents divorced when he was about eight, but they kept running the restaurant together.
Steven became interested in piano when he was young. At 15, he was inspired by the Beatles and wanted to play the guitar. He convinced his father to buy him his first guitar for £8. He started playing and writing songs. He also enjoyed art and even thought about becoming a cartoonist. However, he decided to follow a music career. In 1965, he started performing as "Steve Adams". He was influenced by artists like the Kinks, Bob Dylan, and Nina Simone. He also wanted to be like musical composers such as Leonard Bernstein.
Music Career (1966–1978)
Becoming Cat Stevens
Steven Georgiou began performing his songs in London coffee houses and pubs. He realized he preferred singing alone rather than in a band. He chose the stage name Cat Stevens because a girlfriend said his eyes looked like a cat's. Also, he thought it would be easier for people to remember than his birth name.
In 1966, when he was 18, producer Mike Hurst heard him. Hurst helped him get a record deal. Stevens' first songs were very popular. "I Love My Dog" reached number 28 in the UK. "Matthew and Son", the song from his first album, reached number 2 in the UK. His album Matthew and Son, released in March 1967, reached number 7 on the UK album charts.
For the next two years, Stevens toured with many different artists, from Jimi Hendrix to Engelbert Humperdinck. He became a popular teen star. His album New Masters in December 1967 did not do as well. However, it included "The First Cut Is the Deepest". He sold this song for £30, and it became a huge hit for other artists like P. P. Arnold and Rod Stewart. Forty years later, this song earned him "Songwriter of the Year" awards in 2005 and 2006.
Facing Illness
In 1969, Stevens became very sick with tuberculosis. He was close to dying when he went to the hospital. He spent months getting better in the hospital and a year recovering at home. During this time, Stevens started thinking deeply about his life and spiritual beliefs. He later said that being in the hospital, seeing people die, changed his view of the world.
He began to meditate, practice yoga, and read about different religions. He also became a vegetarian. Because of his serious illness and recovery, he wrote about 40 new songs. Many of these songs later appeared on his albums.
New Musical Style
Stevens was not happy with how his second album sounded. He felt his producer was trying to make it sound too much like his first album, with too many instruments. He wanted a more folk rock sound. After getting better, he recorded his new songs and found a new record deal with Island Records. He signed with Chris Blackwell, who gave him the freedom to record his songs however he wanted. He also hired Paul Samwell-Smith as his new producer.
Becoming Famous Worldwide
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Samwell-Smith introduced Stevens to guitarist Alun Davies. Davies was an experienced musician who played folk rock music. They became good friends and worked well together.
Their first album together was Mona Bone Jakon in 1970. The first song released from it was "Lady D'Arbanville", which Stevens wrote about his girlfriend, Patti D'Arbanville. This song had a unique sound and became a hit in the UK. It sold over one million copies. Other songs on the album included "Pop Star" and "Katmandu". Mona Bone Jakon helped make solo singer-songwriter albums popular.
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Stevens' next album, Tea for the Tillerman, made him famous around the world. It became a Top 10 hit in the US. Within six months, it sold over 500,000 copies. This album combined his new folk rock style with lyrics about everyday life and spiritual questions. It included the hit song "Wild World", which was about his breakup with Patti D'Arbanville. Another famous song from the album is "Father and Son", which tells the story of a conversation between a father and son. By 2001, this album had sold three million copies in the US. It is also listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
After this, Stevens had many more successful years. His 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat reached number two in the US. It included hits like "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken", and "Moonshadow". This album also sold over three million copies in the US. Stevens said he wrote "Moonshadow" while dancing on rocks by the ocean in Spain, feeling inspired by the bright moon.
His next album, Catch Bull at Four, released in 1972, was his fastest-selling album in the US. It reached gold record status in just 15 days and stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for three weeks.
Music in Movies
In 1970, Stevens recorded "But I Might Die Tonight" for the film Deep End. He also contributed songs to the 1971 film Harold and Maude. However, he was upset because the director used his unfinished demo versions.
After he became a Muslim, Stevens stopped allowing his songs to be used in movies. But almost 20 years later, in 1997, he allowed his songs "Here Comes My Baby" and "The Wind" to be used in the film Rushmore. This showed he was open to his older music being used again. In 2000, "Peace Train" was in the movie Remember the Titans, and "The Wind" was in Almost Famous.
Later Recordings
His albums in the 1970s continued to do well, though not as big as his earlier hits. In 1973, Stevens moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He released the album Foreigner, which was different from his previous music. He wrote all the songs himself and produced it without his usual band.
In June 1974, in Australia, Stevens received an award for selling forty gold records, which was the most ever for an artist in Australia at that time. He released the albums Buddha and the Chocolate Box in 1974 and Numbers in 1975.
In April 1977, his album Izitso used a lot of synthesizers, giving it a more synthpop sound. One song, "Was Dog a Doughnut", was an early example of techno-pop music. Izitso included his last hit song, "(Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard", which was a duet with singer Elkie Brooks.
His last album as Cat Stevens was Back to Earth, released in 1978. Many compilation albums of his greatest hits were released. The most successful was Greatest Hits from 1975, which sold over 4 million copies in the US.
Life as Yusuf Islam (1978–Present)
Becoming a Muslim
While on holiday in Marrakesh, Stevens heard the adhān, the Islamic call to prayer. He was told it was "music for God," which he found very interesting.
In 1976, Stevens almost drowned off the coast of Malibu, California. He said he shouted, "Oh, God! If you save me I will work for you." He felt a wave carried him back to shore right after. This experience made him search even more for spiritual truth. He had already looked into Buddhism, yoga, and other beliefs. His brother, David Gordon, who had become Jewish, gave him a copy of the Qur'an as a birthday gift from Jerusalem.
Stevens said he would not have picked up the Qur'an himself, but his brother's gift changed his life. He found the book's message very powerful and soon began his journey to become a Muslim. He said it felt like finding the spiritual home he had been looking for most of his life. His songs like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out" already showed his search for meaning.
Stevens officially became a Muslim on 23 December 1977. He took the name Yusuf Islam in 1978. Yusuf is the Arabic name for Joseph, a prophet he admired from the Qur'an. He stopped his pop music career but was convinced to perform one last time before a 25-year break. On 22 November 1979, he headlined a charity concert at Wembley Stadium to help UNICEF's International Year of the Child.
Islam married Fauzia Mubarak Ali on 7 September 1979. They have one son, four daughters, and nine grandchildren. They live in London but also spend a lot of time in Dubai.
Charity Work and Music Break
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After becoming a Muslim, Yusuf Islam stopped making music for almost 20 years. He was told by some that music was not allowed in Islam, so he decided to stop performing. He also said that the music business had become a "chore" and not inspiring anymore.
In 2007, he was still earning about US$1.5 million a year from his Cat Stevens music. He decided to use this money and his savings to support charity and education in the Muslim community. In 1983, he started the Islamia Primary School in London. He also founded several Muslim secondary schools and a charity called The Association of Muslim Schools (AMS-UK). He is also the founder and chairman of the Small Kindness charity, which helps thousands of orphans and families in places like the Balkans, Indonesia, and Iraq.
Speaking Out After 9/11
After the September 11 attacks in the United States, Yusuf Islam spoke out against them. He said that no true follower of Islam could support such actions. He also said that the Qur'an teaches that killing one innocent person is like killing all of humanity. He prayed for the victims and their families.
He appeared on TV to condemn the attacks and sang his song "Peace Train" publicly for the first time in over 20 years. He also donated money from his music to help victims' families and orphans. He joined a group called the Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism to fight against wrong ideas about Muslims after the attacks.
Travel Issues
On 21 September 2004, Yusuf Islam was flying from London to Washington, D.C., to meet with singer Dolly Parton. While on the plane, his name was flagged on a "No Fly List". His flight was redirected to Bangor, Maine, where he was held by US officials.
The next day, he was not allowed to enter the US and was sent back to the UK. US officials said they had "concerns of ties he may have to potential terrorist-related activities". The Israeli government had sent Islam away in 2000, saying he gave money to the Palestinian group Hamas. However, he said he never knowingly supported Hamas. He believed his name might have been confused with someone else's.
The British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw complained to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell about this. Powell said the list was being reviewed. Two years later, in December 2006, Yusuf Islam was allowed into the US without any problems for concerts and interviews. He later wrote a song about this experience called "Boots and Sand", which featured Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton.
Winning Lawsuits
In October 2004, The Sun and The Sunday Times newspapers claimed he supported terrorism. Yusuf sued them for libel. He received money from the newspapers, and they both published apologies. They stated that he had never supported terrorism and had received a Man of Peace award. Yusuf said he was happy with the settlement, which helped clear his name. He donated the money to help orphans affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
On 18 July 2008, Yusuf Islam won another lawsuit against the World Entertainment News Network. They had published a story claiming he refused to speak to women who were not wearing a veil. He received a large amount of money in damages. The news agency apologized and said he had no problem working with women. Yusuf explained on his website that he only asked female presenters not to hug him in public, to respect Islamic traditions, but he always speaks to and respects women. He donated the money from this lawsuit to his Small Kindness charity.
Return to Music
1990s–2006: As Yusuf Islam
Yusuf Islam slowly started making music again in the 1990s. These first recordings only used percussion instruments and had lyrics about Islamic themes. He built his own recording studio called Mountain of Light Studios. He also sang on songs with other Muslim artists.
In 1997, after his friend Irfan Ljubijankić was killed, Yusuf Islam performed at a benefit concert in Sarajevo and recorded an album to help.
Realizing there were not many educational resources for children about Islam, Yusuf Islam wrote and produced a children's album called A Is for Allah in 2000. He also started his own record label, "Jamal Records", and Mountain of Light Productions. He donates a part of the money from his projects to his Small Kindness charity.
In 2000, when his Cat Stevens albums were re-released, he agreed to interviews to tell his story. He explained that he had stopped performing in English because he misunderstood some things about the Islamic faith. He realized that the rules about music in Islam were not as strict as he first thought. He also felt that his decision to leave pop music was too sudden for his fans.
In 2003, Yusuf Islam recorded "Peace Train" again for a CD that also featured David Bowie and Paul McCartney. He performed "Wild World" at Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert with Peter Gabriel. This was the first time he had publicly sung in English in 25 years.
In December 2004, he and Ronan Keating released a new version of "Father and Son". The song reached number two on the charts. They also made a music video. The money from this song went to the Band Aid charity.
In April 2005, Yusuf Islam gave a talk and performed in Abu Dhabi. He said there is a lot of misunderstanding about Islam and that music can help people learn. He realized that there are no strict rules against instruments in the Qur'an. He felt that healthy entertainment was acceptable and that playing the guitar was not a sin. He performed two songs, one in Arabic and English, and another new song.
In a 2005 press release, he explained his return to music. He said that after becoming a Muslim, many people told him to keep making music, but he was unsure. Now, after many years, he understood what people wanted from him.
In early 2005, Yusuf Islam released a new song called "Indian Ocean" about the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster. The song featured Indian composer A. R. Rahman. The money from the song went to help orphans through his Small Kindness charity.
Yusuf Islam has said that his son, Muhammad Islam, helped him return to secular music. His son brought a guitar back into the house, and Yusuf started playing it again. Muhammad, whose professional name is Yoriyos, also created the artwork for Yusuf's album An Other Cup, just like Cat Stevens did for his own albums in the 1970s.
In May 2006, a documentary called Yusuf: The Artist formerly Known as Cat Stevens was shown on BBC1. It featured old videos and interviews with Yusuf Islam, his brother, and other musicians. It showed his journey from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam and his return to music.
In December 2006, Yusuf Islam performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. He sang "Peace Train" and other songs. He also gave a concert in New York City. His old bandmate, Alun Davies, joined him on guitar and vocals.
2006–2017: As Yusuf
An Other Cup and Performances
In March 2006, Yusuf Islam finished recording his first new pop album since 1978. The album, An Other Cup, was released in November 2006. It was released on his own label, Ya Records, marking 40 years since his first album. A song called "Heaven/Where True Love Goes" was also released. The album was produced with Rick Nowels. The artist was listed as "Yusuf", with a note saying "the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens". Yusuf said he used his first name because it felt more personal. He explained that "An Other Cup" meant it was a different cup, a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.
In April 2007, BBC1 showed a concert by Yusuf Islam at the Porchester Hall in London. This was his first live performance in London in 28 years. He played new songs and old favorites like "Father and Son", "Wild World", and "Peace Train".
In July 2007, he performed at a concert in Bochum, Germany, to benefit Desmond Tutu's Peace Centre and Carlos Santana's foundation. He also performed at the Live Earth concert in Hamburg, singing classic Cat Stevens songs and new ones about peace and child welfare. He performed at the Peace One Day concert in London in September 2007. In 2008, Yusuf contributed the song "Edge of Existence" to a charity album supporting Survival International.
Roadsinger and Tours
In January 2009, Yusuf released a song to help children in Gaza. It was a version of the George Harrison song "The Day the World Gets Round". The money from the song went to charities like UNESCO and Save the Children.
On 5 May 2009, Yusuf released Roadsinger, a new pop album. He promoted the album by appearing on TV shows in the US and UK. He performed songs like "World O'Darkness", "Boots and Sand", and "Roadsinger".
He announced a world tour to promote the new album. In November and December 2009, Yusuf went on his "Guess I'll Take My Time Tour". In June 2010, he toured Australia for the first time in 36 years and New Zealand for the first time ever.
In October 2010, Yusuf appeared at a rally in Washington, DC, singing "Peace Train" alongside Ozzy Osbourne.
On 2 March 2011, Yusuf released his song "My People" as a free download. The song was inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings. In May 2012, a new musical called Moonshadow, featuring his music, opened in Melbourne, Australia.
In October 2013, Yusuf was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work as Cat Stevens. He was inducted in April 2014 by Art Garfunkel. He performed "Father and Son", "Wild World", and "Peace Train" at the ceremony.
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Tell 'Em I'm Gone and Tours
On 15 September 2014, Yusuf announced his new album, Tell 'Em I'm Gone, which was released on 27 October 2014. He also announced two short tours: one in Europe and one in North America. The North American tour was his first since 1976. On 4 December 2014, he played his first public US concert since the 1970s in Philadelphia.
In 2015, Yusuf performed in Chile and Wales. On 1 June 2016, Yusuf released a new song called "He Was Alone" and a video for it. This was part of his fundraising campaign for child refugees, #YouAreNotAlone. The song was inspired by his visit to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey. He performed the song live for the first time at a charity concert in London.
On 9 August 2016, Yusuf announced "A Cat's Attic Tour", his second North American tour since 1978. The tour started in September 2016 and included 12 shows. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first song, "I Love My Dog". He donated a part of the ticket money to his charity Small Kindness, UNICEF, and the International Rescue Committee to help children affected by the Syrian refugee crisis. The tour also included shows in the UK.
2017–Present: As Yusuf / Cat Stevens
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On 15 September 2017, he released his fifteenth studio album, The Laughing Apple. This album was credited to "Yusuf / Cat Stevens", marking the first time he used the Cat Stevens name since 1978. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. In July 2018, Yusuf signed with BMG Rights Management to publish his songs and distribute his albums. On 29 March 2019, Yusuf performed "Peace Train" at the National Remembrance Service for victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand.
On 3 March 2020, Yusuf played a benefit concert in London. On 28 May 2020, Yusuf announced his next album, Tea for the Tillerman 2, which was released on 18 September 2020. This album, also known as TT2, is a new version of his original Tea for the Tillerman album, with updated sounds and arrangements. In September 2020, Yusuf was a guest on the BBC's Desert Island Discs.
In 2021, Yusuf / Cat Stevens recorded a new version of "Peace Train" with over 25 musicians from 12 countries, working with Playing for Change.
2023: European Tour and King of a Land
In June 2023, Yusuf performed concerts in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Rome, and Marbella. He also made his first appearance at Glastonbury Festival on 25 June 2023, where he played on the Pyramid Stage. He performed his own songs and covered some Beatles hits.
On 16 June 2023, he released King of a Land, a new studio album that includes songs with children's music and religious music influences.
Musical Influence
Many artists have said that Cat Stevens' music influenced them. These include Paul McCartney from The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Gabriel, Carly Simon, and Paul Rodgers.
Awards and Honors
Awards for Helping Others
- 2003: World Award for "humanitarian relief work helping children and victims of war".
- 2004: Man of Peace Award from the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates for promoting peace and condemning terrorism.
- 2009: Honorary Award from the German Sustainability Award.
- 2015: Global Islamic Economy Awards for his contributions to peace through art.
- 2015: Steiger Award for his commitment to charity projects.
Honorary Degrees
- 2005: Honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire for his work in education and humanitarian aid.
- 2007: Honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter for his humanitarian work and improving understanding between Islamic and Western cultures.
Music Awards and Recognitions
- 2019: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- 2017: Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album.
- 2015: Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
- 2014: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 2007: The Mediterranean Art and Creativity Award.
- 2007: Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.
- 2007: ECHO "Special Award for Life Achievements as a Musician and Ambassador Between Cultures".
- 2006: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (second time).
- 2005: ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year for "The First Cut Is the Deepest".
Music Albums
- As Cat Stevens
- 1967: Matthew and Son
- 1967: New Masters
- 1970: Mona Bone Jakon
- 1970: Tea for the Tillerman
- 1971: Teaser and the Firecat
- 1972: Catch Bull at Four
- 1973: Foreigner
- 1974: Buddha and the Chocolate Box
- 1975: Numbers
- 1977: Izitso
- 1978: Back to Earth
- As Yusuf Islam
- 1995: The Life of the Last Prophet
- 1999: Prayers of the Last Prophet
- 2000: A Is for Allah
- 2001: Bismillah
- 2002: In Praise of the Last Prophet
- 2003: I Look I See
- 2008: I Look, I See 2
- 2014: The Story of Adam and Creation
- As Yusuf
- 2006: An Other Cup
- 2009: Roadsinger
- 2014: Tell 'Em I'm Gone
- As Yusuf / Cat Stevens
- 2017: The Laughing Apple
- 2020: Tea for the Tillerman 2
- 2023: King of a Land
Books Written
- The Life of The Last Prophet, 1996.
- Prayers of The Last Prophet, 1998/2000.
- Why I Still Carry A Guitar: My Spiritual Journey from Cat Stevens to Yusuf, 2014.
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See Also
In Spanish: Cat Stevens para niños
- List of peace activists
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of converts to Islam
- Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
