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YUSUF ISLAM (formerly Cat Stevens)
“First Cut Is The Deepest”
Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, the son of a
Greek Cypriot father and Swedish mother,
Yusuf Islam grew up above the family shop in
London’s theatre district, situated at the
northernmost junction of Shaftesbury Avenue
and New Oxford Street, near the heart of
London’s West End.
While studying at Art College he was
auditioned by a record producer, Mike Hurst,
formerly of the pop-folk trio the Springfields.
The resulting tracks impressed the Decca
Record chief so much that the young artist –
now known as Cat Stevens – was selected to
launch the new Deram Label, which also
signed new British talent such as David
Bowie and the Moody Blues.
Stevens went on to write and record a
memorable string of hits, including Here
Comes My Baby, The First Cut Is the Deepest
and Matthew & Son, which singled him out as
one of the most prolific new songwriters of
the 60’s.
Early in his career he contracted TB and came
face to face with his own mortality. This sparked
his earnest search for peace and a broader
understanding of metaphysical issues. While
recovering, Yusuf underwent a spiritual search
and began studying Eastern religions.
Following this he landed a new deal with Island
Records and began recording new, more personal,
introspective material. The new decade brought
new albums such as Mona Bone Jackson, Teaser
and the Firecat and Tea for Tillerman, which were
classics of their genre and launched him onto the
international stage. He was one of the most
enigmatic artists of the 1970s, with a string of
best selling albums which virtually defined the
concept of the sensitive songwriter. Stevens’s
reflective and often highly personal songs
connected with a huge audience and made him a
superstar. Wild World, Father & Son, Peace Train,
and Moonshadow went on to sell millions.
Stevens was hailed as one of the most important
figures in the currently popular folk-rock singersongwriter
trend.
Despite his success, Stevens was still on a
spiritual search. After almost drowning in the
Pacific Ocean at Malibu he received a translation
of the Qur’an as a gift from his elder brother,
David. His spiritual quest for answers was
fulfilled and he embraced Islam in December,
1977. Six months later he changed his name to
Yusuf Islam, walked away from the music
business to start a new life.
Today, Yusuf Islam is arguably one of the
world’s most famous converts to Islam. In
2003 Yusuf Islam was awarded the ‘World
Social Award’ for his humanitarian relief work.
Previous recipients of this award include Pope
John Paul II, Steven Spielberg, and Sir Paul
McCartney. More recently, in November 2004,
he was honored with the ‘Man for Peace’
award by a committee of Nobel peace laureates
and this year will be receiving an honorary
doctorate for his work in education in the UK.
His U.N.-registered charity, Small Kindness,
provides humanitarian relief, through direct
aid as well as social and educational
programs, to orphans and families in Bosnia,
Kosovo, Iraq, Indonesia and other regions of
the world.
In 1994 he once again returned to the
recording studio, producing a series of
educational based albums under his Mountain
of Light label. A Sarajevo concert in 1997 was
his first public appearance for 20 years. Since
then he has contributed to a number of major
charity events and most recently, he performed
with Sir Paul McCartney in support of his
Adopt a Minefield charity in Düsseldorf.
Yusuf Islam is currently working on a new
album as well as a stage musical.
For further information, please visit:
www.yusufislam.org.uk
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