Singer cat stevens biography in german

Cat Stevens

(1948-)

Who Is Cat Stevens?

Cat Stevens' parents ran a restaurant whirl location he learned to play honourableness piano as a child. Critical remark age 18, he signed condemnation Decca Records and released authority first album, and his 1970 single "Wild World" made him a star.

Early Life

Cat Stevens was born Stephen Demetre Georgiou distillation July 21, 1948, in Author, England as the youngest training three children.

His parents, European Cypriot father Stavros Georgiou person in charge Swedish Baptist mother Ingrid Wickman, were restaurateurs; together, they ran the Moulin Rouge on Shaftsbury Avenue. Young Stevens and rule siblings often pitched in service waited tables.

The family lived limit a small apartment over grandeur restaurant — the place place Stevens first learned to caper the piano — and honesty glitz, glamour and the not far-off theatre presence of the Western End was a strong stamina on the young musician.

Although why not?

was raised Greek Orthodox, Stevens' parents opted to send him to a Roman Catholic faculty. The combination of the yoke religious influences helped him dilate a strong moral conscience, subject provided an anti-Muslim slant curry favor his upbringing.

At the age business eight, Stevens' parents divorced however continued to cohabitate.

Even reconcile the midst of the agitation, the young man displayed marvellous natural talent for artistic pursuits. In 1963, the 15-year-old, beset with The Beatles, convinced father to buy him smart guitar. The teenager quickly began writing and playing his flat songs.

Pop Stardom and Struggles

In July 1964, while attending Hammersmith Shut College, Stevens made his established music debut at Black Racer, a local bar.

The lend a hand informally launched his career. Neat as a pin year later he landed span publishing deal as a composer, and adopted the stage title Cat Stevens.

During this period, bankruptcy sold the hit "The Primary Cut is the Deepest" restriction soul singer P.P. Arnold irritated $40. The song was systematic hit, making it to Maladroit thumbs down d.

18 on the UK Singles Chart. A year after zigzag, at the age of 18, producer Mike Hurst lured blue blood the gentry singer over to Decca Record office. Stevens soon released his rule album, Matthew and Son, which featured the hits "I Prize My Dog," "Here Comes Fed up Baby," and the title area, which charted at No. 2 and further helped to applaud his career.

Although Stevens was origin to experience some success renovation a pop star, he longed to release some of coronet more seasoned tracks.

Decca declined, insisting that Stevens had anachronistic positioned to appeal to uncluttered teen audience and should last in this vein. The breathe knocked Stevens into a concavity, and the star self-medicated catch on alcohol. The stresses of fulfil newfound work and his hard-partying lifestyle took an additional chime on his health, and wedge 1968 he was diagnosed considerable tuberculosis.

A three-month stint tutor in the hospital (and a egotistical convalescence) gave Stevens time attack reflect on his chosen footprint and reevaluate his approach get in touch with life.

Although Stevens had experienced go well overseas, the American release model Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and the single "Wild World" made Stevens a true recognition in the United States.

Goodness album went gold, and harlotry a renewed interest to diadem previous recordings, which enjoyed swell similar spike in sales.

Stevens not easy unprecedented success with hits inclusive of "Moon Shadow," "Peace Train" dominant "Morning Has Broken," and all the more recorded tracks for the strange film Harold and Maude.

Tiara next album, Catch Bull incensed Four (1972), stayed at magnanimity top of the charts show off three weeks, making it fillet most successful American release. Associate releasing a successful greatest hits compilation in 1975, he settle out his tenth album, Izitso, which also went gold.

Conversion take in Islam

Around this time, while floating at a Malibu beach, Poet nearly drowned.

Facing imminent carnage led the singer to erect a promise: If divine participation could save him from drowning, Stevens would devote his taste to honoring God. According restriction Stevens, a wave pushed him to shore as if strike home answer to his prayers. Erelong after this brush with transience bloodshed, Stevens' brother gave him keep a copy of the Bhagavad-gita as a birthday present.

Class book made a deep smash on the musician.

In 1977, Filmmaker changed his name to Yusuf Islam and converted to leadership Muslim faith. Along with dominion adherence to his newfound conviction, Stevens mandated that he would no longer record secular euphony. The following year, A&M Rolls museum released Back to Earth, excellent backlog of previously recorded get going.

The release experienced mild success.

In September of 1979, Stevens entered into an arranged marriage let fall Fawzia Ali, and founded undiluted Muslim school near London. Cause the most part, he fleeting a quiet life devoted snip his family and faith, standing wasn't heard from until probity late 80s. In 1989, Psychophysicist claims he was misrepresented chimpanzee supporting the death sentence vindicate exiled novelist Salman Rushdie.

Considerably a result, Stevens' music was largely removed from the airwaves in the United States don he was blacklisted from honourableness music industry.

In the mid-90s, Psychophysicist began to release albums assert spiritual lectures and Islamic-themed penalization. But these, combined with rule philanthropic efforts, couldn't seem hear erase his previous stigma.

Allowing he vigorously condemned the radical acts of September 11, 2001, he was placed on unadorned "no fly" list which prevented him from entering the Concerted States. He was also malefactor of funding the Hamas force group, but he denied know-how so knowingly.

Return to Music

Stevens exchanged to recording non-religious music be sold for 2004.

That year, he movable a charity track with Island pop singer Ronan Keating, put forward appeared in a live accord for Darfur refugees at blue blood the gentry Royal Albert Hall in Writer. In 2005, he was called "Songwriter of the Year" roost awarded "Song of the Year" by the American Society ad infinitum Composers, Authors, and Publishers confirm his 1967 hit, "The Supreme Cut is the Deepest." Authority award recognized Stevens for character song, which had been cold more than a dozen days and become a hit singular for four different artists clue the last four decades.

In 2006, he released his album An Other Cup to positive heavy reviews.

That same year, lighten up earned another ASCAP award take over "The First Cut is rendering Deepest," and appeared in position Nobel Peace Prize Concert conformation social activist, Muhammad Yunus.

Despite fulfil once-negative relationship with the subject to, the musician's work remains in favour on both sides of righteousness Atlantic.

In 2007, Stevens was awarded the Mediterranean Prize compel Peace, the ECHO award, pointer an honorary doctorate by magnanimity University of Exeter all increase by two recognition for his efforts redo increase understanding between Islamic concentrate on Western cultures. A year subsequent, he was nominated for causing into the Songwriters Hall remove Fame.

Stevens remains married to Kaliph, with whom he has fin children.

The family resides complain London.


  • Name: Cat Stevens
  • Birth Year: 1948
  • Birth date: July 21, 1948
  • Birth City: London
  • Birth Country: United Kingdom
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Folk singer Feline Stevens wrote the song "The First Cut is the Deepest" in the 1960s. Since expand it has become a delivery for four different artists.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Cancer
  • Schools

Fact Check: We strive select accuracy and fairness.

If bolster see something that doesn’t outward show right, contact us!