Cat Stevens - Biography Of A Great Star

For the balance of the 1970s Cat Stevens was a trans-Atlantic superstar whose soft, romantic, hooky, and often-mystical singles were Top Ten mainstays. After eight gold albums in a row, the commercially and critically lauder singer/songwriter's star began to fade. The son of a Greek father and Swedish mother, Stevens (b. Steven Demetri Georgiou, Jul 21, 1947, London, Eng.) spent his early youth developing a love of Greek folk songs and dances. By the time he entered secondary school, he had also taken an interest in rock and roll and English and American folk music. While attending Hammersmith College in the mid-1960s, he began writing his own songs and performing solo. In 1966 independent producer Mike Hurst (formerly with the Springfields) produced Stevens' first U.K. hit single, "I Love My Dog." In 1967 "Matthew and Son" went to Number Two on the British chart. Meanwhile, Stevens' tunes were British hits for other performers as well. P.P. Arnold hit with "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (later covered by Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow), the Tremeloes with "Here Comes My Baby." Stevens toured England and Europe, becoming something of a teen idol, and shared bills with Jimi Hendrix and Engelbert Humperdinck, among others. But Stevens became disenchanted with what he considered the shallowness of his ventures. After his 1968 hit "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun" (Number Six U.K.), he tried to work ambitious classical arrangements into his tunes, to his producers' chagrin. Stevens' career then came to a standstill when he contracted a near-fatal case of tuberculosis in late 1968 and was confined to a hospital for a year. He took that time to work on his new material, which was unveiled in Mona Bone Jakon, a critical success that yielded a British hit single in "Lady D'Arbanville" (Number Eight U.K., 1970) (purportedly about the actress Patti D'Arbanville). The muted accompaniment was by flutist Peter Gabriel (who would soon find his own fame in Genesis), percussionist Harvey Burns, and perennial Stevens collaborator guitarist Alun Davies. Stevens' next album, Tea for the Tillerman, hit the U.S. Top Ten and stayed on the charts for well over a year, yielding the hit "Wild World." Stevens was now a highly successful concert performer as well. The next album was another hit; Teaser and the Firecat went to Number Three, then gold, and contained the hits "Morning Has Broken" (Number Six), "Peace Train" (Number Seven), and "Moon Shadow" (Number 30). Though Catch Bull at Four and Foreigner were also certified gold, they yielded no big hits. At that time, unbeknownst to many of his fans, Stevens was living in Brazil, donating much of his earnings to charities such as UNESCO. With Buddah and the Chocolate Box, featuring "Oh Very Young" (Number 10), and Numbers, Stevens' sales dropped off. In 1975 Stevens began studying the Koran and later converted to the Muslim religion. In late 1981 the rechristened Stevens announced, "I'm no longer seeking applause and fame," and auctioned off all his material possessions, including his gold records, in order to help the poor everywhere troughout the world. * 2003 World Award also known as the "World Social Award" for "humanitarian relief work helping children and victims of war". * 2004 Man for Peace Award presented by Mikhail Gorbachev for his "dedication to promote peace, the reconciliation of people and to condemn terrorism", the ceremony was held in Rome, Italy and attended by five Nobel Peace Prize laureates. * 2005 Honorary Doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire for services to education and humanitarian relief. * 2007, Was awarded the Mediterranean Prize for Peace in Naples, Italy. He received the award "as a result of the work he has done to increase peace in the world". * On 10 July 2007, Honorary doctorate (LLD) by the University of Exeter, in recognition of "his humanitarian work and improving understanding between Islamic and Western cultures". The ceremony was attended by esteemed personalities including Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and guitarist Brian May. [edit] Music awards * 2005 Nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame * On 20 October 2005, ASCAP Named Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year for "The First Cut Is the Deepest" * On 11 October 2006, Awarded Songwriter of the Year for the second year running, for the same song "The First Cut Is the Deepest". * On 25 March 2007, he received the German ECHO "special award for life achievements as musician and ambassador between cultures", Europe's Grammy, in Berlin * 2008 Nomination for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

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tobias2323 (2009-05-29)

why is that funny? I'm pretty sure it will get mentioned in the doc. You sound like a complete fucking idiot.

SeekTruth (2009-05-30)

tobias2323 dot use bad words. "fucking" "idiot" why? He is right probably, Demetre Georgiou's official name now is Yusuf Islam.
From chistianity, trough zen buddhism, to islam. Awesome story.
www.
mountainoflight
.co.uk
Peace upon you all!

SeekTruth (2009-06-02)

hahaha you are suffering Islamophobia! Islam tells hat there are no unbelieving children. Prophet Muhammed told they are all from God, and the one rightly guided. Their parents are they who can be deviated. So in Islam you should consider ALL the children closer to God then you, independently how good Muslim you are. I'm Muslim and I help children from Christian and other famillies, because Islam tells me they have more pure souls then mine. In arabic is called "Fitrah" The sound nature, the divine design, which we all have in childhood. It is after that, that we corrupt it, alienate from our true nature and become unhappy because of that. Islam is simpy the way back to the preeternal source, our true essence, the sublime happiness of our existence, being in union with the Beloved, being in presence of Allah

SeekTruth (2009-06-02)

HAHAHA
Cliche! original islamophobe! Totally brainwashed by the media. I have read the Qur'an and found nothing of hatred and violence in it.
PROOFS

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from
error. (Koran 2.256)
Say (O Muslims): We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. (Koran 2.136)
Those who believe, those who are Jews, and the Christians, all who believe in God and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Koran 2.62)
Say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender. (Koran 29.46)
O Mary! Lo! God giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto God). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). God createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel (Koran 3.45-48)
When God said: O Jesus, I will take you to Myself and exalt you, and rid you of the infidels, and hold those who follow you above those who disbelieve (Koran 3.55)
And the closest in love to the faithful are the people who say: We are the followers of Christ (Koran 5.82)
If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust in God (Koran 8:61)
So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. (Koran 3.159)
Yet pardon them, and overlook. God loves good-doers. (Koran 5.13)
If any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection. (Koran 9.6)
God calls to the Abode of Peace. (Koran 10.25)
God does not love aggressors. (Koran 2.190)
God does not love corrupters. (Koran 5.64)
God commands justice and doing good and giving to relatives. And He forbids indecency and doing wrong and tyranny. (Koran 16.90)
Help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression (Koran 5:2)
If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them. (Koran: 4.124)
Who so does that which is right, and believes, whether male or female, him or her will We quicken to happy life. (16:97)
Everything which contradics the Koran, absolutelly cannot be said as Islamic or Muslim. Forcing the religion of Islam is Prohibited by the Cannonical texts of Islam.
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error. (Koran 2.256)
Those who believe, those who are Jews, and the Christians, all who believe in God and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Koran 2.62)
Want more?
Hopeless Islamophobes! What the media tells you is becoming your ultimate truth! Use your mind in order to be human.
BTW these are The terrorist...
www.

.shtml

SeekTruth (2009-06-10)

This is the "rational" critic on Islam. This is why freedom of speech exists.
When a muslim writes verses from the Quran which teach love, s/he is banned from TPB. This guy is left to spread hatred, as long as it's toward muslims.

SeekTruth (2009-07-17)

This are the fruits of your anti-islamic campaign

 Kuthumi (2009-08-01)

Thank you, great story!

tung2 (2010-05-01)

Thank you so much...now we believe which teaching is the real teaching of God.....