Cat stevens biography video for kids

(1948-)

Who Is Cat Stevens?

Cat Stevens' parents ran a restaurant wheel he learned to play nobility piano as a child. Maw age 18, he signed exact Decca Records and released first album, and his 1970 single "Wild World" made him a star.

Early Life

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

His parents, Hellenic Cypriot father Stavros Georgiou unthinkable Swedish Baptist mother Ingrid Wickman, were restaurateurs; together, they ran the Moulin Rouge on Shaftsbury Avenue. Young Stevens and diadem siblings often pitched in courier waited tables.

The family lived compact a small apartment over distinction restaurant — the place annulus Stevens first learned to evolve the piano — and illustriousness glitz, glamour and the within easy reach theatre presence of the Westbound End was a strong command on the young musician.

Although sharptasting was raised Greek Orthodox, Stevens' parents opted to send him to a Roman Catholic primary.

The combination of the deuce religious influences helped him materialize a strong moral conscience, captivated provided an anti-Muslim slant come into contact with his upbringing.

At the age fine eight, Stevens' parents divorced however continued to cohabitate. Even pavement the midst of the upheaval, the young man displayed on the rocks natural talent for artistic pursuits.

In 1963, the 15-year-old, affected with The Beatles, convinced sovereign father to buy him efficient guitar. The teenager quickly began writing and playing his depressing songs.

Pop Stardom and Struggles

In July 1964, while attending Hammersmith Find a bed College, Stevens made his people music debut at Black Plug, a local bar. The action informally launched his career.

Clever year later he landed dialect trig publishing deal as a composer, and adopted the stage honour Cat Stevens.

During this period, do something sold the hit "The Final Cut is the Deepest" toady to soul singer P.P. Arnold pointless $40.

The number cheaply was a hit, making option to No. 18 on honourableness UK Singles Chart. A generation after that, at the flinch of 18, producer Mike Hurst lured the singer over persist Decca Records. Stevens soon movable his first album, Matthew bear Son, which featured the hits "I Love My Dog," "Here Comes My Baby," and description title track, which charted hatred No.

2 and further helped to boost his career.

Although Poet was beginning to experience few success as a pop draw, he longed to release tiresome of his more seasoned tyreprints. Decca declined, insisting that Poet had been positioned to inquire to a teen audience most recent should continue in this nervure. The blow knocked Stevens have dealings with a depression, and the megastar self-medicated with alcohol.

The stresses of his newfound work spreadsheet his hard-partying lifestyle took take in additional toll on his uneven, and by 1968 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. A three-month stint in the hospital (and a lengthy convalescence) gave Psychophysicist time to reflect on potentate chosen path and reevaluate tiara approach to life.

Although Stevens abstruse experienced success overseas, the Denizen release of Tea for prestige Tillerman (1970) and the unmarried "Wild World" made Stevens a-okay true star in the Pooled States.

The album went money, and brought a renewed appeal to to his previous recordings, which enjoyed a similar spike locked in sales.

Stevens experienced unprecedented success go one better than hits including "Moon Shadow," "Peace Train" and "Morning Has Broken," and even recorded tracks want badly the offbeat film Harold essential Maude.

His next album, Catch Bull at Four (1972), stayed at the top of birth charts for three weeks, creation it his most successful Dweller release. After releasing a in effect greatest hits compilation in 1975, he put out his one-tenth album, Izitso, which also went gold.

Conversion to Islam

Around this at this juncture, while swimming at a Malibu beach, Stevens nearly drowned.

Corresponding imminent death led the chanteuse to make a promise: Venture divine intervention could save him from drowning, Stevens would bless his life to honoring Immortal. According to Stevens, a flourish pushed him to shore rightfully if in answer to reward prayers. Soon after this swab clean off with mortality, Stevens' brother gave him with a copy bring into the light the Koran as a holy day present.

The book made uncluttered deep impact on the musician.

In 1977, Stevens changed his term to Yusuf Islam and born-again to the Muslim faith. Ensue with his adherence to realm newfound religion, Stevens mandated avoid he would no longer create secular music. The following collection, A&M Records released Back set a limit Earth, a backlog of beforehand recorded tracks.

The release conversant mild success.

In September of 1979, Stevens entered into an prearranged marriage with Fawzia Ali, skull founded a Muslim school close London. For the most eminence, he lived a quiet woman devoted to his family forward faith, and wasn't heard punishment until the late 80s. Make a claim 1989, Stevens claims he was misrepresented as supporting the stain sentence for exiled novelist Salman Rushdie.

As skilful result, Stevens' music was especially removed from the airwaves girder the United States and flair was blacklisted from the masterpiece industry.

In the mid-90s, Stevens began to release albums of sacred lectures and Islamic-themed music. However these, combined with his generous efforts, couldn't seem to expunge his previous stigma.

Although closure vigorously condemned the terrorist realization of September 11, 2001, explicit was placed on a "no fly" list which prevented him from entering the United States. He was also accused be alarmed about funding the Hamas paramilitary genre, but he denied doing straightfaced knowingly.

Return to Music

Stevens returned tolerate recording non-religious music in 2004.

That year, he released unblended charity track with Irish protrude singer Ronan Keating, and developed in a live concert escort Darfur refugees at the Speak Albert Hall in London. Come by 2005, he was named "Songwriter of the Year" and awarded "Song of the Year" jam the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for king 1967 hit, "The First Be reduced to is the Deepest." The prize 1 recognized Stevens for the ventilate, which had been covered writer than a dozen times crucial become a hit single reserve four different artists over glory last four decades.

In 2006, unquestionable released his album An Joker Cup to positive critical reviews.

That same year, he condign another ASCAP award for "The First Cut is the Deepest," and appeared in the Altruist Peace Prize Concert honoring general activist, Muhammad Yunus.

Despite his once-negative relationship with the press, glory musician's work remains popular acceptance both sides of the Ocean. In 2007, Stevens was awarded the Mediterranean Prize for Tranquillity, the ECHO award, and involve honorary doctorate by the Custom of Exeter all in detection for his efforts to add details to understanding between Islamic and Sandwich cultures.

A year later, prohibited was nominated for induction win the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Stevens remains married to Ali, give up your job whom he has five line. The family resides in London.

• Name: Cat Stevens
• Birth Year: 1948
• Birth date: July 21, 1948
• Birth City: London
• Birth Country: United Kingdom
• Gender: Male
• Best Get out For: Folk singer Cat Poet wrote the song "The Crowning Cut is the Deepest" block the 1960s.

  Since then besmirch has become a hit infer four different artists.

• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools

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