Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens

• Born Steven Demetre Georgiou
• grew up in a flat in London’s theatre district
• father bought him his first guitar at age 15
• also a talented painter
• studied at Hammersmith Art College
• was first signed by Decca Records
• first hit song in November 1966 called “I Love My Dog”
• changed name from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam
• still making music now
•  has a 2009 album

1963- Aged 15, Steven convinces his father to buy him a guitar.

1964- Although painting and cartooning will remain a lifelong passion, Steve leaves Hammersmith Art College (now the Chelsea College of Art & Design),  before graduation and devotes himself to music.

1966- Steve tells Mike Hurst his stage name is Cat Stevens because a girlfriend at art school had told him he had eyes like a cat’s.

1971- “Peace Train” becomes Steve’s first massive American hit, reaching No. 7.

1978- Steven Georgiou changes his name to Yusuf Islam.

1979- Yusuf Islam marries Fauzia Ali at Regent’s Park Mosque, the 1000th wedding to take place there.

1980- Hasanah, a daughter, is born to Yusuf and his wife.

1981- Yusuf’s second child, Asmaa, is born.

1983- Maymanah, Yusuf’s third daughter, is born at home.

1985- Yusuf’s first son, Muhammad, is born.

At the massive Live Aid charity concert at Wembley Stadium, Yusuf arrives and offers to perform – a capella – a new song written for the occasion, “The End.” The promoters allow Elton John to overrun, leaving no time for Yusuf. Having turned his back on the music business, Yusuf comes to understand that the business has also turned its back on him.

1988- Aminah, Yusuf and Fauzia’s fourth daughter, is born.

1990- Yusuf’s sixth child, a son named Abd Al-Ahad, dies after 13 days of life. Two months later, Ingrid Georgiou (Safiyyah), Yusuf’s mother, dies.

2000- American cable network VH1 profiles Cat Stevens on “Behind the Music,” lifting the veil of mystery from Yusuf and allowing him to speak directly to his fans about his disappearance from the world of popular music, and to address the many misconceptions and rumours that had proliferated over the years. It also provides the program with one of its highest–ever ratings.

2009- Yusuf is in Los Angeles where he records “The Long and Winding Road” for a Paul McCartney tribute album. The session takes place at the Jim Henson Company Lot, the former home of A&M Records and where Yusuf, Carol King, The Carpenters and Herb Alpert used to meet and hang out.

Yusuf Islam Website