Yusuf, popularly known as Cat Stevens, one of the best-selling singer-songwriters in history, is back on tour again, mixing evergreen hits, such as "Wide World," "Morning Has Broken" and "Moonshadow," with powerful new songs for the new millennium. In concert, his ringing voice radiates serenity, infusing his thrilled audiences with a brightening glow. His 2009 album tour for "Roadsinger" included acclaimed TV appearances with Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. In 2010, he rocked in Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, and his long-awaited European tour in 2011 packed concert arenas in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Belgium.
Yusuf first gained world renown as Cat Stevens in the '70s with albums such as "Tea for the Tillerman," "Teaser and the Firecat" and "Catch a Bull at Four," and his songs continue to be covered by many artists. "Peace Train" was a hit for Dolly Parton and also used in the movie soundtracks for "We Are Marshall" and "Remember the Titans," and stirringly sung by Yusuf himself for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam in 1977 when he converted to Islam. His art, always layered with the lyricism of mystics, found a further fusion of the spirit and human worlds in the musical core of the Koran. He continued to create best-selling albums, and his charitable work for peace and education expanded exponentially. In 2005, ASCAP named his song, "The First Cut Is the Deepest," Song of the Year, also naming him Songwriter of the Year. In 2013, he was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A ticket for one of his concerts is like a key to a treasure chest, unlocking even more musical gold from this long-loved troubadour of the 20th and 21st centuries.
