Pages tagged “cat stevens”

Cat Stevens fans who were devastated about his decision to not make music after he converted to Islam in 1977 shall be devastated no more. Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, has returned to the studio to release An Other Cup, his first album in 28 years. The album is slated to be released Nov. 14.

Yusuf Islam—formerly known as singer/songwriter Cat Stevens—was detained by federal officials Tues. after his name showed up on a U.S. terrorist watch list.

A spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration confirmed that Islam, 56, was onboard United Airlines Flight 919 traveling from London to Dulles International Airport in Washington when the match was made with the list.

Federal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the passenger as Islam.

According to one official, the TSA was contacted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center after Islam was identified by the Advanced Passenger Information System, which requires airlines to submit their passenger information. After confirming the information, the TSA requested that the plane land at the nearest airport.

The flight was subsequently diverted to Maine’s Bangor International Airport, where it was met by federal agents around 3 p.m.

“He was interviewed and denied admission to the United States on national security grounds,'' Homeland Security spokesman Dennis Murphy told the Associated Press. He added that Islam would be put on the first available flight out of the country Wed.

Born Stephen Georgiou, Islam took Cat Stevens as a stage name and had a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s, including “Wild World,'' “Peace Train” and “Morning Has Broken.'' In the late 1970s, he was persuaded by orthodox Muslim teachers that his lifestyle was forbidden by Islamic law. As a result, he abandoned his successful music career and changed his name. Islam later became a teacher and an advocate for his religion, founding a Muslim school in London in 1983.

In 2003, he released two songs, including a re-recording of “Peace Train,'' to express his opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Contributing: AP

In February 1976, Cat Stevens performed in Williamsburg, Va., as part of his U.S. ‘Majikat Earth Tour’. The concert came just 18 months before he walked away from the music industry forever. Majikat: Earth Tour 1976, his first ever concert DVD, documents Stevens' last performance before leaving the business and changing his name to Yusuf Islam. The DVD is not only a collection of his greatest hits but also breaks the artist’s 28 year silence with a brand-new, exclusive 35-minute interview, answering long-pondered questions, explaining why he walked away and what he's been doing ever since. The DVD will be available May 18, 2004 through Eagle Rock Entertainment.

The ‘Majikat Earth Tour’ featured magicians, synchronized film projection and a specially constructed stage. The DVD showcases 21 of the Stevens' hits, including "Peace Train," "Oh Very Young," "Another Saturday Night" and many more. Bonus material includes a "Wild World" outtake from the ‘Majikat Earth Tour', "If I Laugh" from the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test 1971, "Maybe You’re Right" from the BBC In Concert 1971, and "Tuesday’s Dead" from Granada TV, Out Front 1971. The animated short film Teaser & The Firecat—narrated by Spike Milligan with a performance of "Moonshadow" and "Father & Son" from an original Island promo film—is also featured.

The DVD release coincides with the US launch of Small Kindness, Yusuf’s charity. In April 1999 Yusuf began Small Kindness, a non-profit organization that aims to help victims of war in Bosnia and Kosovo. The organization began by raising funds to distribute humanitarian aid to widows and orphans in the war-torn Balkan region. Recognizing the long-term needs of the region, Small Kindness developed programs to support culture and provide job skills training. Programs focus on computer lessons, sports, scholarships, management and IT training. Recently, Small Kindness set up an office in Amman, Jordan for victims of the war in Iraq. At the moment 300 Iraqi orphans are sponsored and a tech-training program is offered in partnership with Baghdad University.

To learn more about Small Kindness, visit the Yusuf Islam website.