"I was once you are like now,
And I know that is not easy
To be calm when you've found something going on"
... says Cat Stevens in his famous 1970 hit "Father and Son".
Behind this incredible songwriting talent, Yusuf Islam has a very interesting life story. Maybe his miscellaneous perspective on life helped him to develop his artistic aspect.
Cat Stevens in 1971.
Born as Steven Demetre Georgiou in 1948 in London to a Cypriot father and a Swedish mother, known as "Cat Stevens", began his professional music career in London as playing in local pubs and events. Stevens released his debut studio album "Matthew and Son" in 1967. After he released "Mona Bone Jakon" and "Tea for the Tillerman" in 1970, Stevens was globally known with his iconic 70's hits 'Wild World' and 'Lady D'Arbanville'. When he had an accident which had a life-changing effect on him he was at the height of fame and his popularity and living in a different lifestyle. Stevens was nearly drowning and he found a way out to life again after his prayers to God. After that day on, he decided to devote himself to God and converted to Islam as taking the name of "Yusuf Islam".
After almost two decades of hiatus at his musical career, Islam decided to go on in 1990s with a different style but made his come-back literally in 2005. Today, he still continues his career actively with his stage name "Yusuf / Cat Stevens" and lives a modest life with his family.
Yusuf Islam in 2020.
