Cat Stevens, aka Yusuf Islam, turns 78

musicJul 21, 202620349

Yusuf Islam, the singer-songwriter known as Cat Stevens, turns 78; he was born Steven Demetre Georgiou on July 21, 1948, in Marylebone, London. His catalog includes enduring songs cited in tributes today such as "Moonshadow", "Peace Train" and his rendition of the hymn "Morning Has Broken." Stevens first recorded "The First Cut Is The Deepest" in 1966 and released his debut album Matthew and Son in 1967. Over decades he has been known for a late-1960s/1970s folk-rock peak, a public spiritual conversion under the name Yusuf Islam, and a later return to music. Fans and posts marking his birthday point to continued musical activity and ongoing recognition of his songwriting legacy.

Monica

@softtail65.bsky.social

Happy Birthday, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)! 🎶 What's one of your favorite Yusuf/Cat songs? 🎶 Born in London on July 21, 1948, he first recorded one of his most famous songs, "The First Cut Is The Deepest" in 1966 and in 1967 released his debut album, Matthew and Son. 👇

927h ago

Monica27

Cat has since released 25 studio albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide. In 1977, Cat converted to Islam & took a short hiatus. After performing only music that adhered to strict religious standards for nearly 3 decades, he returned secular music in 2006,

MJ 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈18

One of my favorites youtu.be/AopGsKIKMp8?...

Tim Murphy9

Trouble - Yusuf / Cat Stevens www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEPm...

tone curran9

one i really enjoy is this & the film is quite amusing (approx 2 mins & the song kicks in) cat stevens 'moonshadow' youtube.com/watch?v=x0aw...

Kiel Christianson9

“Where Do the Children Play?”

rsmith670.bsky.social8

Just about any on “Tea for the Tillerman”, take your pick.

🦌 The Deer Whisperer 🦌

@thedeerwhisperer.bsky.social

Born on this day, July 21, 1948. Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam)

744h ago

halltline.bsky.social1

Anyone who has ever picked up a guitar has a place in their heart for Cat Stevens.

Shantha Mohan, Ph.D., DTM

@shlead.bsky.social

🎵"Now I've been smiling lately Thinkin' about the good things to come And I believe it could be Something good has begun" youtu.be/Sdq4T3iRV80 Happy Birthday, Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens! 💐💐💐 #musicsky #music

237h ago

Lisa Calla Feeley ♍📚🎶✈️☮️✌️🧋☯️

@bookclubbabe.bsky.social

Happy #TwoForTuesday 🔆 how 'bout 2 from the birthday boy, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam? Oh Very Young youtu.be/EiwBAkOx1fQ?... Peace Train youtu.be/M9cJRqsKZKo?... #EarWorm

219h ago

Gryphon1

Such a great artist! Good Morning, Lisa. 🎶🎸🎹

Craig Pittman

@craigtimes.bsky.social

Folk-rocker Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, turns 78 today. Blackbird has spoken!

159h ago

Music Box Magazine

@musicboxonline.bsky.social

Good morning, Blue Sky! "Well, if you want to sing out, sing out And if you want to be free, be free 'Cause there's a million things to be You know that there are" (Happy Birthday, Cat Stevens/Yusuf!)

187h ago

ismua ᴮˡᵘᵉˢᵏʸ ᴱˡᵈᵉʳ📯 🌈⛵💜

@ismua.bsky.social

#MeinSongDesTages zum heutigen 78. Geburtstag von Cat Stevens. Happy Birthday Yusuf 🎊🎂 Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father & Son

176h ago

Ron Sexsmith

@ronsexsmith.bsky.social

In honour of Yusuf Cat Stevens birthday Ron sings "Sad Lisa" RS youtu.be/LN01G3EZBE8?...

185h ago

Mr Natural

@neilmatheson66.bsky.social

Happy 78th birthday, guitarist and singer, songwriter Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam. 🎂

1214h ago

Dr Pop Culture USA

@drpopcultureusa.bsky.social

July 21, 1948: Cat Stevens [Steven Demetre Georgiou; Yusaf Islam], British singer-songwriter ("Peace Train"; "Moonshadow"), is born in London.

1311h ago

Séamas Aloysius

@seamusaloysius.bsky.social

July 21, 1948, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Cat Stevens ❤️ was born in London, England. Well to be more accurate, he was born Steven Georgiou (and later became Yusuf Islam).

Stevens contracted tuberculosis in 1969 and was close to death at the time of his admittance to the King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, West Sussex. He spent months recuperating in the hospital and a year of convalescence.
As a result of his serious illness and long convalescence, and as a part of his spiritual awakening and questioning, he wrote as many as 40 songs, many of which would appear on his albums in years to come.
In 1976, Stevens nearly drowned off the coast of Malibu, California, and said he shouted: "Oh, God! If you save me I will work for you." He stated that, immediately afterwards, a wave appeared and carried him back to shore. This brush with death intensified his long-held quest for spiritual truth.
His brother David Gordon, a convert to Judaism, brought him a copy of the Qur'an as a birthday gift from a trip to Jerusalem, soon beginning his transition and conversion to Islam, which would change forever his private and professional life.
Stevens formally converted to the Muslim faith on 23 December 1977, taking the name Yusuf Islam in 1978.
He left music for a period of time, but luckily for us all, he came back.
His spiritually inquisitive and touching music continues to bring joy, as he continues to record and play concerts to this day.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2019 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

87h ago

Séamas Aloysius2

... and my favorite: Bitterblue youtu.be/CdfN7LTBSAY?...

tone curran

@tonecurranpoet.bsky.social

one i really enjoy is this & the film is quite amusing (approx 2 mins & the song kicks in) cat stevens 'moonshadow' youtube.com/watch?v=x0aw...

96h ago

Cori

@crescendoofpeace.bsky.social

This is also the birthday of Cat Stevens, aka Yusuf, born Steven Demetre Giorgiou on 21 July 1948. Now in his 70s, he's still making music and helping others.

46h ago

Louis

@louisevans.bsky.social

"Bean Dad take this country . . . come take me home again." – Cat Stevens if he were Too Online

55h ago

Bean N. Curling

@beancurling.bsky.social

youtu.be/C9v8fStNnhk?... We had to sing Morning Has Broken in seventh grade. I was a moonshadow kid.

3Just now

2 sources

sheetmusiclibrary.websiteHappy birthday, Cat Stevens, born on this day in 1948 dogmainrecords.bandcamp.comMorning Has Broken (Cat Stevens) - Rui&Flip, by Dogmain records

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Cat Stevens, aka Yusuf Islam, turns 78

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