1. Steven Demetre Georgiou Born on July 21, 1948 in London CAT STEVENS – Yusef Islam 1957 9 year old Steven buys his first 48 Single, Little Richard’s, Baby Face. 1958 The American musical “West Side Story” comes to London. Soon all of England and Steven Georgiou (who lives across the street from the theater) loves Leonard Bernstein’s passionate, pulsating music.

2. 1963 The Beatles hit #1 and set off the tidal wave of Beatlemania. Steve, along with millions of other teenagers, is crazy about them.

3. 1963 - Aged 15, Steven buys a guitar and also plays on the family’s baby grand piano. Steve plays folk and rhythm & blues and Beatle- style rock ‘n’ roll. 1963 JFK, Vietnam Governor George Wallace - Segregation,

4. 1964 = Steve’s first public appearance, Influenced by musical theatre, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, jazz, and blues artists (particularly Leadbelly and Muddy Waters). Steve begins writing his own songs

5. He intends to be a songwriter and to compose musicals like his heroes, Gershwin and Bernstein. One of his first songs"The First Cut Is the Deepest", (a song he sold for $50) earned him ASCAP "Songwriter of the Year" awards, in 2005 and 2006.The First Cut Is the DeepestASCAP 1965 Steve signs a publishing deal and records “The First Cut is the Deepest,”

6. 1967 Stevens recorded and toured with Jimi Hendrix and Engelbert Humperdinck Jimi HendrixEngelbert Humperdinck 1967: Matthew and SonMatthew and Son 1967: New MastersNew Masters Changes his name to Cat Stevens 1966 Song I Love My Dog reaches #28 in England

7. 1968 Tuberculosis A nagging cough, probably the result of too much drinking, smoking and fast living, is diagnosed as tuberculosis, resulting in a year of bed rest. Steve is 20 years old. He begins to slow down, to think about what he really wants and to read up on Buddhism and starts to meditate.

8. The first of a “new age” in musicals, “Hair” opens at the theater across from his home. Like many young people around the world, Steve is affected by its hippie ideals

10. 1969 Apollo America’s Apollo 11 astronauts become the first men to walk on the moon. On Cat’s very 21st birthday, he and his close friends witness the historic moon landing.

11. Stevens began to question his life, and spirituality. He took up meditation, yoga, became a vegetarian and read about other religions. meditationyoga 1970 – Vietnam protests, nuclear war/weapons, Peace and Environmentalist movement

12. 1970: Mona Bone JakonMona Bone Jakon 1970: Tea for the TillermanTea for the Tillerman 1970 Jimi Hendrix dies in London. 1971: Teaser and the FirecatTeaser and the Firecat Moonshadow/Father and SonMoonshadow/Father and Son (#30 USA, #22 U.K.) Peace Train/Where Do The Children Play?Peace Train/Where Do The Children Play? “Peace Train” becomes Steve’s first massive American hit, reaching No. 7. “And if you listen to my music and lyrics, like "Peace Train" and "On The Road To Find Out", it clearly shows my yearning for direction and the spiritual path I was travelling.”

13. Movie soundtracks 1971 Harold and Maude – Stevens wrote the songs for this movie. It became a popular cult movie celebrating the free spirit, Among the songs were "Where Do the Children Play?"cult movieWhere Do the Children Play?

14. 1972: Catch Bull at FourCatch Bull at Four 1973: ForeignerForeigner 1974: Buddha and the Chocolate BoxBuddha and the Chocolate Box 1975: NumbersNumbers 1975 LP: Greatest Hits album reaches #6 in America and becomes one of the best-selling Cat Stevens albums of all time.Greatest Hits

15. Religious conversion: In 1976 Stevens nearly drowned off the coast of Malibu, California, USA and said he shouted: "Oh God! If you save me I will work for you." Stevens' brother David Gordon brought him a copy of the Qur'an. Stevens took to it right away, and began his transition to Islam. Malibu, California Qur'an 1977: IzitsoIzitso 1978: Back to EarthBack to Earth

16. As Yusuf (1978 – Present) 2006: An Other CupAn Other Cup 2009: RoadsingerRoadsinger