09-18-2009, 09:17 AM
http://arabia.msn.com/News/entertainment/A...ber/981281.aspx
Released on - Thursday,17 September , 2009 -13:04 35 Yusuf Islam, the musician formerly known as Cat Stevens, is to return to the stage for his first tour since 1976, he said on Thursday.
The British singer-songwriter is to pick up his acoustic guitar once more to play his hits and unveil his first stage musical, entitled "Moonshadow".
The 61-year-old was born in London as Steven Georgiou and had hits in the 1960s and 1970s as Cat Stevens.
He became a Muslim in 1977, took the name Yusuf Islam and retreated from the pop stage, devoting himself to education and philanthropy.
He gradually returned to music in the 2000s and released the pop album "An Other Cup" in 2006, his first in 28 years, under the name Yusuf.
"My songs always told a story, so it's natural for me to extend that into a stage musical form," Yusuf said.
"It's taken a long time to arrive, but it's always been a dream of mine to write a musical. Growing up in the West End of London, surrounded by theatres and shows, obviously left a strong impression on me.
"I originally wanted to be a composer, not a pop star. Strange how it's taken almost a lifetime, but it had to -- the story is somewhat a metaphorical mirror of my own journey, so I suppose it had to wait to reach where I am today."
Cat Stevens' hits included "Wild World", "Morning Has Broken", "Peace Train", "Father And Son" and "The First Cut Is The Deepest".
Promoter Harvey Goldsmith said: "Yusuf wanted this return to be different and exciting for his fans. So we created a show that could show him at his best and also incorporate his new project -- the musical.
"With 'Moonshadow', he has woven songs old and new into a beautiful story of a boy named Stormy.
"It's an enchanting and inspired tale which is underpinned by a narrative about life's journey, a theme Yusuf knows more about than most."
The four dates announced so far on the November to December "Guess I'll Take My Time Tour" are in Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool and at London's Royal Albert Hall.
