Cat Stevens is back
2004-10-15 08:44
London - Cat Stevens, who abandoned his music career when he converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam 30 years ago, is making a surprise comeback with a single that could top the charts at Christmas.
Yusuf Islam, 56, who sold 50 million records in the 1960s and 1970s, has recorded a version of his 1970 hit Father and Son with Ronan Keating, the Irish pop star, The Times newspaper reported on Thursday.
A bookmaker tipped the song as the 7-1 favourite to become the Christmas No 1, it added.
As Cat Stevens, Islam enjoyed a string of hits including Wild World and Moonshadow. He converted to Islam after nearly drowning in California in 1976.
He avoided recording secular music, believing mistakenly, he now admits, that it was forbidden by the Koran.
He devoted himself to creating single-faith Islamic schools in Britain but denies delivering funds to the Islamic militant group Hamas in Israel.
Islam has known Keating, a former member of Boyzone, for a decade.
A spokesperson for Keating told The Times: "They first met ten years ago when Boyzone performed Father and Son on Top Of The Pops and stayed in touch. Ronan asked him to do the duet and he said yes."
Islams recent journey to Nashville, curtailed by the US authorities, was to discuss plans for a new album.
He is writing a Broadway musical based on his hits and sang at a charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Islam was deported from the United States last month after being denied entry on "security grounds" and was released without charge.
He has denied supporting terrorist organisations.
- SAPA