He's on the Biography Channel from 1st Feb 2006

[SuzieQ]

Hi, I'm new to this so I hope I've done this right!!!
I have just noticed there will be a Cat Stevens Biography on the Biography Channel on the 1st Feb 2006 at 19:00 (7.pm) repeated on 2nd Feb 01:00-10:00-16:00 GMT for u.k. viewers (this will be shown today 19th Jan 2006 in the USA on the bio channel 20:00hrs and 00:00 20th Jan 2006 I'm sure we will all enjoy watching it although they probably won't tell us anything we don't already know...

SuzieQ

[Vivian]

Thanks for letting us know.

Peace,Vivian

[Chris]

Welcome to Majicat Suzieq!

I'm really looking forward to watching it tonight. I've been waiting a long time to see Biography finally do an episode on Cat. Anyway, here is a nice little review of the bio which appeared in the Chicago Tribune newspaper today.

metromix.chicagotribune.com/tv/mmx-0601180308jan19,0,7025537.story?coll=mmx-television_heds

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CHANNEL SURFING
Bio shows Cat Stevens as a man of peace


By Sid Smith
Tribune arts critic

The life and career of pop's most perplexing figure is the subject of "Biography: Cat Stevens" (7 p.m. Thursday on the Biography Channel).

The voice and songwriter behind some 40 million record sales, Stevens walked away from it all in 1977 to devote himself to his newfound Muslim religion. In a business where all but the few sadly wear out their welcome, he quit voluntarily.

And in a culture and time in which so many hopped on so many short-lived bandwagons, cults and trends, he stuck with it and with rare exception hasn't returned to singing or recording. (Imagine Madonna giving it all up for the Kabbalah.) Though hardly without controversy, Stevens never looked back at the fame and popularity he abandoned.

Born Stephen Demetre Georgiou, he grew up in the shadows of London's West End, the son of Greek parents. The nearby theater world helped spawn his interest in show business, while the '60s British pop revolution nudged his style and taste.

The lightness of early hits -- "I Love My Dog" and "Matthew and Son" -- bordered on bubble gum. But pop touring introduced bad behavior, and that and exhaustion led to a bout with TB. His sanitarium stay helped inspire many of the still vibrant works that brighten his songbook, "Moonshadow" the most telling among them. Stevens was a soul searcher from early on.

This biography tends to mention the songs and offer brief excerpts of "Wild World," "Father and Son" and "Morning Has Broken," the hit he fashioned from an old hymn. "Peace Train" is barely mentioned. This is not the sort of critical look found on the likes of VH-1.

But it features snippets from rare interviews and recounts how a near-drowning episode in Malibu led to his religious conversion. (He adopted the name Yusuf Islam.) It is a sympathetic look, arguing that comments made during the 1989 Salmon Rushdie controversy were misunderstood and that there remains no explanation of why he was denied entry into the U.S. in a 2004 airport incident.

It portrays him through and through as a man of peace.

Relying on the same frequently repeated images, all too brief and breezy, the program nevertheless is a welcome chance to ponder this enigmatic figure, whose melodic tunes and thoughtful lyrics play on in our collective consciousness.

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[sue]

It was an interesting program. Very repetitive, though.

[Vivian]

Did anyone tape it. Is it possible to get a copy? Thanks!

Peace,Vivian

[rainydays]

Did anyone catch Linda Lewis on this? It was really cute listening to her. It was nice to watch a positive program on Yusuf, but it had way to many commercials!

Em

[Celticat]

Sounds like a great programme and I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Jackie :-)

[SuzieQ]

DARK STARS - Cat Stevens - THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL Friday, April 21 @ 9 am ET

Unfortunatly, we in the UK don't get this on our Biography channel ( maybe at a later date)
Anyone fancy copying it??? PLEASE

Enjoy, SuzieQ