Lakeland Florida 1976

[angelsea15]

Lakeland with my mom when I was 17
Anyone else there?

[khadijah]

I first met Yusuf in 1976 in Atlanta. I had my picture taken with him and that's my friend Carol. Later that year we went to Connecticut and we saw him in concert and had backstage passes. I had a friend that knew him and arranged for us to have brunch in the hotel restaurant with him on Leap year day, 1976. I was starstruck, and didn't talk too much! He told us that he was studying the Islamic religion. Years later (1980) I met him in London and under his guidance accepted Islam. My Islamic name is Khadijah.

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[Chris]

Wonderful photograph Khadijah. And how exciting for you, that you were able to meet with him.

Welcome to Majicat... Hopefully someday soon he will revisit the states for you and many others to see him again.

Christine

[angelsea15]

Wow, holy spit Khadijah !
I
mean, holy s-it!

[suncatcher]

Apr 28, 2010 19:40:03 GMT -5 khadijah said:

I first met Yusuf in 1976 in Atlanta. I had my picture taken with him and that's my friend Carol. Later that year we went to Connecticut and we saw him in concert and had backstage passes. I had a friend that knew him and arranged for us to have brunch in the hotel restaurant with him on Leap year day, 1976. I was starstruck, and didn't talk too much! He told us that he was studying the Islamic religion. Years later (1980) I met him in London and under his guidance accepted Islam. My Islamic name is Khadijah.

Thank you for sharing this, Khadijah. It's wonderful that you've had so many opportunities to meet Yusuf, and you've truly been blessed.

How did you get to meet him in Atlanta - was it after a concert?

Is that you on the right side of the picture (on Yusuf's left-hand side)? I'm sorry, but I think I misunderstood something and I'm not sure if the picture is of your friend Carol or Donna (as the caption says in your original post).

A brunch with Yusuf must have been amazing - I would have been unable to eat! I know it's silly to ask, but I'm curious - what did Yusuf order?

When you say that you accepted Islam "under his guidance" does that mean that he taught you about Islam and that you declared your faith with Yusuf as witness?

Sorry for all of these questions, but all of this is just awesome, and all these questions just come to mind. Khadijah - thank you so much for sharing.

Peace,
~Sun~

[khadijah]

You guys are funny! Yes, that is me on the right with the long hair. I saw him several times after that and in the 80's I saw him in London and he remembered me. Hasana was 1 then. I received books and information from him about Islam and yes, he was with me when I accepted Islam. He was so touched, and it is a moment I will always remember. I was offered a job at an Islamic school. At that time Yusuf was just preparing to start a school, so he often came to the school I worked at and had lunch and talked with us about it. I often attended his class at the mosque. Then I got married and moved back to Florida. I was fortunate to again move to London when my husband's family wanted us to move there. So I often saw Yusuf and went to the Mosque. Eventually, I moved back to Florida and to my surprise, I saw him again in 2000 in Ft Lauderdale where I had breakfast with him again (tea of course) at the Sheraton. He was preparing for an interview with 20/20. We talked about his feelings about music and Islam and we had a wonderful visit. It's amazing how over 34 years our paths have crossed so many times. I am divorced now, living on a farm in Florida. Here is another picture for you. It is at the Mosque. I am in the foreground and Yusuf, waving, is walking with two men.

[khadijah]

This was in about 1982.

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[suncatcher]

Apr 29, 2010 22:13:21 GMT -5 khadijah said:

...Here is another picture for you. It is at the Mosque. I am in the foreground and Yusuf, waving, is walking with two men.

I didn't know that Yusuf taught a class at the mosque. I like your picture - and it's nice to have another glimpse at Yusuf as a Muslim. It seems that this aspect of his life is not so well-known or understood, which is perhaps why so many fans thought he'd simply disappeared after embracing Islam. So, thank you for shedding a litttle light on this for us.

It's marvelous that Yusuf was there when you accepted Islam, Khadijah. (Alhamdulillah!) I'm sure he was very touched - when someone embraces Islam, it's as miraculous and breathtaking as when a child is born.

I'm sorry that you're divorced, but I assume that it's for the best and I hope that you're happily enjoying your life on a farm.

Thank you for sharing your remarkable story, Khadijah.

Peace,
~Sun~

[Katmandu]

I was there, although I thought it was very late 1975; no matter.
I attended quite a few concerts at the Lakeland Civic Center
as there were very few venues available in the Tampa Bay area
at that time. I remember commenting after the show that that
particular show and one I had seen earlier from Jethro Tull were
the best shows I had ever seen. Although I love my mother with all my heart, she would have been the last person I would have wanted with me at a concert. I didn't know that that would be the last time I would see him as Cat Stevens. I think I was seventeen at that time, also.

[Katmandu]

Just remembered, it was 1976

[waterside]

May 6, 2010 12:42:09 GMT -5 Katmandu said:

Just remembered, it was 1976

It was January 15, 1976. My husband and I were there and the concert was magical. I don't think Cat said one word to the audience except "thank you" when he'd finish a song.....but he didn't need to.......he was amazing even without the in-between song chatter.

My dh and I were the first to arrive and we felt kind of out of place just standing there so we walked around a little and suddenly heard Cat's voice coming from inside the building. He was doing the soundcheck and sang lots of songs. We walked around to the side doors to listen and couldn't see the front of the building (Lakeland Civic Center) so we had no idea if a crowd was gathering. Two guys came up to us and asked if we wanted to sell our tickets. We said a definite "NO"! The concert was completely sold out.....which is why they were trying to get someone to sell them tickets.

We then walked around to the front and saw a huge line of people had gathered while we had been at the side listening to Cat. This was a general admission concert so we had no assigned seats.

I was so mad at myself for not staying at the front of the building because we probably could have gotten front row seats if we'd stayed in line. However, we weren't too far back so we still had great seats and a great view. When Cat moved to the piano for one of the songs someone threw something like an orange or apple, and hit him in the back. He put his hand on his back like it hurt, and looked around, but didn't see who did it.........but he never said a word about it and just went on with the concert. I'm sure a lot of the audience never even saw what happened. Now why would someone do something like that, I wonder?........just to get Cat to turn around?......whatever the reason, it was just plain rude.

Cat put on a fantastic concert that night. It is the only Cat concert I ever attended and it was terrific!!!!!!!



eta that the concert was sold out. Oh, and I just thought of something. This was the first stop on the US Tour. They didn't have programs, shirts, or anything for sale, as far as I could see. Maybe I missed the merchandise, but I don't remember seeing anyone else with it either. I just figured it didn't arrive in time.....but like I said, maybe I just didn't see it.

[flemmishfangent]

I should trow a rose on the piano not on Cat lol alto trowing something in the right place is not one of my specialty's lol lovely to read all these comments i never had the chance to go to one of his concerts but the story's i love to read Regine