YUSUF ISLAM - CAT STEVENS TO PERFORM AT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT

CAT STEVENS TO PERFORM AT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT

The singer formerly known as CAT STEVENS will give a rare live performance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway on 11 December (06), because he's ready to sing "about life in this fragile world" again. The Muslim convert, now known as YUSUF ISLAM, turned his back on music and became a devout scholar of the religion in 1978 after almost drowning off the California coast. He has since become one of the world's leading humanitarians, but his charity work with Islamic groups landed him in trouble in 2004 when he was prevented from entering America for a business meeting after his name showed up on a list of potential security threats. Islam says, "There were 100 reasons for leaving the music industry, not least because I had found what I was looking for spiritually. "Today there are perhaps 101 good reasons why I feel right making music and singing about life in this fragile world again." Islam will be joined on the concert bill by LIONEL RICHIE, RIHANNA, SIMPLY RED, country star WYNONNA JUDD and opera singer RENEE FLEMING.