New York, NY (Top40 Charts) With a newly released album and an appointment as UN Global Ambassador just weeks behind him, the talented and versatile British singer-songwriter, composer, and accomplished musician, Sami Yusuf, brings his music and message to . Sami learned to play several musical instruments including the piano, violin, tar, santour, and oud at a very young age. He went on to study with several renowned composers, including some from the Royal Academy of
Music in London. His love of music and his devotion to perfecting his art led him at the age of twenty-three to release his groundbreaking debut album, Al-Muallim - an album composed, produced and sung by him. This young British Muslim instantly became a household name in lands as far and diverse as Egypt and Turkey. The album not only sold well over 7 million copies but also earned him a massive following in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. He is said to be one of the UK's biggest exports of the last decade.
Since Sami's meteoric rise to fame, his subsequent albums have sold over 35 million copies. He performs to sellout crowds in countries as diverse as Russia, Singapore, France, Turkey, Algeria, and the UK. A recent concert in Istanbul's Taksim square drew 250,000 fans. His music was used in the movie "The Kite Runner." Time Magazine called him "Islam's Biggest Rock Star" because of the large crowds he draws. The Guardian wrote of him: "Sami
Yusuf is THE Biggest Name in Muslim
Music - Anywhere!" He is said to be one of the UK's biggest exports of the last decade.
Sami's voice is strong, pure and vibrant. His music incorporates both Middle Eastern and Western sounds and whether lyrical love songs or energetic pieces pulsing with Eastern rhythms, they are all rich with spiritual longing.
Recognizing his influence as a role model for his youthful fans and wanting to use his prominent position to benefit others, Sami has helped to raise money for many charitable concerns, including the UN World Food Program. On August 26, 2014 he was appointed UN Global Ambassador against Hunger. His respect for the goal of the Foundation for Traditional Studies - to create better understanding among religions and cultures through a variety of channels - and for the works of its president, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, led Sami to perform this benefit concert at Strathmore.
