Cat Stevens

praying for you

the first cat is the deepest

Great music and really nice guy. I met him after he converted and he is really cool and not hateful or a "terrorist" like everyone here is saying. I have much respect for him. Very nice guy. http://www.arthurspools.com/

it took thme 11 years to put him on the ballot. thats lame. he changed the music world allot it gave songerwiters way to write about songs

He's probably getting some low ratings for religious reasons. I say it's irrelevent.

I don't care about his religious conversion and for those who do he has eschewed fundamentalism in favor of educating children. True, most of his body of work is more along the lines of folk music, but so was Bob Dylan's...and you don't hear anyone complaining about HIS music "not being rock". In fact, just thinking about his career made me upgrade Cat Stevens (now, Yousouf) from 4 stars to 5. And to the jerk who dismissed him as a terrorist, I'd suggest you pull your head out of your ass and read up on what this guy's done with his life.

solid citizen

pretty good in his day, but after Donovan

CAT-MAN-DO !

His music is wonderful, but isn't really rock . He is, however, just as qualified as some of the members. Maybe we should let him in and hope that he doesn't blow the place up.

NEVER,under ANY circumstances.Never was Rock & Roll by any definition anyway.

Cat Stevens defined the music of the 70s. He is one of the best singer/sonwriter(s) that have ever existed. He should definitely be in the hall of fame... its a no brainer. I believe that it is the bias of his conversion (and ugly rumors from ignorant people like some who have posted on this site), which is barring him from that recognition. Cheers to all the positive comments!

Yes. "Tea for the Tillerman" is packed with good songs. "Teaser and the Firecat" wasn't bad either. "Father and Son", is one of the two best songs, along with Springsteen's "Independence Day", written about the father/son relationship. Fogleberg's "Leader of the Band" is another good one, but it doesn't touch upon the difficult side of that relationship. One more thing: "Where do the Children Play?" is a great song, one of the earliest I can think of with an environmental theme. I guess "Big Yellow Taxi" came first, but the point remains valid.

Cat Stevens should be in the R&R; Hall Fame without any question, otherwise it becomes Hall of Shame.

he's a talented guy(how could you not like someone,who stands for peace,love & understanding),not sure how "rock n roll"he is though.

As fine an example of the golden era of singer/songwriters as you are likely to find and both an influential and dependable record maker.  The hold back is that he was never particularly "rock and roll", straying from folk pop once to my recollection, to do a soft rock version of Sam Cooke's "Another Saturday Night" .

A gifted and brilliant musicial. I cannot rank his music high enough...

terrorist

I love his songs from Harold and Maude. The 9 used in the movie are my all time favorites. His songs are so deep, powerful, and spiritually moving. He's a truly beautiful artist.

If you read the reviews of Circus Mag, Rolling Stones, Pink, Variety, Hit Parade , The Saturday Review.. from that era..  They say Cat Stevens was the single best thing to come out of  Britain since John, Paul, Ringo and George... and I agree.. He wrote about a world we believed in... and His music covered all facets of genres.. even reggae... He was more prolific and instrumental for using texturing of genres than anyone artist that I know ... He was a part of the British Invasion and  they need to do a wing just for that  Era.... I'm originally from Cleveland and was so proud that we won to have the RRHF there but I have to say ..its truly becoming a joke... and Musicologians..(my word) dont kno' squat about whats influenced  the music industry...Ask Bod Geldoff, Rod Stewart , Elton John , David Bowie, Dolly Parton.. just to name a few .. that were inspired by his music and  had their own music influenced by Cat Stevens Epiphanic sounds and lyrics.. Bring back the purity of the Rock ... Read more

Gee I'm surprised he's not higher up on the list!

Cat Stevens is maddeningly underrated as an artist. He composes lilting melodies, he writes poetic lyrics, he sings beautifully, and plays the piano and guitar with artistry. His music has always deeply moved me. I never tire of it, no matter how many times I listen. There is not one other artist I can say that about. It's magic.

Top artist with a great voice who influenced many. Cat Stevens sold out concert halls throughout the world during the 70s before leaving the music business and converting to Islam. He wrote an amazing array of songs, many of which have been recorded by other artists. Father and Son and The First Cut Is The Deepest, being two among many. Wrongly portrayed as being anti-American, Yusuf Isam, as he is now known, is probably one of the most placid and peace loving of men you could hope to meet.

Unfortunately, his conversion to Islam is the reason he is not in.

Unfortunately, America has u by your balls and you are too stupid to notice. Cat Stevens is a legend, Yusuf Islam is not involved w/ hamas and isn't a terrorist. How can you assume he is? did you see him? where do you get your information? You are pissed that someone as cool as him converted to ISLAM! Get a grip! Look how many wonderful things he has done since. Go and look at that instead of insulting him. What the hell do you do everyday that helps your community beside talking trash? you probably have never even left this country and have no knowledge of history. This country feeds off hating anyone who is different than them and if anti-islam because Bush kisses Jews ass everyday. Media, movies are all run by Jews. Pretty soon Jews will decide your faith. Look at each name on tv producers, movie producers..the news all ran by them. They show you what they want you to see. Read european news and it will show you a differnent side. Americans need to wake up, because you are all... Read more

James Taylor & Jackson Browne are in. Cat Stevens was just as influential, just as good of a songwriter and just as sucessful in his 70's heyday. Only in because of his comments on politics and Islam. So what, that's not what the Hall Of Fame is all about. Should be in.

He was nominated last year (2005) but not voted in - but expect him to be nominated again next year.

Love his early stiff, but praise allah, NO.

THIS MORON DOES NOT BELONG IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME OR EVEN BE CONSIDERED. ANY A**HOLE THAT APPLAUDED 9/11 AND SUPPORTS AL-QUEDA NO MATTER WHAT HE WAS BEFORE HE CHANGED HIS BELIEFS DOES NOT DESERVE ANY VOTES. ANY MUSICIAN THAT VOTES FOR PIECE OF TRASH, I WILL BOYCOTT HIS MUSIC FOREVER. THIS A**HOLE IS ANTI-AMERICAN NOW AND IS A RADICAL MUSLAMIC TERRORIST SUPPORTER. ISN'T THAT ENOUGH FOR ANY MUSICIAN NOT TO VOTE FOR THIS OF FILTH? THERE ARE REHABS FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOLIC MUDICIANS TO GET STRIAGHT. I CAN DEAL WITH THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE TERRORIST REHABS TO GET STRIAGHT. I CAN'T DEAL WITH ANTI-AMERICANS IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME! PLEASE DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT VOTING FOR THIS SCUM NO MATTER WHAT HE WAS LIKE LONG AGO! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

i can't believe he is not already in...SHAME!!!!!

Over-rated there is just not a lot of talent here I don't see why any one would get excited about this guy. Cat Stevens is not his name any more and I dought he would want to go into the hall under that name.

I would hate to see him use this as a stage for talking about Muslim religion he can wait longer so far as I am concerned.....VOTE DOUG SAHM IN 2006

He sucks. He's a terrorist! Glad he was denied entrance to the US of A! Hail BUSH!!!!

I feel obligated to place a rating/comment for the only known pop musician to support the Fatwa that was placed upon Salman Rushdie.

Cat Steven's music has had a profound effect on my life. His tunes are so inspiring. His later stuff as he headed towards Islam is kinda weak but Tea For The Tillerman, Teaer And The Firecat, and Mona Bone Jakon are incredible. I personally am tormented about the Yusuf Islam of today. I dont know what to say really. But the man that was Cat Stevens is a legend. There is no way he would accept the award today but somebody should accept it for him and make a nice speech.

Yusuf Islam is a terrorist who contributes to Hamas. And yes that is Gay Intowhite Johnny from www.catstevens.com

Pfft, are you little gay Johnny from that nut house of a website?

He should definately be in the HOF...no doubt about it. But I don't really care if he gets in or not and I don't think he does either. The HOF has plenty of untalented artists in it, so I really don't think whether he got in or not would speak for anything. Personally I think the whole HOF thing is stupid and Cat/Yusuf is ABOVE the whole concept. He doesn't need things like this for us to remember how amazing he was. Oh...and if you want you're opinion to be taken seriously guys...maybe a lot of you should get your facts straight, and then the rest of us won't have to roll our eyes and laugh at you. Cat Stevens is British, and was never an American. He is not a gun nut freak...in fact he is very public about being against the war in Iraq and war as a whole. He has won countless Peace Awards...so if you people say that he is an Ex-American who is a Gun Nut...you obviously have no clue what you're talking about so don't even bother telling us what you have to say...because none of it m... Read more

Didn't his music get banned from radio airplay back in the late 80's.

Yes, he deserves to be recognized--but probably won't. The man who wrote a song called Peace Train is now consider to be a threat to America.....is it just me, or is there something absurd and paranoid about this?

He's a great singer-songwriter. He should be in the HOF. It is a shame that people who do not know anything about Cat Stevens post nonsense such as he's an x-american. If you don't even know he is British, you must not know anything about him or his music. As for raterHOF's post, it is nothing but lies, lies and more lies. Israel and Palestine comprise the Holyland, meaning the Biblical lands. Didn't raterHOF ever hear of someone visiting the Holyland? That is what one would say if they were going on a trip to Israel and the surrounding areas.

He is too good for the RHOF and he is too good for facists.

Cat is too good for the HOF

America, you don't deserve him.

Definitely ought to be in. (And BTW, he's British, not American.)

Of course! One of the biggest names of the 70s and one of the most unique and versatile talents around. He was ahead of his time in many ways. (But he's probably too good for the Hall anyway...)

Everyone knows that Cat is so deserving the Hall of Fame award. His music is timeless with beautiful and haunting melodies that are so heartfelt that they touch generations young and old alike. Not to mention, Yusuf Islam, the man who was Cat Stevens is a peace activist and a fine humanitarian in his own right. In the last two years, he has won the World Social Award, the Wango Award, and the Man for Peace award all for his humanitarian activities for helping those in need. Yusuf has constantly spoken out against any acts of terrorism and is against violence of any kind. He donated huge amounts of money to the victims of 9-11, as well as victims in war torn counties. Yusus rerecorded his classic 70's smash hit, Peace Train and donated all profits to victims(mainly children) of war. Recently, Yusuf wrote a new song, in the old Cat Stevens style, called Indian Ocean. It is a hauntingly beautiful melody and all profits are donated to the survivors of the tsunami in Asia. Yusuf is... Read more

Over rated even in the 1970s. I don't see what all the fuss has ever been about this guy's music. Mediocre melodies and average lyrics speaking what was popular at the time. I get the feeling that if people like your message they will hail you as some great talent and for me that sums up Cat Stevens.

His music's no good, his politics are worse. Gun nut freak!

Not a rock and roller thus cannot be in the HOF. But a decent musican and artist. Great acoustic sound from the 70's but cannot be in a rock hall of fame. The postings calling Steven's politics 'wrong' or claiming he has supported the enemy are as dumb as the day is long. Stevens has done a lot to attempt to convince the Muslim world that America is not evil. Now that we've treated him like crap, how does that look? Another story the Amercian media got wrong. Another example of racism against Islam that makes us all look bad.