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MICHAEL JACKSON FREND WHO SINGS NASHEED| . |
Dawud Wharnsby (born David Howard Wharnsby on June 27, 1972) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, performer,educator and television personality. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known for his work in the musical/poetic genre of English Language nasheed and spoken word.[2][3]
In 1993, Dawud (David) Wharnsby and fellow Crackenthorpe's Teapot vocalist Heather Chappell began touring and performing as a duo, releasing an independent album (Off To Reap The Corn) containing renditions of traditional Canadian and Irish folk music. The recording also featured Wharnsby's original lyrical adaptation of the traditional song "The Black Velvet Band". His comical version "The Black Velvet Band as Never Before" is still sung in folk music circles.[10]
Dawud has released several internationally distributed albums since 1995, including Blue Walls And The Big Sky,[11] Vacuous Waxing (with Canadian writer Bill Kocher), A Different Drum (with The Fletcher Valve Drummers) and Out Seeing The Fields. In the mid-1990s Dawud began to work in the genre of English language nasheed (spiritual hymns of a folk/world-beat style, drawn from Qur'anic tradition). He has released over 10 popular albums of spiritual nasheed since 1993, including A Whisper of Peace, Colors of Islam, Road to Madinah and Sunshine Dust And The Messenger, all released through US based media company Sound Vision.Com.[2]
September 3, 2007 Dawud released "Out Seeing the Fields" composed of 12 tracks, co-produced with LA based pianist Idris Phillips.[12] The 11th track of the album named "Rachel" is a tribute to Rachel Corrie who was killed by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer, during an ISM protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes by the IDF in the Gaza Strip.[13]
During his career Dawud has collaborated with Stephen Fearing,[14] Irshad Khan,[14] Danny Thompson,[14] Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens),[15][16] Zain Bhikha,[16] Idris Phillips,[15][16] Hadiqa Kiani and Atif Aslam.[6]
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Educational efforts[edit]
In honor of author, screenwriter and lecturer Rod Serling, Wharnsby (inspired as a child by Serlings' work) is also a supporter of the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation and contributor to The Foundation's scholarship fund.[18]
As a result of his global efforts promoting artistic expression as a tool for positive social change, Simple Living, environmental preservation and community bridge-building Dawud Wharnsby was declared an Ambassador of Scouting by the Scout Association in the UK as of June 2010.[19]
Personal life[edit]
In 1993, David Howard Wharnsby embraced the teachings of the Qur'an [2][3][6][20] changing his name to "Dawud" (Arabic: داوود) - the Arabic form of "David" - and added the name "Ali" (Arabic: علي) to his surname. The name "Ali" was dropped from professional use in 2003, but remains a part of his legal name. Wharnsby is a proponent of Perennial philosophy, has identified himself as a Muslim since 1993 and also adheres to the principals of Unitarian Universalism.[20][21]
Married in 2003, Dawud Wharnsby, his wife and their two children reside seasonally in the state of Colorado, United States, Abbottabad, Pakistan and in Waterloo,Ontario, Canada.[22][23][24]
Though family ties do exist, Dawud Wharnsby is not to be confused with film editor David Wharnsby, also a native of the Kitchener-Waterloo area.[25]
In the media[edit]
Dawud Wharnsby was named in a November 21, 2008 article by The Sun,[26] as being a primary influence in an alleged conversion to the religion of Islam by pop starMichael Jackson. The article stated that Wharnsby and fellow musician Idris Phillips were "pals" of Michael Jackson and had talked to him "about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted.". The article was subsequently run by major print and television media worldwide.[27][28][29]
Following the death of Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009 the original Sun article resurfaced, intensifying rumors surrounding Jackson’s religious affiliation and his alleged "conversion" to the religion of Islam through the counsel of Dawud Wharnsby and Idris Phillips. A June 26, 2009 public statement by Wharnsby, initially presented on his official website[30] stated:
On the topic of conversion, Wharnsby also stated:
In November 2009 Dawud Wharnsby's name was included in the category of "Entertainment and The Arts" on a list of the 500 Most Influential Muslims, compiled by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center (Jordan),[31] and published with support of Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.[32] Wharnsby was also included on the follow up lists of 2010, 2011 and 2012.[33]
Discography[edit]
Solo work[edit]
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Blue Walls and the Big Sky |
| 1996 | A Whisper of Peace |
| 1997 | Colours of Islam |
| 1998 | Road to Madinah |
| 2002 | Sunshine, Dust and The Messenger |
| 2003 | The Prophet's Hands |
| 2005 | Vacuous Waxing |
| 2006 | The Poets and The Prophet |
| 2007 | Out Seeing The Fields |
| 2011 | A Picnic of Poems |
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.Selected collaborations[edit]
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Off to Reap the Corn (with Heather Chappell) |
| 1994 | Fine Flowers in The Valley (with Heather Chappell) |
| 2001 | Light Upon Light (Various Artists) |
| 2001 | Faith (with Zain Bhikha) |
| 2001 | Bismillah (with Yusuf Islam and Friends) |
| 2002 | In Praise of The Last Prophet (with Yusuf Islam and Friends) |
| 2003 | Salaam (with Irfan Makki) |
| 2004 | Days of Eid (Various Artists) |
| 2005 | Expressions of Faith (Various Artists) |
| 2005 | Celebrate! Holidays of The Global Village (with Chris McKhool) |
| 2005 | I Look I See (with Yusuf Islam) |
| 2006 | Allah Knows (with Zain Bhikha) |
| 2007 | Man Ana? (with Khalid Belrhouzi) |
| 2008 | Aled Jones Presents: Good Morning Sunday (Various Artists) |
| 2011 | Hope (with Zain Bhikha) |
| 2011 | Kalima (with Hadiqa Kiyani) |
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