Islam's biggest rock star returns to Dallas

Sami Yusuf is touring the U.S. in August, and Dallas is again one of the stops. The release below doesn't give a Dallas date. When we track that down, we'll pass it along.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


SAMI YUSUF, "ISLAM'S BIGGEST ROCK STAR," TO PERFORM IN BENEFIT CONCERTS IN MAJOR U.S. CITIES

Islamic Relief's Evening of Inspiration tour to raise funds for needy children


BUENA PARK, CA (June 28, 2007) - Islamic Relief is bringing the highly popular Evening of Inspiration benefit concert to the United States once again, after performing to sold-out venues in its inaugural tour last year.

The concerts will feature British singing sensation Sami Yusuf, who TIME Magazine online has dubbed "Islam's biggest rock star" and whose "songs of peace elicit Beatle-sized frenzy."

The Evening of Inspiration benefit tour - with concerts in Dallas, San Francisco's Bay Area, Los Angeles, Detroit and Newark from Aug. 2-12 - showcases some of the world's leading performers of Islamic cultural entertainment. One of the first tours of its nature, this event has reshaped the culture of Islamic entertainment throughout the United States.

Concert proceeds will benefit Islamic Relief's projects aimed at aiding children around the world, including orphans. Over $1 million was raised for Islamic Relief's projects during last year's tour.

Last year's sold-out show was described as "a refreshing departure from the routine," according to the The Dallas Morning News. "Diversity was on display and maybe even the star of the show," it reported. "The audience crossed just about every imaginable line – black, white and brown, young and old, conservative dress and thoroughly modern."

Yusuf has fast become the leading Islamic singer in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. His first album has sold over 1 million copies, and his music videos have topped the charts on Middle East satellite channels.

At his concerts, fans go "crazy, screaming and whistling as though Elvis just entered the building," TIME said.

Headliners also include the Maryland-based group Native Deen. While New York Public Radio, WNYC, says "rap music is usually associated with conspicuous consumption, crude language and flashy performance," it finds that the "Muslim trio Native Deen stay away from bad words, dress conservatively and regularly exhort listeners to prayer." It adds, "It's all part of being black and Muslim in the United States, they say - and like Christian rock did a decade ago, they are finding their niche."

The Evening of Inspiration concerts aim to raise funds to support orphans around the world through Islamic Relief's highly popular one-to-one orphan sponsorship program. Currently, over 21,000 orphans across the world are supported through this program.

Media professionals may contact Islamic Relief for possible news or feature stories, interviews with the performers - including Sami Yusuf - b-roll or other requests.