Rare Star Guitars The John Marks Collection
Cat Stevens — OvationStarburst Ovation - 1976
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As “Cat Stevens”, Yusuf Islam has sold over 60 million albums around the world since the late 1960s.
Stevens’ albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat were both certified by the RIAA as having achieved Triple Platinum status in the United States (three million sales each); his album Catch Bull at Four sold half a million copies in the first two weeks of release and was Billboard’s number-one LP for three consecutive weeks.
His songwriting has also earned him two ASCAP songwriting awards for The First Cut Is the Deepest, which has been a hit single for four different artists.
The Guitar Details, History and Prominence
With all the relevant certification in place there is absolutely no doubt that this Ovation guitar belonged to and was played by Cat Stevens.
This guitar was used on the world famous Majicat tour until it was later given to Stevens’ nephew (Robert Gorden). We have documentation from Stevens’ nephew and brother. The guitar came with the following documentation: A letter From Cat Stevens brother (He works still for Cat Stevens) And a letter From Cat Stevens Nephew as well.
Regarding this instrument, this is probably one of the only documented Cat Stevens instrument ever to have been offered for sale as Cat disposed of all of his guitars & equipment when he reverted to being a Muslim, it is doubtful that another instrument with this sort of documentation will surface again.
In addition we also managed to purchase from Cat's brother 4 original Gold Disks (UK & USA) these it is reported, were rescued from the office wall by his brother.
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