Dawud Wharnsby

Dawud Wharnsby
Birth name David Howard Wharnsby
Also known as Dawud Wharnsby-Ali
Dawud Ali[1]
Born (1972-06-27) June 27, 1972
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Genres Folk
Nasheed
Spoken Word
Hamd
World music
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer, poet
Instruments Vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bazouki, oud, bodhran, bongos, djembe, clarinet, tin whistle
Years active 1991–present
Labels Enter into Peace (1995–present), Sound Vision (1996–2003), Beloved Musika (2006–2009)
Associated acts Idris Phillips, Zain Bhikha, Yusuf Islam, Sami Yusuf, Dale Marcell, Stephen Fearing, Danny Thompson, Irshad Khan
Website www.wharnsby.com

Dawud Wharnsby (born David Howard Wharnsby on June 27, 1972) is a Canadian Universalist[2] [3][4] Muslim[5][6][7][8] 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.[5][6]

Early artistic career

Born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1972, David Wharnsby became active in local theatrical productions during his early teens, first performing on a world-class theater stage at the age of 18 in a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Annas).[9] Other stage work of his late teens included roles in "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" (Schroeder)[10] and "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead".

At the age of 19 Wharnsby began performing throughout Southern Ontario as a solo musical artist and as a member of various musical groups. His first professional work as a musician was with folk quartet Crakenthorpe's Teapot,[7] hired to perform on street corners of their hometown.[11][12] Wharnsby traveled extensively throughout Ontario, England and Scotland during 1993 and 1994 as a solo busker – singing informally on street corners and in parks to market and share his music. In 1993 he started his own independent recording entity, Three Keyed Maple Seeds, which in 1996 was renamed Enter into Peace and registered with SOCAN as a music publishing entity.[7]

During the early 1990s Wharnsby worked as a professional actor and puppeteer for two different educational theater troupes, touring public schools and folk festivals throughout Ontario. At the age of 20 he played lead in a short educational film "To Catch A Thief", distributed nationally in Canada to schools as part of the John Howard Society's anti-shoplifting program.[13]

Music

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.[14]

Dawud has released several internationally distributed albums since 1995, including Blue Walls and the Big Sky,[15] 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.[5]

September 3, 2007 Dawud released "Out Seeing the Fields" composed of 12 tracks, co-produced with LA based pianist Idris Phillips.[16] 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.[17]

During his career Dawud has collaborated with Stephen Fearing,[18] Irshad Khan,[18] Danny Thompson,[18] Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens),[19][20] Zain Bhikha,[20] Idris Phillips,[19][20] Hadiqa Kiani and Atif Aslam.[7]

Television, video and radio production

As a television personality, Dawud has hosted programs produced in conjunction with Canada's Vision TV, the National Film Board of Canada,[21] Al Huda TV (Saudi Arabia) and BBC Scotland.

Educational efforts

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.[22]

Dawud Wharnsby was declared an Ambassador of Scouting by the Scout Association in the UK as of June 2010.[23]

Personal life

In 1993, David Howard Wharnsby embraced the teachings of the Qur'an[5][6][7][24] 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 has identified himself as a Muslim since 1993 and also adheres to the principals of Unitarian Universalism.[25] [26][27]

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.[28][29][30]

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.[31]

In the media

Dawud Wharnsby was named in a November 21, 2008 article by The Sun,[32] as being a primary influence in an alleged conversion to the religion of Islam by pop star Michael 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.[33][34][35]

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[36] stated:

"For the record: Though our professional circles did cross-over slightly... I never had the honour or pleasure of meeting Michael Jackson personally, nor did we ever correspond on matters of our professions, personal lives or faiths."

On the topic of conversion, Wharnsby also stated:

"My approach to faith does not include concepts of "conversion/reversion" or "propagation", so the very idea that I would have even tried to "convert" Mr. Jackson (or anyone else for that matter) to my spiritual perspective, is silly."

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),[37] and published with support of Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.[38] Wharnsby was also included on the follow up lists of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013/2014, and 2014/2015.[39]

Discography

Solo work

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
2014 Acoustic Simplicitea

CD singles and EP releases

Year Album
1999 The Letter – Songs of Struggle and Hope
2004 Love Strong
2010 Shady Grove
2010 Twinkle, Twinkle
2010 Welcome to The I.C.E. (Percussion only version)
2010 Pages of Hope (with Lines of Faith)

Selected collaborations

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)
2014 Songs of A Soul (with Zain Bhikha)
2014 Longing (with Kailashi)
2014 Allah Is on My Side (with Malik Naim)

Narrative work

Year Album
2000 Gifts of Muhammad (introduced by Dawud Wharnsby)
2000 40 Hadith (introduced by Dawud Wharnsby)
2001 Timeless Wisdom Volume 1
2001 Timeless Wisdom Volume 2
2001 A Simple Guide to Prayer (with Yusuf Islam)
2004 Companions of The Prophet

Music videos

Year Title
2006 You Can't Take It With You (With Zain Bhikha)
2006 Allah Knows (with Zain Bhikha)
2006 Midnight
2011 Out Seeing The Fields

Published work

Television and video appearances

References

  1. ↑ FAQ About Dawud Wharnsby, retrieved February 24, 2010
  2. ↑ "About Dawud Wharnsby". Enter Into Peace. 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Colours of Dawud Wharnsby". Evolve Magazine. February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Global Citizen". Scouts UK Magazine. June–July 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Singer Finds Loving Audience". Dallas Morning News. September 13, 2000.
  6. 1 2 3 "About The Authour", Singer Finds Loving Audience, Dallas Morning News, 2000
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Musings of a Nomad Artist". Dawn News. August 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ Hesham A. Hassaballa, ed. (2006). "The Sounds of Taqwa". Illume Magazine.
  9. ↑ "Jesus Christ Superstar". May 18, 1990.
  10. ↑ "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown". August 15, 1990.
  11. ↑ "Sidewalk Stage ~ Sanctioned entertainers play to King Street shoppers". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. June 6, 1992.
  12. ↑ "One on One With Dawud Wharnsby". Hijabtrendz. August 4, 2010.
  13. ↑ "To Catch A Thief NEWS PROMO 1992". Province Wide CKCO TV News. 1992.
  14. ↑ "The Black Velvet Band (Like Never Before)". The Mudcat Cafe – Black Velvet Band lyrics (variations). September 2, 2003.
  15. ↑ "Blue Walls and The Big Sky". Dallas Morning News. October 30, 2004.
  16. ↑ about
  17. ↑ Israeli Army Bulldozer Kills American Protesting in Gaza New York Times, March 17, 2003
  18. 1 2 3 "Faces of Waterloo", Dawud Wharnsby-Ali: Words and Music Lived in the name of God, Waterloo Chronicle, May 2003
  19. 1 2 The Triangle Philosophy, Egypt Today Magazine, January 2008
  20. 1 2 3 "Acknowledgments", For Whom The Troubadour Sings, Kube Publishing Ltd, 2009
  21. ↑ "A New Life in a New Land: The Muslim Experience in Canada". Milo Productions. 2005.
  22. ↑ "Donor Hall of Fame". rodserling.com. 2008.
  23. ↑ Hilary Galloway, ed. (June 2010). "Global Citizen". Scouting Magazine.
  24. ↑ Hesham A. Hassaballa, ed. (2006). "The Sounds of Taqwa". Illume Magazine.
  25. ↑ "About Dawud Wharnsby". Enter Into Peace. 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Colours of Dawud Wharnsby". Evolve Magazine. February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Global Citizen". Scouts UK Magazine. June–July 2010.
  28. ↑ "About The Authour", For Whom The Troubadour Sings, Kube Publishing Ltd, 2009
  29. ↑ "About The Authour", A Picnic of Poems in Allah's Green Garden, Kube Publishing Ltd, 2011
  30. ↑ "About The Authour", Colours of Islam, Kube Publishing Ltd, 2013
  31. ↑ "Would The Real David Wharnsby Please Stand Up?". The Record. September 11, 2006.
  32. ↑ Syson, Neil (November 21, 2008). "The Way You Mecca Me Feel". London: The Sun.
  33. ↑ "Did Michael Mikaeel Jackson Convert to Islam". The Insider. November 21, 2008.
  34. ↑ Tibbetts, Graham (November 21, 2008). "Michael Jackson 'converts to Islam and changes name to Mikaeel'". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  35. ↑ "Michael Jackson se converte ao islamismo e muda seu nome para Mikaeel, diz jornal". O Globo. November 21, 2008.
  36. ↑ "The Passing of Michael Jackson". Enter into Peace. June 26, 2009.
  37. ↑ "The 500 Most Influential Muslims". The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. November 2009.
  38. ↑ "Muslim 500 – A Listing of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World". Muslim Media Network. November 17, 2009.
  39. ↑ "Muslim 500 – A Listing of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World". The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. November 2011.
  40. ↑ "Dawud Wharnsby-Ali". Milo Productions. 2005.

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