A Picnic of Poems ~ New Samples Up On Line!
May 6, 2011

A special selection of illustrations and sound samples from Dawud’s forthcoming children’s anthology and CD “A Picnic of Poems ~ In Allah’s Green Garden” is now up on YouTube.

Supporters of Dawud’s older children’s songs like “A Whisper of Peace” and “Sing Children of The World” may be pleased to know that the new collection of songs “A Picnic of Poems” (released exclusively as a bonus CD with the book) will be arranged with simply vocals  and percussion. Folk music versions of the songs (with acoustic instrumentation as featured on the Youtube sample) will be available only as digital downloads later this year.

A Picnic Of Poems Update
April 2, 2011

Dawud new children’s book and song CD entitled “A Picnic of Poems” is almost complete and available for pre-order here on Amazon.Com.

“A Picnic of Poems” is Dawud’s first offering for children in over eight years (the last being his 2003 CD “The Prophet’s Hands”). The beautifully illustrated anthology is made up of thirty new compositions aimed at youngsters ages 3-7 and includes an audio CD of all the songs, inspiring families to sing-along as they read.

Pre-order here.

Read more about the book/Cd here.

Winter Poetic Vision Tour Comes To An End
March 27, 2011

The Winter 2010/2011 Poetic Vision Tour concluded March 26th in New York City after over 30 shows!

Troubadours Dawud Wharnsby, Raef and Naeem Muhammad, songwriter Saad Omar, and poets Miss Latifah and Gaith Adhami visited over 28 cities across the USA, offering performances in universities, colleges, community centres, churches, chapels, mosques and theatres coast to coast.

“This was the most exhilarating tour of my career.” says Dawud, now en route to Canada for one last solo show in his hometown April 1st, followed by some well deserved rest.

“I’ve played to audiences of thousands, in world class theatres - but this Poetic Vision Tour with intimate audiences in often rural areas of the USA, was an unparalleled high for me. The musical and social vibes were completely without the pretences often overshadowing live musical events these days. The venues harkened back to much simpler musical times ~ when sharing songs was communal and not commercial.”

Lively shows included original work by the artists, mixed with cover tunes by the likes of Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Coldplay, Jason Mraz, Harry Chapin and even Michael Jackson. Leaving house-lights up to discuss song lyrics with those in attendance (who read along in lyric-books provided by their hosts) the artists also performed simply and unplugged - sometimes huddled around one microphone - truly capturing an intimate and fully “live” experience. Shows also featured a great deal of collaborative jamming between the musicians and poets - the floor usually cluttered around their ankles by shakers, mandolins, tin-whistles and drums all ready to be pulled into a song at any moment.  Local artists were also arranged ahead of time at several venues - giving young writers and poets a platform to share their expression.

Amidst songs, poetry, deep discussion and sometimes satirical banter, audiences were often treated to impromptu juggling, chocolates hurried from the stage, free CDs (handed out by the artists themselves), quality time with the minstrels afterward to chat and, on a few occasions ~ extended sing-a-longs outdoors in parking lots, long after the venues had locked up for the night!

The Poetic Vision Tour was started in 2008 by songwriter Saad Omar as a means of not only providing independent singer/songwriters with a platform for their original material, but also as a means of reawakening a movement of lyrically driven, socially conscious music. Saad explains, “In 1975-1976 Bob Dylan rocked the musical world with the Rolling Thunder Revue, a unique traveling concert tour featuring several of his old musical friends, including  Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Joni Mitchell. The shows were like circus acts, with eclectic arrangements, great musicians hopping on the tour along the way, and beautifully bizarre music.  The Poetic Vision Tour is inspired by this format of exhilarating, spontaneous, organic musical expression that attempts to mirror in performance, the ecstasy that every songwriter feels when first touched by inspiration."

Saad’s approach is working - growing from a handful of shows and audience members in 2008, to over 50 shows spread across the USA in a year , a calendar booking up well into 2012 and interest in the tour from as far away as Australia and Europe.

As The Poetic Vision Tour continues rolling onward to a town near you, you can be sure that Dawud will be jumping on the caravan whenever he gets a chance.

Visit The Poetic Vision Tour Website here to make a booking or learn more about it and visit The Poetic Vision YouTube channel here.

Dawud’s Views From Abbottabad, Pakistan
May 5, 2011

In light of recent news hype surrounding the otherwise quiet Pakistani city where Dawud and his family reside, UK's Emel Magazine have recently published some of Dawud’s reflections of the past week on their website here.

Initially posted directly by Dawud on his personal Facebook page, the article is now more publicly accessible to those who may not use Facebook as a means of on-line communication.

Dawud's 1999 EP “The Letter” Now Available For Free Download
April 20, 2011

Due to public demand, Dawud Wharnsby’s 1999 album “The Letter - Songs of Struggle And Hope” is now available for free download here on this website.

The recording was initially produced as a public awareness campaign and fund raising effort to assist the people of Kosova during the tragic conflict that arose in their region during the late 1990’s. Released in North America, the United Kingdom and South Africa on cassette only, the mini-album saw only brief commercial distribution - but it’s title track “The Letter” took on a life of its own - spreading with the growth of the internet by way of mediums like Youtube and Napster.

In 2010 Canadian artist Nader Khan recorded a new studio version of “The Letter”, rekindling public interest in the song. Dawud is pleased to share the original EP as a free down-load here on this site, along with two bonus tracks recorded during the same time period for a documentary entitled “Crisis In Kosova”.

In June 1999, Canadian national news paper The Toronto Star said of the project, “He (Wharnsby) was touched by the plight of Kosovar refugees, particularly children…The Letter expresses Wharnsby-Ali’s belief that we are all a part of each other.”

Over a decade later, Dawud says - “The world has forgotten Kosova…the murders, the refugees, the victims of molestation and those - now in their mid teens - who were children of rape. Sadly, genocides still persist in our world… We cannot forget. We must not forget.  I believe the lyrics of The Letter are as applicable today as they were twelve years ago.”

Dawud Returns to Pakistan
April 18, 2011

After almost six months abroad in North America, Dawud has returned to his primary summer home in Pakistan’s scenic northern city of Abbotabad where he has already dusted off his home studio, launched into recording demos for his forthcoming solo CD (due out later this year) and is about to break ground on his vegetable patch.

The Wharnsby family have resided in Pakistan for the majority of each year since 2008, assisting with two family-run social service programs there, The Al Imtiaz Academy and Habitat 4 Pakistan.

“It feels so good returning to Pakistan just in time for spring," says Dawud, "with new songs to record and a new baby daughter to fill the house with giggles and coos. Guess I’ll be recording the new album during her nap times and be out weeding while she's awake!”