“Wharnsby’s message is substantive, and his vocals are compelling — similar in style to Peter Yarrow and Paul Simon.”
~ Dallas Morning News
Canadian born poet and songwriter Dawud Wharnsby began sharing his songs with audiences as a street performer in his late teens. Over two decades later, his career as a troubadour has yielded a string of fifteen solo albums, five poetry anthologies, numerous sound-track credits, performances in some of the world’s most prestigious theatres and collaborations with several celebrated artists (including Irshad Khan, Chris McKhool, Danny Thompson, Stephen Fearing, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Hadiqa Kiani and Zain Bhikha).
In true folk-music tradition, Wharnsby’s songs have taken on a life of their own ~ spreading around the world, ringing out in primary schools, universities, places of worship, rallies and conventions ~ with words that have found their way into listener’s hearts, regardless of age.
As a voice for the socially-conscious and spiritually-motivated, Dawud’s poetry, songs, articles and intimate live performances have inspired a generation of educators, musicians, poets, artists and professionals.
Within sacred-music circles, Wharnsby is often cited as a pioneer in the composing of English language anasheed (sufi hymns). His work has been referenced in textbook publications affiliated with Harvard University in the USA, as well as Oxford University and Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom.
As a result of his global efforts in community bridge-building, Dawud (a passionate environmentalist and lover of the out-doors) was declared an Ambassador of Scouting by the UK Scout Association as of June 2010. He also serves as an ambassador for the British based environmental charity MADE in Europe. His universalist approach to religion keeps him actively engaged with inter-faith initiatives and peace efforts world-wide.
Dawud manages his own music publishing company and independent label, which help fund his ongoing work and support an endowment for the Al Imtiaz Academy, a school in Pakistan directly overseen by his family.
In recent years Dawud Wharnsby has become a strong advocate of Simple Living and traditional trades. He resides with his family in Kitchener, Canada where he experiments with urban farming, continues to write, record and work as an educational puppeteer.
“Thinking globally, but acting locally”, Dawud Wharnsby spends much more time these days humming with his family and back-yard bee-hives, than out on the road singing.
