Donovan | Artist
Donovan Philips Leitch is a Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist born 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop and psychedelia. His hippie-folk style has had lasting influence with many of today's nu-Folk artists citing Donovan as a major influence. Influenced by his family's love of folk music, Donovan began playing the guitar at 14. He enrolled in art school but soon dropped out, to live out his beatnik aspirations by going on the road. He spent time in Torquay, Devon, where he mixed with other folk musicians and took up busking, studying the guitar, and learning traditional folk and blues. In late 1964, he was offered a management and publishing contract by Pye Records in London, for which he recorded a 10-track demo tape which included the original of his first single, "Catch the Wind", and "Josie". The first song revealed the influence of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who had also influenced Bob Dylan. He began a long and successful collaboration with leading British independent record producer Mickie Most in the mid sixties, scoring multiple hit singles and albums in the UK, US, and other countries. Some of the singles were "Catch The Wind", "Colours", "Universal Soldier", "Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow", Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "Atlantis". He became a friend of fellow musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, Jimmy Page and The Beatles. Jimmy Page plays guitar on many of Donovan's albums. Donovan's career ebbed in the late 70's during the Punk era, but had a resurgence with the release of his late albums Sutras and Beat Cafe. Outstanding albums include Sunshine Superman (1966), Mellow Yellow (1967), A Gift From a Flower to a Garden (1967), Wear Your Love Like Heaven (1967), The Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968), Open Road (1970), HMS Donovan (1971), and Cosmic Wheels (1973). While recording his first demo tracks back in 1964, Donovan befriended Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, who was recording nearby. He had recently met Jones' ex-girlfriend, Linda Lawrence, who is the mother of Jones' son, Julian Brian (Jones) Leitch. The on-off romantic relationship that developed over five years was a force in Donovan's career. She influenced Donovan's music but refused to marry him until 1970 when they became reaquainted by chance. On 14 April 2012 Donovan was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His work is emblematic of the flower power era with its blend of folk, pop, psychedelic rock, and jazz stylings.
Artist Website: donovan.ie
Featured Albums: Donovan
Related Artists: Jimmy Page
