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CHILDHOOD
1946 - Donovan Leitch was born in Glasgow, Scotland on May 10th to Winifred and Donald Leitch. His father worked for the aircraft company Rolls Royce manufacturing engines for Spitfire fighter aircraft during the Second World War. His mother also worked for the war effort.
1949 - In 1949 Donovan contracted polio from over immunization in war torn Glasgow.
1950-51 - Donovan attends state school. Donovan's father himself a poet and amateur performer introduced him to poetry and the recitation of monologues. At gatherings and family functions Donovan would hear traditional songs of Scotland and Ireland.
1952 - Aged six years Donovan gave his first public performance singing the Burl Ives song "There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly", to the accompaniment of a blind pianist. The verses are long and complicated but he was able to easily commit them to memory.
1953-55 - His father a keen amateur Photographer introduces him to to the developing process. Many family photographs are taken and Donovan becomes comfortable both in front of and behind the lens. He becomes a keen collector of Super Hero comics his favorite being " Green Lantern", "Mandrake the Magician" and "Superman".
1955 - The Family moved to Hatfield in Hertfordshire 20 miles north of London where his father Donald began work at the De Haviland aircraft factory building the worlds first passenger Jet plane "The Comet".
His Father took him to see the first Rock and Roll Movie, "Rock Around the Clock".
Donovan becomes a fan of the pop music idol Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. He plays drums with friends in a school band called "The Macabres". Together with a friend he takes part in a talent contest in London but without result.
Influenced by his father's poetry books of poet adventurers like Robert Service, W.H. Davies and romantic poets such as Shelley, Keats and Coleridge, Donovan began writing his own poetry.
TRAVELING MAN
1961 - Donovan enters Welwyn Garden City College where he becomes immersed in the bohemian lifestyle of art, literature, socialism and philosophy. He was particularly drawn to the music of the folk scene especially Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez. He studied art to go on to Art school but was not interested in the other academic subjects required to pass the art school entrance exam and so dropped-out.
Becoming interested in the literature of Buddhism, Jack Kerouac and the songs of Hobo poets he decided to leave home and seek his own way in life.
1964 - During his travels Donovan plays at a club in the English seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea. Two managers discover him and invite him to London's Tin Pan Alley to record. He is signed to Southern Music Publishing Company and soon after he appears live for three weeks running on the hit television show Ready Steady Go
THE SIXTIES
1965 - Donovan's appearance on the innovative music TV show Ready Steady Go, is an instant success, even without the release of a single record yet.
"When Ready, Steady, Go", fail to have him back for a fourth week, audiences write to the show in the thousands to demand him back.
His first record is "Catch the Wind", his own composition. It reaches number 3 in the charts. He is awarded the Ivor Novello award and hailed as the brightest new hope of 1965.
On the set of "Ready, Steady, Go", Donovan meets his muse Linda Lawrence.
As with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before him the American television impresario Ed Sullivan books Donovan for US TV debut.
1966 - Donovan goes on to have hit after hit becoming an icon of his generation. His albums explore the counter culture interests of philosophy, spiritual path and rebellion. Together with "The Beatles" he travels to India to meditate.
After India Donovan returns to work and his super fame increases to such proportions he is considered one of the pantheon of singer/songwriters which includes, "The Beatles", "Dylan" and "The Rolling Stones".
His 1966 album Sunshine Superman (dedicated to Linda Lawrence) is an innovative breakthrough leading the way for many who follow.
Donovan tours the world breaking attendance records at Madison Square Garden, New York for a solo act.
The last year of the sixties dawns and 1969 finds Donovan seeking to stop the merry-go-round. His lost love Linda calls to him from deep inside his Celtic heart.
1970 - During a tour of Japan Donovan decides to break a long tax exile and return to his little cottage in England. This is a major revolt against his success and his advisors are in a panic. Donovan stops the merry-go-round. On return to his cottage he finds that his lost love and muse Linda Lawrence knocks on his door one-day looking to rent his cottage. Like a Celtic pattern returning unto itself, the two star-crossed lovers return to each other's arms. In October of 1970 Donovan and Linda finally marry. Linda's son Julian, by founder member of "The Rolling Stones", Brian Jones, joins the family.
Donovan writes the soundtrack for his first film "Brother Sun, Sister Moon", directed by the Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli.
Donovan also makes his first cameo appearance as the Pied Piper in the film "The Pied Piper of Hamlyn", for which he also writes the soundtrack.
1971-1979 - Donovan becomes a family man and two daughters, Astrella Celeste and Oriole Nebula are born to Linda and Donovan. He continues to tour and produces nine albums during this decade.
THE EIGHTIES
1980 - Donovan slows down and lives for a while in the desert of California following DH Lawrence's passion for the southwest of US. The demand for his music increases but he turns away again into himself to face his demons with his muse Linda by his side. Donovan produces a few albums yet continues to write.
Donovan is reunited in the desert town of Joshua Tree with his American family, Donovan Leitch Jr. and Ione Skye by his 1960's girlfriend Enid Stulberger.
1990 - This decade dawns to find Donovan returning to his green and Celtic land. This time Ireland, where he is welcomed by the Irish as one of their own. Linda and Donovan settled down again.
1994 - Donovan begins a new album project culminating in the spiritual classic "Sutras". At Human Potential Universities and schools he gives seminars and workshops entitled "Music and The Myth", inspired by the writings and teachings of Joseph Campbell.
NEW MILLENNIUM
In this New Millennium, Donovan is recognized as an authentic poet, one who anticipates the coming age of global awareness. Donovan is honored by old and new generations as a rare and unique artist who reflects and embraces all the important developments in music, poetry, and the spiritual path, which have profoundly changed our perception of reality.
New music is coming from Donovan on this website.
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