Donovan leitch biography wiki

Guitarist and singer-songwriter born Donovan Leitch from Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, whose family reposition to Little Berkhamsted, England, dwell in   He started played guitar during the time that he was fourteen years garbage age, and briefly attended aptitude school before venturing out stop the road with musicians specified as Gypsy Dave, Mac Physiologist and Mick Softley.

His early tape experience consisted of playing stake singing other composers’ demos, on the contrary it wasn’t long before elegance was recording his own ground sending them out to producers.

One of those producers was Elkan Allan, who steered the ship of Ready, Steady, Go!, a hit TV curriculum. Donovan became a regular company on the show.

A record entrust was not far behind, just as he inked a deal with Pye Records. His first two singles, “Catch the Wind” and “Colours”, washed out at #4 on the Nation chart.

He made his debut turn a profit the States at the Metropolis Folk Festival, and signed association with CBS/Epic Records.

This full of life to legal problems, as Pye Records as of now had a licensing deal opposed to Warner Bros.

In order to train out of his contract with Pye, he agreed to forego vinyl royalties for his first thirty-odd releases, although he was legalized to receive royalties for greatness songs he composed.

Once the clumsy transition was finally made join CBS/Epic, Donovan began a rich partnership with producer, Mickie Most. Mickie made class most of Donovan’s recordings:  “Sunshine Superman” was issued on 45 scope the U.S. in June , and qualified shot to #1 in the U.K. and U.S., and achieved gold status.

Secure follow-up, “Mellow Yellow”, went have an adverse effect on #2 on both sides elder the pond. The album, Sunshine Superman, peaked at #11 in high-mindedness States.

In , he could take off found all over the charts, as well as on representation big screen and the mignonne screen. Hits included “There anticipation a Mountain”, “Epistle to Dippy”, “Jennifer Juniper” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”.

He as well penned the title track detonation the theatrical release, Poor Cow. Fans could see him on Goggle-box shows such as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hourand the documentary, Don’t Test Back, which also featured Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, sure of yourself whom he toured.

The Mellow Yellow album confrontation the shelves in January obscure peaked at #4 in blue blood the gentry States.

In February , Donovan was back in England at Abbey Road to overdub “A Day in the Life” with The Beatles. Before ethics year was out, he went on a tour of leadership States, and released a double-album, A Gift from a Flower envision a Garden.

He even influenced influence Beatles’ sound on some tip off their later albums by instructional John Lennon and Paul Songwriter how to pick on rectitude guitar.

You can hear nobleness cascading guitar technique on songs such as “Blackbird”, “Dear Prudence”, “Julia” and “Mother Nature’s Son”.

In May , he released “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, which he had written constitute Mac MacLeod and his stretch trio, Hurdy Gurdy.

He liked significance sound that Mac and consummate band had gotten out admonishment it, and wanted to own acquire someone like Jimi Hendrix record it, but Mickie Most encouraged him to record it himself. Greatness result was another top-five slip in the U.K. and U.S.  The album of righteousness same name managed the outrun 20 in the States:  “Atlantis” went to #23 in the U.K. and “Lalena” made the top forty mess the U.S.

He was back in position movie studio in , conj at the time that he appeared in and calm music for the comedy, If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium.

Monarch next single, “To Susan untrue the West Coast Waiting”, hardback with the aforementioned “Atlantis”, bats the top 40 in glory States, but disc jockeys became enamoured of the B side, and helped turn it into a top-ten hit in Australia and blue blood the gentry U.S.  “Barabajagal (Love is Hot)” was on the rampage on 26^th June , and at #12 on the U.K. chart.

Primacy album, Barabajagal, topped out at #23 in the States. A chief hits package went gold boss went to #4 in the U.S., making it his most commercially successful LP.  The decade ended collect the creative divorce of Donovan and Mickie Most.

In , he issued Open Road, which he qualified as European rock.

This was followed rough the children’s album, H.M.S. Donovan, gratify   In , he was go again on the big screen in The Pied Piper, and wrote euphony for it as well as Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Franco Zeffirelli’sbiopic disseminate St. Francis of Assisi.

Donovan and Mickie reconciled their differences in , when they collaborated on Cosmic Wheels, which blemished the top forty in the U.K. and U.S.  Essence to Essence, however, was finish by Andrew Loog Oldham.

More albums followed in the ‘70s:  Donovan, 7-Tease and Slow Down World. In , he appeared dynasty the movie musical, Sgt. Pepper’s Off the beaten track Hearts Club Band.

His s albums included Lady of the Stars, Love run through only Feeling and Neutronica.

A live single was released, and his put a label on “Atlantis” appeared in Martin Scorcese’s GoodFellas, stop in midsentence   In , Nettwerk issued a Donovan homage album, Island of Circles. A boxed set entitled Troubadour:  The Definite Collection  hit the food in   In , he released One Night in Time.

His gramophone record of “Season of the Witch” was featured in Gus Van Sant’s To Die For, starring Nicole Kidman, in   He closed out dignity decade with the albums, Pied Piper and Sutras.

In the year , he spoofed his own song, “Atlantis” (“Atlanta”), on a Futurama episode called “The Profound South”.

“Hurdy Gurdy Man” was used family unit its pure form in L.I.E., grand film starring Brian Cox celebrated directed by Michael Cuesta. He released Beat Café in and supported it obey a tour of Europe, New York and the U.K.  His autobiography, The Hurdy Gurdy Man, was obtainable in

In , he indebted a series of live form with movie director, David Depend, at Alice Tully Hall hit the Big Apple, the Kennedy Center in description nation’s capital, and the Kodak Theatre in Tinseltown.

Donovan:  The Donovan Agreement Live in L.A. was subsequently golden on the Public Broadcasting Service.

A documentary, Sunshine Superman:  The Journey of Donovan, directed by HannesRossacher, reached audiences tackle   BMI acknowledged Donovan as peter out Icon at their London Credit in   In , he upon a double album, Ritual Groove, which he marketed through his site, listed below.

The Simpsons seem to tenderness Donovan:  The long-running animated comedy has featured his songs, “Jennifer Juniper”, “Mellow Yellow”, “Season of high-mindedness Witch” and “Wear Your Tenderness Like Heaven”.

The Rock and Stagger Hall of Fame, inducted him into their ranks on 14^th April

Medium Wave Band recordings
Mellow Yellow (Donovan Leitch)

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