Donovan is a folk singer who has racked up many Top-40 hits. Some include "Mellow Yellow," "Sunshine Superman," "Epistle to Dippy," "There is a Mountain," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Hurdy Gurdy Man," Jennifer Juniper, "Lalea," "Atlantis" and "Riki Tiki Tavi." He also worked in collaboration to write "Yellow Submarine" with The Beatles.



Donovan's influence has touched many other successful musicians as well, including John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, and Brian Jones. Much of Donovan's success was seen during the 1960's, but in recent years, he has released a new album called "Beat Cafe", a boxed set called "Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan", and a book called "The Autobiography of Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man".

Donovan's passion for music started very early in life. He was born in Scotland in 1946 to a father who loved poetry. Donovan didn't learn until later in life that his father was one of only a handful who read poetry to their sons. Even before Donovan was old enough to understand the words and meanings, he was able to appreciate the metered sound of poetry.

His love for poetry blossomed into music as Donovan got older. Music and poetry are a sisterhood as far as Donovan is concerned. Each creates a rhythmic balance through movement of air. This balance harmonizes every tribe of the world. Even the simplest poetry has more flow than the most complex of story writing.

At age 15, Donovan set out hitchhiking with Gypsy Dave to play music anywhere they could. They played in clubs, fields, and on beaches. After 2 years on the road, Donovan returned home and was asked to record demos at Tin Pan Alley in London. Finally, his chance for change! He knew this was his ticket to protest and sing about civil rights.

Donovan's life isn't completely about music. He is also very interested in Transcendental Meditation. He first traveled to India in 1968 to learn about the technique along with The Beatles, Mike Love, and Mia Farrow. Today, Donovan heads up the musical wing of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace.

Donovan started down the path of religion at an early age just as he did with music. As a teenager, he read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. Reading about Buddhism and Zen led him to other people and religions including Alan Watts, Christmas Humphries, Suzuki, Taoism, Hinduism, Vedas, and Celtic Mythology. Poetry, art, music, and spirituality have always, and will always rule Donovan's life.

Donovan overcame many, many obstacles to become the success he is today. As a bullied, book-loving child with a polio limp, he made it his dream to change an entire generation through poetry and song. Even lawsuits, drug busts, and lost loves didn't keep him down.