Sunshine Superman

Donovan Phillips Leitch came into this world on May 10, 1946, and became a popular and successful singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Scotland. His musical style mixes up a combination of folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music. He has lived in different places such as London, Scotland, and California and at present makes his home in Ireland. Donovan burst on the scene in early 1964 while performing in the U.K on the pop TV series Ready, Steady, Go! He successfully blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelic, and world music, like calypso.

Donovan made friends with pop and folk musicians, among them Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and The Beatles. In 1968 he taught John Lennon a finger-picking guitar style which Lennon used in his songs like “Dear Prudence.” Donovan had talented backing musicians like the Jeff Beck Group, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones, who all later became members of Led Zeppelin.

Donovan came out with his debut album in 1965 titled What’s Bin Did and What’s Bind Hid. Among the songs were “Josie” and “Catch the Wind”.

Donovan’s third album titled Sunshine Superman included the title song and “Season of the Witch”.

His fourth album Mellow Yellow featured the title song which became Donovan’s signature song. The album also included such songs as “Writer in the Sun” and “Museum”.

It was his sixth album The Hurdy Gurdy Man that brought Donovan more success with the release of the title song single and another single “Jennifer Juniper”.

By 1969 he had already released his seventh studio album Barabajagal. Two songs that stand out from this album are the title song and “Atlantis”.

1970 brought the album Open Road and 1971 the album H.M.S. Donovan.

H.M.S. Donovan included such songs as “The Walrus and the Carpenter” and “Jabberwocky” with words by Lewis Carroll and music by Donovan. This was a double album so there were many different songs to enjoy such as “Wynken, Blynken and Nod” with words by Eugene Field and music by Donovan.

Many other albums followed with his last album being released in 2013 titled Shadows of Blue with the title song and “Blue Jean Angel” among others.

He is still popular today and his songs are heard on the radio and fans enjoy watching him perform. Many people recognize his songs as soon as they hear them. Among Donovan’s most popular songs are”Sunshine Superman”,”Mellow Yellow”, and”Hurdy Gurdy Man”. He was the first artist who signed up with CBS/Epic Records and had a series of hits between 1965 and 1970. Donovan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and in 2014 the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Donovan has also released an album of children’s songs HMS Donovan. One of his most popular albums was the Hurdy Gurdy Man. His songs were featured in the 1969 comedy movie”It It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium”. He has continued to perform and has done many interesting things such as playing ”Sunshine Superman” in May 2004 at the pre-wedding concert for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark.

Donovan has performed in concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at Alice Tully Hall in N.Y.C., and at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, California. He continues to release CDs and has also had his songs ”Jennifer Juniper” featured on the ever popular “The Simpsons” in the episode ”Flaming Moe”, in the episode ”Rednecks and Broomsticks” on ”Season of the Witch” , and in the episode ”Weekend at Burnsie’s” on ”Wear Your Love Like Heaven”.. Even Homer enjoys Donovan’s songs and in the episode”I am Furious (Yellow)” he can be heard singing”Mellow Yellow”.

On his 75th birthday on May 10, 2021 Donovan released a new track “I Am the Shaman”.