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One of the most successful singer-songwriters of the 1960s folk boom, Donovan carried with him an almost mystical style strongly affected by the psychedelic era, resulting in some magical - if bizarre - songs. Originally from Scotland he largely grew up in Hertfordshire, England, adopting a travelling lifestyle with his friend Gypsy Dave and guitar mentor Mac MacLeod, playing beguiling folk songs. His big break came with his first single Catch The Wind in 1965, which reached Number 4 in the UK charts, hitting the mood of the times and inspiring many comparisons with Bob Dylan, who mentioned him in his song Talking World War Three Blues. Donovan soon developed his style, embracing the flower power era, and released psychedelic pop hits Mellow Yellow, Hurdy Gurdy Man and Sunshine Superman, which unusually featured harpsichord and sitar. Further hits continued through to the end of the 1960s, when he split with influential producer Mickey Most. Strongly influenced by Indian teaching, Donovan's music became increasingly spiritual, including the soundtrack to Franco Zeffirelli's movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1973), and, although the hits subsequently dried up, he continues to play concerts. In 2005 published his autobiography, The Hurdy Gurdy Man.
Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
