Donovan Philips Leitch Biography

Birth of Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch

"Sunshine Superman" tops the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number two in Britain). Successful singles in the UK include "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier"

"Sunshine Superman" tops the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number two in Britain). Successful singles in the UK include "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier"

Signs with Pye Records

Reaches fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series, Ready Steady Go!

"Sunshine Superman" tops the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number two in Britain). Successful singles in the UK include "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier"

"Sunshine Superman" tops the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number two in Britain). Successful singles in the UK include "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier"

The Drug Squad already had British stars in their sights, and Donovans arrest proved to be the first in a long series involving the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In mid-1966, Donovan becomes the first British pop star to be arrested for possession of cannabis

Epic releases the single "Mellow Yellow", arranged by John Paul Jones and purportedly featuring Paul McCartney on backing vocals

Donovan was subject of a drugs expose in the News of the World, a three-part series, Drugs & Pop Stars Facts That Will Shock You

Donovan contributes two songs to the Ken Loach film, Poor Cow

Apppears at the Monterey International Pop Festival

The first artist to be signed to CBS/Epic Records by the new administrative vice-president, Clive Davis

Releases the live album Donovan In Concert. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" reaches the Top 5 in both the UK & USA

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

The comedy film If Its Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium features music by Donovan

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Epic and Pye released Donovans Greatest Hits which included four previous singles "Epistle To Dippy" "There is a Mountain" "Jennifer Juniper" and "Lalena"

It became the most successful album of his career; it reached 4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year

as well as rerecorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" (which had been unavailable to Epic because of Donovans contractual problems) and stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" (previously unissued full length version) and "Season of the Witch".

Donovan performed at the first show in the second season of free rock concerts in Hyde Park, London, which also featured Blind Faith, Richie Havens, The Edgar Broughton Band and the 3rd Ear Band

Releases Essence To Essence, produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Donovan reunited with Most in early 1973, resulting in the LP Cosmic Wheels, which featured arrangements by Chris Spedding, his last chart success, reaching the top 40 in America and Britain

Releases 7-Tease

Releases Slow Down World

Opens for Yes on their six-month tour of North America and Europe following the release of Going for the One

The 1978 LP, Donovan was on Mosts RAK Records in the UK and on Clive Davis new Arista Records in the US; it reunited him for the last time with Most and Cameron, but was not well received at the height of the new wave and failed to chart.

Releases the album Neutronica

Releases the album Love Is Only Feeling

Releases the album Lady Of The Stars

Records the album Sutras with producer Rick Rubin

"Hurdy Gurdy Man" is on the soundtrack of Michael Cuestas movie L.I.E

Donovan is awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Hertfordshire

Records the album Beat Cafe

Releases the album, Sixty Four

Donovan tours the UK (Beat Cafe Tour) and Europe with Tom Mansi on double bass, former Damned drummer Rat Scabies and Flipron keyboard player, Joe Atkinson

Donovans double CD set Ritual Groove was made available through his website. Prior to the release, he had described it as a multi-media album

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame