Donovan - Prince of flower power

Donovan's 67th birthday was on May 10, the release date for his new album, "Shadows of Blue." The flower power star - whose real name is Donovan Phillips Leitch - has four children and lives with his wife and muse, Linda, near Cork, Ireland, and on the Spanish island Mallorca - his "golden island."

Before Donovan stormed the international hit parade as a pop-folk singer in the 1960s and 70s, he made his way through Great Britain, starting as a 16-year-old street musician. His song "Universal Soldier" sold millions of copies, and became a hymn of the peace movement and Vietnam War protests. His guitar playing influenced the likes of Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison.

At the peak of his career, Donovan was considered Scotland's answer to Bob Dylan. Catchy melodies, distinctive guitar-playing and poetic lyrics were his trademark. Donovan's fans considered his romantic songs about love and peace to be true art, but his critics found them kitschy. One thing can be said about the songs on his 36 albums and CDs: more than 200 artists have covered them up to now.

Donovan's 1968 trip with the Beatles to India is legendary. There, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and discovered his spirituality and passion for transcendental meditation ("Sunshine Superman"). One sees him here in the picture at far right; next to him is actress Mia Farrow. Second from the left is John Lennon, then Paul McCartney in the back and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, center front.

In his best years, Donovan was a favorite among the ladies - even though he never fulfilled classic ideals of male beauty. His angular face, slender figure and curly hair tucked under a cap gave him the pensive and introverted look of a bard rather than of a rocker. He looked dreamy, dedicated and tender.

Donovan didn't need an amp at the beginning of his career. He looked up to American musician Woody Guthrie, the father of the folk music movement, whose guitar famously bore the sticker: "This machine kills fascists." Donovan's own guitar said, "This machine kills," but the whereabouts of that instrument are unknown. It went missing decades ago.

For some time now, Donovan has supported American film director David Lynch - creator of series and movies such as "Twin Peaks", "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart" - and his foundation for Consciousness-based Education and World Peace, which promotes transcendental mediation as a school initiative and alternative to the power of the National Rifle Association lobby in the US.

When New Age, yoga and Buddhism became trendy in the West, Donovan was stuck in a mid-life crisis. He tried to repeat the success of his greatest hits, but rap and acid house were all the rage by that time. A Donovan renaissance did not occur, but the musician has still released a new album every now and then, such as the spiritually-inspired "Sutras" in 1996, which critics praised highly.

As commercial success started to fade, Donovan still remained committed to the peace movement and meditation. He was also inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 2012, along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses. Each artist accepted into the hall is honored by the display of personal exhibition pieces.

Poet Dylan Thomas was one of Donovan's role models. 2014 marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the great Welsh poet, whose 1954 radio drama "Under Milk Wood" is among Donovan's favorites. The singer-songwriter later set Dylan's famous poem "Do not go gentle into that good night" to music on his 2004 "Beat Café" album.

Donovan will be touring soon, and will also perform in Germany. His new album, "Shadows of Blue," will be released on iTunes on May 10, to coincide with his 67th birthday. The album is a reminiscence of Nashville, where his first single, "Catch the Wind," was recorded in 1965. Author: Michael Marek / als Editor: