Donovan Gets His Day

Los Angeles gets ready to honor Donovan with a day named in honor of the singer / songwriter’s half century of making music. 

Donovan’s current “50th Anniversary ‘Sunshine Superman’” tour is more than a run of dates named after an album and song recorded in the ’60s.  Considered one of the first recordings marking pop music’s “psychedelic era,” the LP was also the first collaboration between Donovan, producer Mickie Most and arranger John Cameron.  The “Sunshine Superman” single quickly went to the top of the charts and was followed by “Mellow Yellow” a few months later.  The album also featured the fine guitar work of a pre-Zeppelin Jimmy Page.

The vinyl reissue of the album Sunshine Superman comes from Sundazed and is sourced from the original analog tapes in the rare U.S. Mono mix.

While Sept. 3 is officially “Donovan Day” in Los Angeles as well as the 50th anniversary of the release of the single “Sunshine Superman,” the weekend begins with the singer performing tonight on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Friday finds Donovan joining Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz and other city leaders for a press conference designating the special day.  Taking place at Los Angeles City Hall, the presser will include a ceremony and short acoustic performance.

Photo: Donald Leitch (Donovan Discs 2016)
A young Donovan in an undated photo.

Launching his tour Sept. 4, Donovan returns to Los Angeles the following month.  Oct. 7 has him appearing on the star-studded charity event “Unity: The Desmond Tutu Legacy Project Mini-Big Show” at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills as well as headlining a gig at The Rose in Pasadena.  Donovan returns to the Saban Theatre as the evening’s headliner Oct. 8.

Of course, it’s “Donovan Day” wherever the legendary artist may be playing.  Here’s the complete “50th Anniversary ‘Sunshine Superman’” North American routing:

Sept. 4 – Fairfield, Iowa, Various Venues (FAIRfest)
Sept. 7 – Clearwater, Fla.,  Capitol Theatre
Sept. 8 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Parker Playhouse
Sept. 10 – Port Washington, N.Y., Landmark On Main Street
Sept. 11 – South Orange, N.J., South Orange Performing Arts Ctr.
Sept. 14 – Troy, N.Y., Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Sept. 15 – New York, N.Y., Zankel Hall At Carnegie Hall
Sept. 17 – Boston, Mass., Jordan Hall
Sept. 18 – Peekskill, N.Y., Paramount Hudson Valley
Sept. 20 – Dallas, Texas, Majestic Theatre
Sept. 21 – Houston, Texas, Lillie & Roy Cullen Theater
Sept. 22 – San Antonio, Texas, Studio Theater At The Tobin Center
Sept. 24 – Austin, Texas, Paramount Theatre
Sept. 25 – Boulder, Colo., Boulder Theater
Sept. 27 – Phoenix, Ariz., MIM Music Theater
Oct. 7 – Beverly Hills, Calif., Saban Theatre (Unity: The Desmond Tutu Legacy Project Mini-Big Show)
Oct. 7 – Pasadena, Calif., The Rose
Oct. 8 – Beverly Hills, Calif., Saban Theatre
Oct. 12 – San Francisco, Calif., The Regency Ballroom
Oct. 13 – San Francisco, Calif., The Regency Ballroom
Oct. 15 – Seattle, Wash., The Neptune
Oct. 16 – Seattle, Wash., The Neptune
Oct. 21 – Toronto, Ontario, The Danforth Music Hall

Visit Donovan.ie for more details.