Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Belafonte, and the Bob Dylan Center!

by Chris Murray on May 10, 2023

Photo by Lawson Slater

Today is Donovan’s birthday, and I celebrate it with this terrific photograph of Donovan and his wife Linda last weekend with Bruce Springsteen in Dublin. Donovan said, “It was wonderful for Linda and I to visit Bruce yesterday, at his soundcheck in Dublin, and to hear from him, that my music and harmonica playing was an important part of his youth. Bruce, I am also inspired by all you do. Love, Donovan and Linda.”

So much has been written when the great Harry Belafonte passed on last month. And rightly so, as Belafonte is a genuine hero of our times and a legendary creative artist. Leave it to Donovan to have recorded an extraordinary tribute album to Harry Belafonte in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, just a few years ago. When Belafonte had the ‘first listen’ to Donovan’s album Jump In The Line he wrote Donovan that “By your presence, the future is in good hands…” referring to Belafonte’s own musical legacy. I was fortunate to be with Donovan and his wife Linda in Jamaica for the two weeks recording that tribute album. Donovan is so cool to appreciate Harry so much to make a tribute album while Harry could enjoy it.

Photo by Chris Murray

And just two weeks ago the remarkable Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, launched “Becoming Bob Dylan” the exhibition of Ted Russell’s photographs of Dylan in New York City from 1961 to 1964. Donovan wrote the Foreword to that collection of photographs in Russell’s book Bob Dylan: NYC 1961-1964 (Rizzoli). The introductory text panel to the exhibition quotes some apt words from Donovan for the Dylan exhibition:

“You see in these amazing photos a Poet
Balancing there on the edge of his world
Smiling at chance and yet knowing for certain
…Only the dream is real”

Photos by Chris Murray

Happy Birthday Donovan!!

Donovan’s Sapphograph’s and Ted Russell’s photographs are available through Govinda Gallery.

Category: Blog, The Back Room   

2 responses to “Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Belafonte, and the Bob Dylan Center!”

  1. Rick Floyd says:

    Very nice, old friend! Dig it!
    First there is a birthday, then there is no birthday, then there is!

    Happy Birthday Donovan!

  2. Lynn says:

    The dream is dreaming you Mr. Leitch. God and Goddess speed to you and Linda.
    Happy belated birthday!

    Lynn

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