- When his song "Mellow Yellow" was first released, it was thought that the song was about smoking dried banana peels. It was eventually revealed that the song was about a vibrator.
- He and former son-in-law Adam Horovitz (of the Beastie Boys) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the same night.
- Stepfather and adoptive father of Julian Brian Jones (Linda's son), whose biological father was Brian Jones.
- Fathered two children with Enid Graddis (a.k.a. Enid Stulberger): Donovan Leitch Jr. and Ione Skye. His song "Bleak City Woman" was about his meeting Enid, and choosing to romance her.
- To leave his original record label (Pye Records) in 1966, he had to forfeit any future record royalties for his first two albums and several singles; a total of about 34 recordings. He still collected writer's royalties, though, from the songs he had written while on the Pye label.
- He and his wife Linda Lawrence have two daughters: Astrella Celeste and Oriole Nebula.
- His middle name, "Philips", was his mother's maiden name.
- Was on the short list of artists invited to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival. Unfortunately, he couldn't due to a drug indictment hanging over his head in Britain.
- Ex-father-in-law of Kirsty Hume, Adam Horovitz.
- Grandfather of Violet Lilac Jean Leitch and Donovan Evers Leitch (Donovan Jr.'s children), Kate Netto and Goldie Priya Lee (Ione's daughters), Se'an Coco Channel Ryder and Sebastian Kerr Pisel (Oriole's children).
- Son-in-law of Violet & Alec Lawrence. Brother-in-law of Carol Lawrence with Ian Griffiths.
- His song Atlantis was rereleased to coincide with the Disney Movie. Europop singers No Angels contributed extra verses.
- His song "Laleña" was covered by Deep Purple on their self-titled 1969 third album. They described their arrangement as "Donovan's song the way we thought Donovan would like to have heard it.".
- Son of Winnyfred Philips & Donald Leitch.
- Attended Kent Road School in Glasgow.
- Attended secondary school St. Audrey's in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
- Attended Welwyn Garden City College of Further Education.
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