Lynne Taylor Donovan‘s interest in music began when she was very young and by her very own admission, it was an interesting beginning. One of her first songs was “Drinking Shirley Temples and Eating Cherry Pie”.
Lynne got her first guitar when she was just 9 years old and began writing songs shortly afterwards. At the ripe old age of 16, she had her own TV show on a cable channel in Vancouver. The “Lynne Donovan Show” ran for 12 weeks.
Lynne’s first big break came in 1980 when she released a cover of the Gene Pitney song “Half Heaven, Half Heartache” in the UK. It was picked up by the BBC. Back home in Canada, Lynne performed as a solo artist until 1985 when she became part of the top 40 cover band “The Cynics”.
In the late 80s, Lynne began releasing a series of singles. “Don’t Make Me Lie” became a top 10 single in Canada, the video received extensive airplay on CMT and several TV appearances followed include the national “Jimmy Ferguson Show”. Lynne went on to tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and release more singles, until DMT Records closed down in 1992.
Through a chance meeting, Lynne teamed up with Gord Bridgewater and formed Lynne Donovan Music in 1994 and latterly Pacific Records. She recorded and released the songs “Angel In Your Eyes”, which was to become one of the most successful songs of her career.
Lynne has opened shows for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Loretta Lynn and Alan Jackson. She has also performed extensively in her native Canada – but has also toured the UK. In fact, Lynne was named Female Entertainer Of The Year at the British Jukebox Awards 2006.
The videos to her songs have been shown in many countries including CMT Canada, CMC Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Kenya and Ireland.
In 2022 and 2023, Lynne sponsored the UK Country Album of the Year Award at The UK Country Music Awards and will do so for a third year in 2024.
Says Lynne: “I am honored to sponsor the Album of the Year Award for the third year in a row and I very much look forward to hearing all the nominees. Good luck everyone”
In the summer of 2021, Lynne released the singles “Tennessee Whiskey” and “The Strong One”.
“Lynne is truly one of the top shelf singers in her genre, and the kicker is, she just keeps getting better…. She has filled opening slots at shows with stars such as Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd and Loretta Lynn… hugely successful Euro-UK #1 hit “Strong One”… Artistic freedom has never sounded so good…. The reigning queen of indie country music has a knack for finding a way into the hearts of her global fan base.” – Jamshere Magazine
“Artists like Lynne Taylor Donovan are the reason that pop music never gets stale” – Camden Monthly Magazine, UK
“Lynne Taylor Donovan is a true professional at channeling some of the best country-pop influences out there.“ – Bandcamp Diaries, Australia
In September 2023, Lynne released the vinyl album “Full Circle”.
“I came up with the title of “Full Circle” for this album for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I recorded my very first record, “Half Heaven Half Heartache” which is the first song on this album, on vinyl and now vinyl has come back “full circle” introducing a new generation to how truly awesome the vinyl experience really is!
Because vinyl was such a part of my childhood experience with music I always hoped it would come back again. I remember when I was only about 7 years old sitting on my bedroom floor and beginning the ritualistic experience of surrounding myself with a medley of 45’s and 33’s, and then deciding which one to play first. I had so many of my mother’s records like Sam Cooke, The Beatles, Ray Charles (with whom I have an autographed photo of), Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, The Animals, Janis Joplin and yes I had a 45 of Gene Pitney’s Half Heaven Half Heartache which at that time I never would have imagined that not only was it the first record I’d make but that it was also my first hit record! In my room I remember how exciting it was to drop the needle on top of the vinyl record anticipating the sounds of the slight scratching noises which would introduce the first note of the song I was waiting to hear. No other format has ever sounded as good to me as that which comes out of a vinyl record so I cannot tell you how exciting and it is to see it back again!”
“The second reason I chose the title for “Full Circle” is that I have come full circle back to health after fighting cancer twice over the past 15 years. I recorded the “Talk To Me” album while going through treatment where you may see some pretty amazing wigs on me! And now, the “Full Circle” album was created while going through treatment again . . thus the short hair! The great news is I feel healthy and renewed and ready to fully embrace my life with no signs of cancer appearing. It’s interesting how life’s challenges can make you stronger and appreciate life in a way you never did before . . . these times have been truly cathartic in a way I never would have known or felt and to be able to convey those emotions into songs is a great gift to me.”
On April 12, 2024, Lynne released her second vinyl LP “Movin’ On”. The new album follows the very successful “Full Circle” LP released in late 2023. It follows Lynne from where “Full Circle” left off to the present day. The new album features the re-mastered number 1 single “The Strong One” and contains new material including the new hit singles “The Letter” and “The Doctor”.
“Although she is perhaps associated with a country roots sound more than anything else, this second instalment of the planned trilogy shows that she is so much more than that…it takes a retrospective such as this to remind the listener of the consistency and creativity that has marked each turn in her career. Long may it continue..” – Dave Franklin Dancing About Architecture Magazine, England
“Movin’ On is the gorgeous new Country album from Vancouver-based singer Lynne Taylor Donovan. The record’s got powerhouse Red Dirt-styled bangers like “Sugar Lake” and real Classic Country songs like “The Strong One” that would fit seamlessly on any of George Strait’s mega-hit albums of the mid-80s. Her voice, as strong and confident as a young Tammy Wynette, pulls the array of traditional and modern Country styles all together.” Coyote Music -Austin Texas, USA
Lynne’s music is available on vinyl LP (website), download, or stream on all your favorite devices.
