DONOVAN HATTINGH - GUITAR SUPREMO & MUSICAL DIRECTOR
(with extra images)
Donovan Hattingh is arguably the best guitarist in South Africa, but he is working on his disposition and argues less frequently nowadays.
To call Donovan a giant on the guitar would be doing a great service to tall people, who have claimed him as their own. Musically, Donovan makes other geniuses seem dim. Similarly, dim people seem that much dimmer themselves in his musical presence.
His ability to dwarf those around him, however, ends tragically in the fashion department. Aside from his prowess as a guitarist capable of copying the most awesome guitar solos Breath-takingly perfectly, Donovan is also a vocalist extraordinaire.
Donovan has received acclaim for his extraordinary achievements as musical director of the hit Abba show Absolutely Abba, where his stunning vocal arrangements and control of the tightest Abba outfit around showed the expanse of his talents.
As Donny in the 50's and 60's rock n roll show Donny and the Doowahs, Donovan shows how he can entertain any type of audience with any style of music he chooses - turning the evergreen favorites into rollicking party-starters which leave the baby boomers beaming.
On the other side, the Kick-Ass Guitar Shows I and II were developed as a showcase for his flash guitar talents. These shows sold out numerous runs in Port Elizabeth to die-hard fans who just cannot get enough of Donovan. Before the Kick-Ass Guitar show, Donovan was again highlighted in the Born to Be Wild, which saluted the hard rock icons to standing ovation response. This band, consisting of Eminent Child rhythm section drummer Gino Fabbri and basist Mike McAuley, were enthusiastically dubbed as the best band in the country by Duck Chowles after every performance whenever they backed him in his Rocking in a Free World Show. The band also features ace keyboard player Rory McLaren and the amicable and likeable Latino Italian-O Eppie Angileri.
A years stint at the Barnyard taught the old dog some new tricks, but saw him rejoining Centrestage as the backbone to their live music band The Centrestage All-Star Band.
The predecessor to Donny and the Doowahs, Centrestage's That Rollicking Rock n Roll Show and Rocking Down Memory Lane even had Donovan acting as front-man on songs such as Mr Bass Man, before tearing the joint up with the likes of Radar Love, All Right Now and La Grange.
In 2003, Donovan was part of the comedy sketch team which presented Centrestage's The Down and Dirty Anything Can Happen Show - a surprise sellout at the Grahamstown festival. This show helped to cement the notion that Donovan's timing is more than just in his fingers, as the natural comedian in Donovan was given the chance to show its face.
Donovan is at home in many musical genres - he is as convincing in the Centrestage Bob Marley tribute show Lively Up Yourself as he is playing his now famous Brian May Queen impersonations, or copying the mind-numbing virtuosity of the likes of Steve Vai and Joe Satriani with digital type perfection.
Donovan is a true musical chameleon, capable of adapting in temperament and style to any occasion. He also has a personal integrity and can sport a corporate disposition which is rare of his ilk, making him a perfect choice for any entertainment ensemble.
Click Here to watch a clip of Donovan grinding that guitar
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