FRENCH GV AWARD (2009)

Iconic singer songwriter Donovan (Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man) was awarded a distinguished medal as “Officer of Arts & Letters” by the French Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, during the prestigious MIDEM Music Fair in Cannes, France, on Sunday 18 January.

Donovan was honored along with two other medal recipients: Paul Zilk, the CEO and president of Reed MIDEM; and Philippe Jaroussky, the famed French sopranist countertenor. Donovan received his medal 16 months after filmmaker David Lynch was honored by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as an “Officer of the Legion of Honor.”

“Donovan is greatly deserving of this high award,” Mr. Lynch said. “He’s a cosmic musician—his songs have brought bliss and enlightenment to the world for more that 40 years.”

Donovan works closely with Mr. Lynch, heading up the musical wing of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness Based Education and World Peace. Donovan and his wife, Linda, have traveled with Mr. Lynch throughout Europe, America, and Brazil to bring the benefits of Transcendental Meditation to education. Through their efforts, the Lynch Foundation has now provided scholarships for more than 60,000 children worldwide to learn to meditate.