An Irvine, California native, Donovan Raitt started his musical career with the piano at the age of 5. At the age of 11, Donovan fell in love with the electric guitar and started taking lessons. Donovan's love for the guitar grew as he started to perform regularly in a wide variety of styles, Performing his first professional gig at the age of 15. 

In 2001 Donovan was one of 10 students admitted to the prestigious Studio/Jazz guitar program at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, and was the recipient of the Paul LaRose memorial scholarship for guitar. While at USC, Donovan studied jazz and contemporary guitar styles with Steve Trovato, Richard Smith, Frank Potenza, and Pat Kelley, as well as classical, flamenco and fingerstyle guitar with David Oakes and James Smith. Donovan graduated from the studio guitar program with honors from USC in 2005. 

In 2010, Donovan completed a master's degree in Guitar Performance (Jazz Studies) from the Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, studying 7-string guitar with Ron Eschete. While at CSULB, Donovan wrote his master's thesis on the life of music of Michael Hedges entitled "Michael Hedges and the Re-Invention of Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar"

In 2021, Donovan completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Graduate Award for the Studio/Jazz Guitar Department. While completing his degree, Donovan served as a graduate teaching assistant in the music school, teaching beginning guitar group classes and private lessons. During his studies, Donovan pursued a minor in Flamenco music under the guidance of Adam Del Monte.

Donovan has been very active as an educator, and currently holds faculty positions teaching guitar at Concordia University, Hope International University, Musicians Institute, and Golden West College. Donovan has published guitar lessons for Reverb.com, zapguitar.com, guitarschool.net, iPerform3d.com, and strum-n-comfort.com. In 2008, Donovan self-published a guitar method book entitled "The Practical Guitar Method: Real-World Instruction for the Beginning to Advanced Guitarist" which has been recently updated and expanded.

He has released three albums of original solo acoustic guitar music to critical acclaim and has received tens of thousands of views on YouTube, as well as over a million plays on Spotify in 2020 alone. You can listen to his music on his artist website www.donovanraitt.com.

Donovan is endorsed by Breedlove Guitars, Godin Guitars, Yamaha guitars, Furch Guitars, Ernie Ball Strings, Henriksen Amplifiers, G7th capos, DiMarzio Pickups, Journey Instruments, GruvGear Cases and Bags, and Music Area Guitar Straps and Cases.