Claman, Dolores

Websites:  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dolores-claman-emc, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dolores-Claman/104047096299883
Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia - Toronto, Ontario - London, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Dolores Olga Claman (born July 6, 1927, Vancouver, BC; died July 17, 2021, Spain) was a Canadian composer and pianist whose music profoundly shaped Canadian identity. Best known for composing The Hockey Theme — often referred to as “Canada’s Second National Anthem” — Claman created a vast body of music for television, advertising, theatre, and film that remains embedded in the national consciousness.

Early Life and Education
The daughter of an operetta singer, Claman studied piano in Vancouver before attending the University of Southern California for music and drama. Encouraged by baritone Lawrence Tibbett, she applied to the Juilliard School of Music in New York, where she was accepted on a prestigious fellowship. At Juilliard, she studied piano under Rosina Lhévinne and Edward Steuermann, and composition under Vittorio Giannini and Bernard Wagenaar.

Early Career
Among her first major works were the ballet Le Rêve fantasque (1950) and the musical Timber! (1952), which aired on CBC Radio and was recorded by Radio Canada International. In 1953, Claman moved to London, England, composing music for ITV and contributing songs to successful West End revues such as Airs on a Shoestring (1953), From Here to There (1955), Fresh Airs (1956), and Pieces of Eight (1957).

While in London, she met and married lyricist Richard Morris. Together, they became one of Canada’s most prolific songwriting partnerships.

Career Highlights
Settling in Toronto in 1958, Claman and Morris built a career writing an estimated 3,000 commercial jingles over three decades, earning more than 40 international awards. Their work blended sophistication with memorable melodic hooks, helping to define Canadian soundscapes in the 1960s and 1970s.

Among Claman’s most celebrated compositions are:

"The Hockey Theme" (1968), written for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, and widely regarded as Canada's second national anthem.

"A Place to Stand" (1967), the rousing anthem for Ontario’s pavilion at Expo 67, whose accompanying film won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

"Look Out World" (1969), the theme for the inaugural Canada Games.

"Theme from Ontario Place" (1971), composed for the multimedia exhibitions at Toronto's newly opened Ontario Place.

"St. Lawrence Centre Song" (1965), a special centennial jingle recorded to promote the opening of Toronto's St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, arranged by Jerry Toth.

In 2008, Claman oversaw the first official standalone commercial release of The Hockey Theme on CD (private label CD-001). Recorded at McClear/Digital Studios with arranger Rick Wilkins and producer John Ciccone, the new recording faithfully recreated the original arrangement while bringing the music to a wider audience for the first time. As Executive Producer, Claman personally supervised the sessions, reflecting her lifelong commitment to her most famous work.

Beyond jingles and anthems, Claman and Morris also wrote original musicals, including Mr. Scrooge (1963) and In the Klondike (1968), and contributed to CBC’s Spring Thaw revues, as well as scores for television series (House of Pride) and films (The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever [1970]; Captain Apache [1972]).

She collaborated closely with Canadian musical legends including Howard Cable, Neil Chotem, and brothers Jerry and Rudy Toth through their work at Quartet Productions.

Later Years and Advocacy
Claman was a fierce advocate for composers’ rights. In 2004, she sued CBC for unauthorized use of The Hockey Theme, including its sale as a ringtone and broadcast beyond its intended scope. The highly publicized legal battle culminated in CTV acquiring the rights to the theme in 2008, using it thereafter on TSN’s hockey broadcasts.

In her later years, Claman divided her time between London, Spain, and Vancouver, remaining deeply connected to her music and its cultural significance.

Legacy
Dolores Claman’s melodies captured the soul of a nation — whether rallying hockey fans, celebrating provincial pride, or simply delighting audiences through countless jingles and scores. Her work, while immensely commercial, was always artistic at its core: rich in feeling, beautifully crafted, and instantly memorable.

As longtime colleague John Ciccone noted, "She maintained that giant heart and soul of an artist. She was so moved by the fans — it was an honour she never took for granted."

Dolores Claman passed away on July 17, 2021, at the age of 94, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of music, resilience, and Canadian pride.

Major Works:
The Hockey Theme (1968, 2008 official release)
A Place to Stand (1967)
Look Out World (1969)
Theme from Ontario Place (1971)
St. Lawrence Centre Song (1965)

Honours:
Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010)
SOCAN Cultural Impact Award (2016)

-Robert Williston