FOR THE RECORD MY LIFE IN SONGS 1984-2024
Dillon & Donna O'Connor
National Anthem Ottawa Civic centre 1982
Hostage -80's
photo:Alfred Boyd Studio Sudbury makeup: Inatree
w/Bruce Cockburn
recording 'Play it by Heart' by : W.McDowell Manta Studio 1983
HOSTAGE
Billy V (McDowell) & Donna Live at the ' Coronet' - Kitchener 1982
w/George Semkiw producer/engineer extraordinaire
from BTO, Lou Reed,Daniel Lanois to Duke Ellington
w/Juno award winner John Macleod
12/12/12 donna on Handmade crafted chair 1962 gifted: J.H O'Connor ottawa
Live Hostage '80's
at the Northbury - Sudbury
at dtomusic media studio
Toronto
selfie
filming 'Good Enough' 2024
1984 -45" Guest Bruce Cockburn Producer: Hugh Marsh (Manta Sound)
sold copies from stage in Northern Ontario, East Coast to Florida
Radio airplay in southern US
As I Am - 1994 - 5 Song EP 1st release of original material
SOCAN new talent award winner
Engineer : Dave Ferri -Orchard Sound
Producer/Arranger : Richard Smyth
I Just Wanna Be Blue 2009 Remastered with new Lead Vox at World HQ by Richard Smyth
Donna with the Remnants 1991 My Reply : by donna , arranged by Donna, Richard & The remnants
photo: back David Monis, Brad Lovatt
front: Richard Smyth, Donna, John Yelland
recorded at breath easy studio
The Circles Game 2011 piano/vocals: donna o, strings: brigham phillips Dedicated to
Teresa McDonald O'Connor & Donald Himes
audio link
Blessed -2011 limited digital single written, arranged, produced by Donna with youth chorus
Recorded at World HQ studio with Richard Smyth
Wintering With You - 2012 with Youth vocal ensemble
produced and arranged by Donna
Engineered & Mixed : Richard Smyth at World HQ studio
HOOKED Album 2014 DONNA O First full CD of original songs
Engineer: Mark Shannon at MStudio Pre production World HQ studio (Richard Smyth)
Does your Mother Know (Gordon Lightfoot cover)2014 DONNA O 1st single from Hooked cd cover: *DYMK - Gordon Lightfoot
B side: Drive Me Crazy- Donna O'Connor- imagine MY song the flip side of Gordon Lightfoot!
Junction Days2Nights - Club Mix 2015 DONNA O From Hooked: Club mix : MStudio
dance club mix with special guest
Juno Award winner -John Macleod
You're Pretty because You're You 2015 Digital Single :
accompanies Picture Book
Snow Digital Single Dec 2023 Snow: dtomusic©2023
Video: dtomusic©2024
Donna : archive footage ©2009
self portrait, in car after gig
HOSTAGE-TheLastTime45"release©1984dtomusicmediaarchives. composer B.McDowell (capac©1983)
about
©dtomusicsmedia 2010-2026 all rights reserved
From stadium anthems to legendary recording studios, her musical journey is defined by versatility and a lifetime of performance. She first stepped into the spotlight at 17, joining her father, Dillon O'Connor (Mr. O Canada), to sing the National Anthem for the Ottawa Rough Riders. At the same time, she was sharpening her skills in musical theater, starring in classics like West Side Story and Anne of Green Gables.
She went on to spend a decade touring Canada and the U.S. with her band, Hostage—even catching the eye of a rising Shania Twain along the way. Her debut release on her independent label, OMS Records, was produced by Hugh Marsh and featured Canadian icon Bruce Cockburn on the track "Play it by Heart," capturing major radio airplay across North America.
After winning the prestigious SOCAN New Talent Demo Award, she recorded her EP As I Am at Orchard Studio. Since establishing her roots in Toronto, she has opened for icons like James Brown, Patti LaBelle, and Glen Campbell, while building a highly respected career as a session singer, songwriter, arranger, and vocal coach.
Her latest album of original songs, Hooked, was released under the name Donna O and features Juno Award-winning trumpeter John MacLeod. She currently runs a thriving Toronto lesson studio, and her music is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.
Notable Sessions & media: celtic 'Loch Lomand' plus 6+ songs (IrishRoses CD) -750,000 Guest Vocal -'The Planets' kidslove2learn channel - 25 million Guest Vocal - 'The Solar System' -A Rock Opera - 4 million
"Music and patriotism run deep in my veins. As the daughter of Dillon O’Connor—the legendary 'Mr. O Canada' who created our anthem's iconic signature ending—I carry a proud musical legacy into every song I write and perform."
"Hear the Legacy: Watch the exact moment my father, Dillon O'Connor, alters the final notes of the anthem—creating a Canadian musical tradition."
"Canada My Heart"
An Original Song by Donna O'Connor
Growing up, patriotism wasn't just a concept in my house —it was a melody. Watching my dad, Dillon O'Connor, sing for millions of Canadians taught me that music has the unique power to heal, unite, and uplift a nation.
"Canada My Heart" is my original contribution to that family tradition. It’s a song about the landscapes, the people, and the shared heartbeat of this country. In the music video, you'll see a beautiful tapestry weaving together my own musical journey in this great country . It is a passing of the torch, from his iconic voice to my own songwriting, proving that the love for this country remains firmly in the blood.
"A Collaboration Across Time"
This video is a deeply personal labor of love, celebrating the enduring legacy of my father, Dillon O’Connor ("Mr. O Canada"). The backbone of this track is a timeless 1985 studio session captured on a classic 8-track Studer at OMS Studios in Toronto—complete with the brilliant DX7 keys by Teresa McDonald O'Connor and the steady hand of engineer G.Smith.
Decades later, I sat in the producer's chair to bring these archives back to life. Remembering back to the session on the microphone to arrange and perform the background vocals against my father’s soaring lead tenor felt less like a studio session and more like a conversation across the years. To match his phrasing, to blend my voice with his, is to realize that music truly is in the blood.
Lovingly remastered by Mark Shannon at MStudio, this song and video serve as a tribute to a trailblazer for Canadian unity, a magnificent artist, and a father I miss every day. Look closely at the archival footage/photos—you're witnessing a piece of Canadian musical history, kept alive for a new generation.
Dedicated to Dillon and Mom—you rock.
In May 1968, Arnie May asked Dillon O'Connor to sing the National Anthem for the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders. When the Canadian Football League regular season kicked off on August 1, 1968, O'Connor stepped up to the microphone—and he didn't step down from his anthem post until 1982. He immediately struck a chord with football fans and stadium crowds alike. His powerful, booming voice and deep love for Canada were on full display during every performance. Over his 14-year tenure anchoring the stadium's pre-game traditions, O'Connor created a lasting national legacy by altering the final two notes of the anthem, driving the melody upwards on the words "for thee." This stirring, triumphant lift became his signature.
His commanding presence caught the attention of prominent political figures like Robert Stanfield, the Leader of the Official Opposition, who famously christened him "Mr. O Canada" in 1968. O'Connor further cemented his place in history by becoming the first solo artist to perform the official bilingual version of the anthem, leading CFL Commissioner Jake Gaudaur to praise him as "a possible key to Canadian Unity".
O'Connor once joked, "I’m the only guy in Canada who takes the end up, eh?" At the time, he truly was the only one—but his innovative arrangement and dual-language performances permanently changed how the anthem is sung across the nation, inspiring virtually every singer who followed in his footsteps.
'Her emotional soaring voice, is what captures you...perhaps it's in the blood, being the daughter of "Mr O Canada" Nick Mancuso director, actor
'TOTALLY ENDEARING AND CAPTIVATING, SHE DEFIES BOUNDARIES & GENRES...A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH ! Danny Scott (producer ,recording artist)
logos & designs assetdesign©2010-2026
website & all photos : ©dtomusicmedia 2010-2026 all rights reserved
We acknowledge we work, live, and play on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg,the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples
"My father, 'Mr. O Canada,' was known for a voice that could move an entire stadium. While he sang the classics, he taught me how to put true passion behind every single note. My music blends that powerful vocal tradition with modern Adult Contemporary storytelling."
CONTACT THRU BEACHMUSICSTUDIO
The official trailer for the MR. O CANADA / DILLON O'CONNOR tribute project is live! 🇨🇦
Get a sneak peek into the remastered musical journey of my father, Dillon O'Connor. This trailer is just the beginning. We are hard at work building an upcoming historical tribute website to preserve his legacy, his stories, and his iconic 1985 OMS Studio sessions for generations to come.
👇 Watch the trailer and subscribe to follow the journey to the website launch:
🌐 Website Coming Soon "Stay Tuned!"