Canadian Rock Icon and 'Idol' Judge Sass Jordan Dies at 65

Sass Jordan, the influential rock and blues singer and a long-standing judge on Canadian Idol, has passed away at the age of 65. Her family confirmed her peaceful passing on Saturday, October 3, through an Instagram post, noting she “crossed over to the other side” on October 2, surrounded by her loved ones. The family's tribute described her as “an inimitable force of nature” and “an irreplaceable being of light and joy!” An official cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Born Sarah Jordan in Birmingham, England, on December 23, 1960, Sass Jordan was the daughter of a French literature professor and a ballerina. Her family relocated to Montreal when she was three years old, where she later began playing guitar as a young teenager. By the age of 16, Jordan was already fronting bands in downtown Montreal clubs before ultimately becoming the singer and bassist for the local band The Pinups.

Drawing profound inspiration from musical legends such as David Bowie, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Jordan initiated her recording career in 1986. Her first notable contribution was as a co-lead vocalist on “Come On (Baby Tonight)” from Bündock’s album Mauve.

Two years later, in 1988, she launched her solo debut album, Tell Somebody, via Atlantic Records. Her distinctive music rapidly garnered acclaim in Canada, leading to her winning a Juno Award in 1989 for most promising female vocalist. She continued to receive female vocalist of the year nominations at the Juno Awards in 1990, 1993, and 1995. Publicist Eric Alper lauded her enduring impact, stating that “Over four decades, she gave Canadian rock one of its most recognizable voices, carved out space for women in a genre long dominated by men, and opened doors for the young musicians who came through her band.”

Jordan moved to Los Angeles in 1990, and two years later, released her critically acclaimed and career-defining album, Racine, through MCA Records. This album produced the hit single “Make You a Believer,” which climbed to No. 11 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in 1992. Her highest-charting song on that same chart was “High Road Easy” in 1994, reaching an impressive No. 6.

Her versatile talent also saw her collaborate with Joe Cocker on the song “Trust in Me,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the highly successful 1992 film The Bodyguard. The soundtrack itself achieved massive global success, spending 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Throughout her extensive career, Jordan toured with some of rock’s biggest names, including Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Van Halen. Notably, a young Taylor Hawkins, who would later achieve fame with Foo Fighters, played drums in her touring band.

In 2003, Jordan embarked on a new chapter, joining Canadian Idol as a judge and remaining a beloved fixture on the show for all six seasons. During her tenure, she championed many contestants, citing Carly Rae Jepsen and Melissa O’Neil among her favorites.

Later in her career, Jordan further explored her deep interest in blues music. In 2020, she released Rebel Moon Blues, a covers album recorded in Toronto with her band, the Champagne Hookers. The eight-track collection was well-received, reaching No. 5 on Billboard’s Blues Albums chart that year. Reflecting on the album at the time, Jordan told Billboard, “I love this music, and it made sense that I do this. I have a bluesy voice. I’ve always been called bluesy. So I was like, ‘Alright, let’s own this,’ and we had a blast doing it.”

Sass Jordan is survived by her husband, Derek Sharp, a member of The Guess Who; her daughter, Stella Jordan-Sharp; her stepdaughter, Brianne Sharp; and her brother, Daniel Jordan.