Sass Jordan, the Canadian rock and blues singer known for her hit albums and six seasons as a Canadian Idol judge, has died at 65.
Sass Jordan died Oct. 2 surrounded by her family, according to a statement shared by her family. She was 65.
Her family described her as an “inimitable force of nature” and “an irreplaceable being of light and joy.” No official cause of death has been announced.
Jordan was born Sarah Jordan in Birmingham, England, on Dec. 23, 1960, and moved with her family to Montreal when she was three.
She began performing as a teenager and was fronting bands in Montreal clubs by 16. Her early recording work included a collaboration with the Montreal band Bündock before she launched her solo career.
Her 1988 debut album, Tell Somebody, established Jordan as a major emerging voice in Canadian rock. She won the Juno Award for most promising female vocalist in 1989 and later received multiple nominations for female vocalist of the year.
Jordan reached a broader audience with 1992’s Racine, which produced several Canadian hits. She also moved to Los Angeles and recorded “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker for The Bodyguard soundtrack.
Her 1994 album Rats included “Sun’s Gonna Rise,” which became her highest-charting Canadian single and her only U.S. Hot 100 entry.
Her touring band during that period included a young Taylor Hawkins, who later became the drummer for Foo Fighters. Jordan also toured with major rock acts including Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Van Halen.
In 2003, Jordan joined Canadian Idol as a judge and remained on the panel throughout the show’s six seasons. The television role introduced her to another generation of Canadian music fans while she continued recording and performing.
Jordan later moved further into blues. Her 2020 album Rebel Moon Blues reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Blues Albums chart, while her final studio album, Bitches Blues, was released in 2022.
In September, Jordan canceled tour dates because of what she described as a “serious medical condition.” Her death was subsequently announced by her family.
She is survived by her husband, Derek Sharp of The Guess Who, daughter Stella Jordan-Sharp, stepdaughter Brianne Sharp and brother Daniel Jordan.
