Sass Jordan

Early life and musical beginnings

Sarah Jordan was born on 23 December 1960 in Birmingham, England, to French literary professor Albert Jordan and English former ballerina Jean Lanceman. When she was three years old, her family moved to Canada after her father accepted a professorship at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Growing up in a household filled with classical music, her first major musical revelation came from hearing The Band's 1969 track "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" on the radio. In her early teens, she regularly sang and played guitar with friends in Westmount Park, and by age 16, she was performing with bands in downtown Montreal clubs. She eventually became the vocalist and bassist for the high-profile local band The Pinups, marking her entry into the city's music scene. Her recording debut came in 1986 as a co-lead vocalist on the song "Come On (Baby Tonight)" for the Bündock album Mauve.

Following her debut, Jordan began working as a session vocalist for other Montreal-based acts, most notably contributing to recordings for the band The Box. She also acted as a vocalist in the music video for The Box's song "Closer Together," though the actual vocals on the track were performed by Martine St. Clair. During this period, local artists began recording songs written by Jordan, including the Canadian hit single "Rain" by Michael Breen, which appeared on his 1987 self-titled album. These early experiences as a session musician and songwriter provided crucial groundwork for her impending solo career. Her diverse early influences included male rock vocalists like Steven Tyler, Robert Palmer, and Paul Rodgers, as well as artists ranging from Rod Stewart and David Bowie to Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Tears For Fears, Anthrax, and soul singer Al Green.

Breakthrough and mainstream success (1988 to 1995)

Jordan's debut solo album, Tell Somebody, was released in 1988 on Atlantic Records and propelled her to national fame. The album spawned several Canadian chart hits, including the title track "Tell Somebody," "Double Trouble," "Stranger Than Paradise," and "So Hard." The music video for "Tell Somebody" received heavy rotation on MuchMusic, dramatically increasing her public profile almost overnight. Jordan recalled that within two weeks she went from relative obscurity to being recognized as the girl from the video. During the chart run of "So Hard" in 1988-89, Jordan also charted with her remake of the 1965 R&B classic "Rescue Me," which was recorded for the soundtrack of the film American Boyfriends. As a result of this rapid success, she relocated from Montreal to Los Angeles in January 1990 to pursue opportunities in the American music market. Her debut earned her the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989.

Her second album, Racine, released in 1992 on MCA Records, became her commercial peak. Recorded in Los Angeles, the album sold an estimated 450,000 copies globally, with 100,000 of those sales occurring in Canada. It produced the hit singles "Make You a Believer," "I Want to Believe," "You Don't Have to Remind Me," and "Goin' Back Again," with the first two tracks also charting on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. The success of Racine led Billboard magazine to name Jordan the Top Female Rock Artist of the Year for 1992. That same year, she recorded the duet "Trust in Me" with Joe Cocker for the blockbuster film The Bodyguard after star Kevin Costner heard her on his car radio. The film's soundtrack went on to sell over 45 million copies worldwide, providing a massive platform for her collaboration.

In 1994, Jordan released Rats, an album she later cited as her personal favourite. It yielded her first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Sun's Gonna Rise." The album's touring band featured drummer Taylor Hawkins, who later credited Jordan with teaching him how to be in a rock band and giving him his first rock and roll paycheck. Despite this achievement, Rats did not match the commercial momentum of Racine, and Jordan was subsequently dropped from MCA Records. She then signed with Aquarius Records and released two albums, Present (1997) and Hot Gossip (2000). Jordan later expressed dissatisfaction with these records, stating they were probably her least favourite due to production choices that leaned toward a more mainstream sound at the label's request, though she acknowledged the songs themselves were strong.

Television career and return to recording

From 2003 to 2008, Jordan served as a judge on all six seasons of the Canadian television series Canadian Idol. This role made her a familiar face in households across the country and significantly raised her public profile. The experience ultimately encouraged her to return to her own recording career, which had been on hiatus. In 2006, she recorded the album Get What You Give in Nashville with producer Colin Linden. The album featured an impressive roster of guest musicians, including bassist Garry Tallent from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, drummers Ken Coomer of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco and Bryan Owings from Shelby Lynne's band, guitarist Audley Freed of The Black Crowes, and keyboardist Richard Bell from The Band and Janis Joplin's groups. She followed this with the album From Dusk 'til Dawn in 2009, marking a full return to her music career after her television work concluded.

• Judge on Canadian Idol for seasons 1 through 6 (2003 to 2008).
• Recorded Get What You Give in Nashville (2006).
• Featured guest musicians from The E Street Band, The Black Crowes, and The Band.
• Released From Dusk 'til Dawn (2009).

The S.U.N. project and blues era

During the early 2010s, Jordan formed the hard rock group S.U.N., which stands for Something Unto Nothing. The band featured guitarist Brian Tichy and bassist Michael Devin, both of Whitesnake, and drummer Tommy Stewart. The project began when Jordan reunited with Tichy at his Santa Clarita home studio to write songs, marking their first collaboration since the 1994 album Rats. The first song they wrote together was "Burned," which evolved into a full album. The self-titled debut album S.U.N.: Something Unto Nothing was released on 12 February 2013. It was later remastered with bonus tracks in 2026, the year of her death.

In 2017, to mark the 25th anniversary of her landmark album, Jordan released Racine Revisited. In an interview, she stated she was not interested in making it sound like a contemporary 2017 recording but wanted to reimagine the songs as if they had been recorded in 1975. She then shifted her focus decisively to the blues genre. Her first blues album, Rebel Moon Blues, was released on 13 March 2020 on the Stoney Plain Records label. The album featured covers of blues classics and one original song called "The Key." It debuted at number five on the Billboard Blues Album Chart on 28 March 2020 and was met with critical acclaim, with American Blues Scene noting her voice had aged well like fine wine. Her second blues album, Bitches Blues, featuring the song "Still Alive and Well," was released on 3 June 2022.

Acting, touring, and business ventures

Parallel to her music career, Jordan maintained an active presence in acting and theatre. In 2001, she played the lead role of Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway production Love, Janis. She also performed in the Toronto and Winnipeg productions of The Vagina Monologues. On television, she guest-starred in the 1990s family drama Sisters. In 2019, she joined A Bowie Celebration: The David Bowie Alumni Tour, a roving tribute led by Bowie's longtime keyboardist Mike Garson and featuring many of Bowie's past bandmates. This allowed her to perform the music of one of her key influences for audiences across North America.

In 2019, Jordan ventured into the spirits business, launching two distinct products. She partnered with Dixon Distilleries to create Rebel Moon Whiskey, a blended Canadian whisky. Simultaneously, she launched Kick Ass Sass Wine in partnership with Vineland Estates Winery, located in Ontario's Niagara Region. These ventures reflected her entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to connect with fans beyond the concert stage.

Personal life, collaborations, and death

Jordan was married to musician Derek Sharp, and the couple had one daughter. A significant professional and personal relationship in her life was with drummer Taylor Hawkins. Hawkins toured with her in 1994 before achieving fame with the Foo Fighters, and he often credited Jordan with teaching him the essentials of being in a rock band. On 9 July 2015, Jordan reunited with Hawkins on stage in Toronto, joining the Foo Fighters to perform a cover of "Stay with Me" by Faces. Before the performance, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl told the audience, "If it weren't for Sass Jordan, Taylor Hawkins wouldn't be in Foo Fighters." This moment highlighted the lasting impact and respect she commanded within the rock music community.

In April 2023, a live album documenting her 1994 tour with Taylor Hawkins on drums became available for streaming and vinyl pre-orders. Titled Live in New York Ninety-Four, this would prove to be her final release. In September 2026, Jordan cancelled all remaining tour dates and stepped away from professional commitments due to an undisclosed medical condition. She died shortly thereafter on 2 October 2026, at the age of 65. The cause of death was not publicly given.

Honours, awards, and recognition

Throughout her career, Sass Jordan received significant recognition from the Canadian music industry and international publications. Her debut album earned her the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989. She received subsequent Juno nominations for Best Female Vocalist in 1990, 1993, and 1995. Her commercial peak in 1992 was solidified when Billboard magazine named her the Top Female Rock Artist of the Year based on the success of her album Racine. In a unique honour outside of music, Jordan was appointed honorary colonel of 417 Combat Support Squadron in 2012, a ceremonial role within the Canadian Armed Forces. She held this appointment until August 2016, when it was taken over by Glen Suitor.

Discography and chart performance

Sass Jordan's studio album discography reflects her evolution through rock, pop, and blues over nearly four decades. Her debut, Tell Somebody (1988), established her on the Canadian charts with multiple singles. Racine (1992) remains her best-selling work with global sales of 450,000 copies. Rats (1994) produced her only Billboard Hot 100 entry with "Sun's Gonna Rise." Her later period included the blues albums Rebel Moon Blues (2020), which debuted at number five on the Billboard Blues Chart, and Bitches Blues (2022). Her final release was the live album Live in New York Ninety-Four in 2023. The 2013 album S.U.N.: Something Unto Nothing represented her work with the hard rock group S.U.N., and the 2017 album Racine Revisited offered a reinterpretation of her classic material.

• Tell Somebody (Atlantic, 1988)
• Racine (MCA, 1992)
• Rats (MCA, 1994)
• Present (Aquarius, 1997)
• Hot Gossip (Aquarius, 2000)
• Get What You Give (2006)
• From Dusk 'til Dawn (2009)
• S.U.N.: Something Unto Nothing (2013)
• Racine Revisited (2017)
• Rebel Moon Blues (Stoney Plain, 2020)
• Bitches Blues (2022)
• Live in New York Ninety-Four (2023)

Questions about Sass Jordan

What was Sass Jordan's connection to Taylor Hawkins?

Taylor Hawkins was the drummer for Sass Jordan's touring band in 1994, supporting her album Rats. Hawkins later stated that Jordan taught him how to be in a rock and roll band and gave him his first rock and roll paycheck. They reunited on stage in Toronto in 2015 when Jordan joined Hawkins's band, the Foo Fighters, for a performance. A live album from their 1994 tour, Live in New York Ninety-Four, was released in 2023.

What blues albums did Sass Jordan release?

Sass Jordan released two blues albums later in her career. The first, Rebel Moon Blues, was released on 13 March 2020 on Stoney Plain Records and debuted at number five on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. It featured covers of blues classics and one original song. Her second blues album, Bitches Blues, which included the track "Still Alive and Well," was released on 3 June 2022.

What was Sass Jordan's biggest hit song?

Sass Jordan's most commercially successful period was anchored by her 1992 album Racine, which was her highest selling album with global sales estimated at 450,000 copies. The singles "Make You a Believer" and "I Want to Believe" from that album charted on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. As a result of this success, Billboard magazine named her the Top Female Rock Artist of the Year for 1992. Her debut album, Tell Somebody, also produced Canadian chart hits like "Tell Somebody" and "So Hard". Later in her career, her 2020 blues album Rebel Moon Blues hit number five on the Billboard Blues chart.

How long was Sass Jordan a judge on Canadian Idol?

Sass Jordan served as a judge on Canadian Idol for all six seasons of the show's original run, from 2003 to 2008. She stepped away from the role in 2009 to return to her music career exclusively. Her time on the popular television series significantly raised her national profile and directly encouraged her to return to recording music in 2006. This led to her recording the album Get What You Give in Nashville with producer Colin Linden.

Did Sass Jordan win any Juno Awards?

Yes, Sass Jordan won one Juno Award. She received the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989, which was awarded for her debut album and single, both titled Tell Somebody. She was subsequently nominated for the Juno Award for Best Female Vocalist three more times, in 1990, 1993, and 1995, though she did not win in those later years. Her early award win marked a rapid rise to fame following the release of her first album.

What other ventures was Sass Jordan involved in outside of music?

Outside of music, Sass Jordan enjoyed a successful acting career in theatre and television. She notably played the lead role of Janis Joplin in the off Broadway hit Love, Janis in 2001 and performed in productions of The Vagina Monologues. She also guest starred in the 1990s television drama Sisters. In 2019, she ventured into the spirits industry by launching Rebel Moon Whiskey, a blended Canadian whisky by Dixon Distilleries, and Kick Ass Sass Wine from Vineland Estates Winery in Ontario's Niagara Region.

Sources and further reading

• Sass Jordan (Wikipedia)
• Juno-winning singer Sass Jordan dead at 65 (cbc.ca)
• Sass Jordan, Canadian rock singer-songwriter, dies aged 65 (theguardian.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.