Canadian rock singer-songwriter Sass Jordan has died at the age of 63, leaving fans and musicians mourning the loss of one of Montreal’s best-known rock voices.
A message posted on Jordan’s official Facebook page on Saturday, October 3, announced that the musician had died peacefully while surrounded by her family. The post came after several dates on her current tour had reportedly been cancelled because of a health issue.
The statement said Jordan had “peacefully crossed over to the other side.”
Sass Jordan’s Montreal Roots
Born Sarah “Sass” Jordan in Birmingham, England, the singer moved to Montreal with her family when she was three years old. Her father, a professor of French literature, had taken up a position at Concordia University, bringing the family to Quebec.
Montreal would eventually become central to Jordan’s musical identity and career.
She began performing publicly when she was just 16, later becoming involved with local acts including Bündock and The Box before establishing herself as a solo artist.
A Successful Rock Career
Jordan released her debut solo album, Tell Somebody, in 1988. The record featured songs including “So Hard” and the title track.
Two years later, she moved to Los Angeles, where her international career continued to develop.
Her second album, Racine, arrived in 1992 and included some of her best-known songs, including “Make You a Believer” and “Goin’ Back Again.” The latter was closely connected to her feelings for Montreal, her longtime hometown.
She followed it with Rats in 1994 and went on to release seven more albums over the following decade.
Jordan’s career earned her a Juno Award and established her as an important figure in Canada’s rock music scene.
Sass Jordan and Canadian Idol
A new generation of viewers also came to know Jordan through television.
She served as a judge on Canadian Idol from 2003 to 2008, bringing her experience as a touring musician and recording artist to the popular singing competition.
Her television role further cemented her reputation as one of Canada’s recognizable rock personalities.
Taylor Hawkins’ Tribute to Sass Jordan
Jordan also had a notable connection with Taylor Hawkins, the late Foo Fighters drummer.
Hawkins had toured with Jordan before joining the Foo Fighters and previously credited her with helping him understand life on the road as a professional rock musician.
“Sass taught me how to be in a rock and roll band,” Hawkins once said, adding that she gave him his first rock-and-roll paycheque.
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also acknowledged Jordan’s influence on Hawkins, saying that without her, Hawkins might not have gone on to become a member of the Foo Fighters.
Hawkins died in 2022 at the age of 50, making Jordan’s musical connection with him an enduring part of her legacy.
Sass Jordan Survived by Husband and Daughter
Jordan is survived by her husband, musician Derek Sharp, and their daughter.
Her death marks the loss of a distinctive voice in Canadian rock, particularly for the Montreal music community that had followed her career from her early performances through her solo success, television work and later years as a touring artist.
For generations of Canadian music fans, Sass Jordan’s career represented a bridge between Montreal’s local rock scene and the wider international music industry.
