Who was Sass Jordan?
Sass Jordan was an English-born Canadian rock and blues singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. Her birth name was Sarah Jordan. She became internationally known through albums such as Tell Somebody, Racine and Rats.
Born in Birmingham, England, she moved with her family to Montreal when she was three. She died on October 2, 2026, at the age of 63.
What are Sass Jordan’s most famous songs?
Some of her best-known songs include:
- Make You a Believer
- Tell Somebody
- High Road Easy
- I Want to Believe
- Sun’s Gonna Rise
- Trust in Me with Joe Cocker
- You Don’t Have to Remind Me
- Going Back Again
“Make You a Believer” became one of her signature rock songs, while “High Road Easy” reached the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart’s Top 10.
What is Sass Jordan’s most famous album?
Racine is generally regarded as one of her breakthrough albums, while Rats is particularly notable for its harder rock sound and its connection to Taylor Hawkins.
Was Taylor Hawkins in Sass Jordan’s band?
Yes. Taylor Hawkins played drums with Sass Jordan during the period associated with her 1994 album Rats and its touring cycle. AllMusic notes that he was Jordan’s drummer before his later work with Alanis Morissette and Foo Fighters.
Years later, the two reunited on stage in Toronto when Jordan joined Foo Fighters for a performance. Dave Grohl publicly acknowledged Jordan’s influence on Hawkins’ early development as a rock musician.
Who was Sass Jordan’s father?
Her father was Albert Jordan, a French-born literary professor. When Sass was three years old, he moved the family to Montreal after receiving a professorship at Concordia University.
Was Sass Jordan’s mother an actress?
No reliable biographical source identifies her mother, Jean Lanceman, as an actress. She is described as a former English ballerina. Jordan therefore came from a family with strong artistic and cultural connections, although her own career ultimately developed around rock, blues and popular music.
What is Sass Jordan’s album Rats?
Rats is Sass Jordan’s 1994 album. It moved toward a harder alternative-rock sound and is notable for its association with Taylor Hawkins on drums. Songs associated with Rats include “Sun’s Gonna Rise” and other harder-rock material. Jordan herself has been reported as considering Rats one of her favorite albums.
When did Sass Jordan die?
Sass Jordan died on October 2, 2026, at the age of 63. Her cause of death had not been publicly disclosed in the initial reports. Her family confirmed her death.
Did Sass Jordan work with Joe Cocker?
Yes. Jordan recorded the duet “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker for The Bodyguard soundtrack, giving her another major connection to one of the era’s biggest film soundtracks.
Sass Jordan discography
Her studio and major album releases include:
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Tell Somebody |
| 1992 | Racine |
| 1994 | Rats |
| 1997 | Present |
| 2000 | Hot Gossip |
| 2006 | Get What You Give |
| 2009 | From Dusk ’Til Dawn |
| 2017 | Racine Revisited |
| 2020 | Rebel Moon Blues |
| 2022 | Bitches Blues |
Her official website lists Bitches Blues as a major later release, with songs including “Still Alive and Well,” “Chevrolet,” “You Gotta Move” and “Sailin Shoes.”
Sass Jordan band members
Throughout her career, Jordan worked with numerous musicians rather than maintaining one permanent lineup. Some important musicians associated with her various projects and recordings include:
- Taylor Hawkins — drums during the Rats era/touring period
- Derek Sharp — musician, producer and Jordan’s husband
- Garry Tallent — associated with Get What You Give
- Audley Freed — guitarist associated with Get What You Give
- Tommy Stewart — drums for S.U.N.
- Brian Tichy — drums/percussion for S.U.N.
- Michael Devin — bass for S.U.N.
Sass Jordan’s acting career
Music was not Jordan’s only artistic career. She played Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway production Love, Janis and also appeared in theatrical productions and television. She later became widely recognized by Canadian television audiences as a judge on Canadian Idol, serving throughout the show’s six-season run.
Sass Jordan’s feet: What is known?
Searches for “Sass Jordan feet” appear online, but there is little meaningful biographical information about her feet or footwear that contributes to her career story. For an accurate biography, the more relevant details are her music, albums, performances, acting work and influence on Canadian rock.
Sass Jordan’s legacy
Sass Jordan established herself as one of Canada’s prominent female rock and blues performers. Her career included Juno recognition, Billboard success, major tours and collaborations with artists including Joe Cocker, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC.
Her work with Taylor Hawkins is particularly notable because Hawkins would later become one of the most recognizable drummers in modern rock through his work with Foo Fighters. Following her death in October 2026, tributes have emphasized her powerful voice, personality and lasting contribution to Canadian rock music.
Where was Sass Jordan born?
Sass Jordan was born in Birmingham, England, and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She moved to Montreal with her family when she was three years old.
What was Sass Jordan’s real name?
Her birth name was Sarah Jordan. She performed professionally as Sass Jordan.
What genre was Sass Jordan?
Sass Jordan was primarily a rock and blues singer. Her sound also incorporated elements of hard rock, alternative rock, soul and popular music. Her official biography describes her as a pioneering figure in blues and rock who developed her musical identity in Montreal during the 1970s and 1980s.
How old was Sass Jordan when she died?
Sass Jordan was 63 years old when she died on October 2, 2026.
What was Sass Jordan’s cause of death?
Her cause of death had not been publicly disclosed in the reports available at the time. Her family confirmed her death.
Sass Jordan
Everything you need to know about the Canadian rock icon — her life, music, family, and legacy.
Who is Sass Jordan?
Sass Jordan (born Sarah Jordan) was a British-born Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and TV personality. She was born on December 23, 1962, in Birmingham, England, and raised in Montreal, Quebec[reference:0].
Her debut album, Tell Somebody, was released in 1988, and she won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989. She was also a longtime judge on Canadian Idol and released several acclaimed albums throughout her nearly four-decade career[reference:1].
Sass Jordan passed away on October 2, 2026, at the age of 63[reference:2].
Did Sass Jordan’s parents separate when she was 14?
Yes. Sass Jordan moved out on her own at the age of fourteen to pursue a singing career, and her parents split up around the same time[reference:3].
In a 2012 interview, she explained: “I moved out, wanted to be a singer and I never thought about asking my parents if they agreed on my decision. We all had our own plans and just went about them.”[reference:4]
Her mother was an actress and her father was a professor, and Jordan noted that her parents’ separation coincided with her striking out on her own[reference:5].
Did Sass Jordan’s parents divorce when she was 14?
Sources indicate that Sass Jordan’s parents separated around the time she left home at fourteen. While the term “divorce” is sometimes used in summaries of her life, the available interview quotes specifically describe them as having “split up” during that period[reference:6].
Her father was Albert Jordan, a French literature professor, and her mother was Jean Lanceman, a former English ballerina[reference:7].
What are the lyrics to “How Do I Get It Right”?
“How Do I Get It Right” is a track from Sass Jordan’s 2006 album Get What You Give. Here is an excerpt from the lyrics[reference:8]:
Is it possible to know
If what I’m feeling’s good for me
Is it body, is it soul?
If it’s all in my head, then I need help letting go
There’s so much I can’t get over
I just need someone to give me something moreHow do I get it right
How do I forget about it
How do I get my feet back on the ground?
Maybe I’m addicted
Maybe I’m just an addict for you
How do I get my feet back on the ground?
You can find the full lyrics on SongLyrics.
Who is Sass Jordan married to?
Sass Jordan was married to Derek Sharp, a musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the legendary rock band The Guess Who (from 2008 to 2024)[reference:9].
They met in 1995 when Sharp was playing guitar in Jordan’s band. As she recalled: “I met my husband Derek in 1995. He was playing guitar in my band. We got married and had a baby right away.”[reference:10]
Together they had a daughter, Stella Jordan-Sharp, and Sharp also has a daughter, Brianne, from a previous relationship[reference:11].
What is “Get What You Give”?
Get What You Give is Sass Jordan’s sixth studio album, released in 2006 under Horizon Records. It was her first full-length release since 2000’s Hot Gossip[reference:12].
The album was partly recorded in Nashville and produced by blues/roots expert Colin Linden. It features a blend of rock, blues, and pop styles[reference:13].
Tracklist:
- “What You Gonna Do” – 3:52
- “Shuffle” – 3:52
- “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” – 5:35
- “How Do I Get It Right” – 4:47
- “I Want More” – 4:00
- “Terminally Yours”
- …and more
Derek Sharp contributed backing vocals and co-writing on several tracks[reference:14].
Who was Sass Jordan’s husband?
Her husband was Derek Sharp, a Canadian musician and former frontman of The Guess Who. They were married until her passing in 2026[reference:15].
Sharp was not only her life partner but also a frequent collaborator — he played guitar on her albums and co-wrote songs with her. He is survived by their daughter, Stella[reference:16].
How old is Sass Jordan?
Sass Jordan was born on December 23, 1962, and passed away on October 2, 2026, at the age of 63[reference:17].
Some sources list her birth year as 1960, which would have made her 65 at the time of her death. The discrepancy appears in different official biographies and news reports[reference:18].
What is Sass Jordan doing now?
Sass Jordan passed away on October 2, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Her death was announced on her official social media pages[reference:19].
In the months before her passing, she had cancelled several scheduled Ontario performances due to a medical issue. She had been set to join Sadies’ Travis Good for a benefit concert in Calgary in November 2026[reference:20].
She remains remembered as an “inimitable force of nature” and an “irreplaceable being of light and joy”[reference:21].
Where does Sass Jordan live?
Sass Jordan was based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was born in Birmingham, England, and moved to Montreal with her family at the age of three when her father took a professorship at Concordia University[reference:22].
She maintained her connection to Montreal throughout her life and career, though she also spent time in Los Angeles during the early 1990s[reference:23].
What is “Who Do You Think You Are”?
“Who Do You Think You Are” is a song by Sass Jordan, released as a single in 1993 following the success of her 1992 album Racine[reference:24].
The track continued the momentum from Racine, which became the defining album of her career, selling an estimated 450,000 copies worldwide and producing hits like “Make You a Believer” and “I Want to Believe”[reference:25].
Billboard named her its top female rock artist of 1992 on the strength of that album[reference:26].
Who was Sass Jordan?
Sass Jordan was a Juno Award-winning rock singer and songwriter from Montreal. She was born in Birmingham, England, on December 23, 1962, and moved to Canada as a child[reference:27].
She released her debut album Tell Somebody in 1988 and went on to become one of Canada’s most powerful rock vocalists, known for hits like “Make You a Believer.” She was also a judge on Canadian Idol and continued recording and performing until her death in October 2026[reference:28].
She was survived by her husband, Derek Sharp, and her daughter, Stella Jordan-Sharp[reference:29].