Sass Jordan

Biography

Prior to releasing her first album as a singer, Jordan was a backing vocalist for The Box and a songwriter for other artists, most notably writing Michael Breen's hit single "Rain".

She released her debut album, Tell Somebody, in 1988 on Atlantic Records, and had hit singles in Canada with "Double Trouble", "Stranger Than Paradise" and the title track. In 1989, her cover of the rhythm & blues song "Rescue Me" was featured on the soundtrack to the film American Boyfriends.

She followed up in 1992 with Racine, and had further hits with "Make You a Believer", "I Want to Believe", "You Don't Have to Remind Me" and "Goin’ Back Again". In the same year, Jordan performed a duet with Joe Cocker for the soundtrack of the motion picture The Bodyguard.

Her third album, Rats (1994), featured the singles "High Road Easy" and "Sun's Gonna Rise", but underperformed on the charts compared to her first two albums. At her record label's request, she adopted a more pop-oriented sound for her next two albums, Present (1997) and Hot Gossip (2000), but failed to replicate her earlier success.

Jordan then played the lead role of Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway hit Love, Janis in 2001, guest starred on Sisters and Corner Gas, and performed in the Toronto and Winnipeg productions of The Vagina Monologues.

In 2003, she became a judge on Canadian Idol, and remained so for the show's entire run.

In 2012 Jordan was appointed honorary colonel of 417 Combat Support Squadron, an appointment she held until Glen Suitor's appointment in August 2016.

Personal life

Jordan is married to musician Derek Sharp, the current lead singer of The Guess Who.

Musical influences

Jordan's primary musical influences come from Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, Tears For Fears, Anthrax and American soul singer Al Green.

Awards and nominations

Jordan was the recipient of the Juno award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989, and was nominated for Best Female Vocalist in 1990, 1993, and 1995.