Canadian rock powerhouse Sass Jordan, who died Friday, certainly made her mark on our region. Jordan performed in the early ‘90s at Molson Park in Barrie, now Park Place. Donn Summerville, owner of Dawsons Wildwest Vinyl in Thornton, tells CTV News he was at that concert. “I remember how good she was,” he says. Summerville says she’s had a significant impact on the Canadian female music scene. “She came from very humble beginnings, managed to be at the top of the Canadian market. It’s a shame to see she’s gone actually. She’s one hell of a performer,” he says. Fast forward to the 2000s when Jordan returned to Barrie, she played at Mavericks Music Hall downtown in 2018 for the 5th Annual Jammin’ for Jamie Benefit Concert Party. Jordan also sat in the judging chair during CTV’s Canadian Idol run from 2003 to 2008. The Road Hammers—fronted by Jason McCoy, who’s also part of the morning show team on Pure Country 106—were set to perform alongside Jordan at an upcoming concert in Calgary called Concert for Classrooms. “I had the privilege of working briefly with Sass early in my career,” McCoy tells CTV News “She was a true star, on and off stage, and always willing to lend her voice to a cause. She was scheduled to join us at HammerJam in Calgary this November in support of Classroom Champions, but sadly had to step away due to illness. Her passing is a shock to all of us. Big talent, big voice, and a big loss.” Program Director for Bounce 104.1 Josh Duncan remembers Jordan also. “Sass Jordan was just a powerhouse of a voice. Unmatched in her field when it came to range and power,” Duncan tells CTV News. “Anyone that had a radio on in the early ‘90s definitely has a memory or two thanks to her music. Not to mention, not everybody can claim to have spent a few months trying out for Van Halen! A true icon who will be missed.”
