In Memory of Susan Jacks
The BC Entertainment Hall of Fame mourns the passing of StarWalk inductee Susan Jacks, who passed away this week at the age of 73.
Tributes are coming in from fans across social media, including many other influential Canadian celebrities and performers.
Red Robinson writes: “Susan lit up our lives at an early age with her CBC-TV Let’s Go appearances, then her career with The Poppy Family and solo success. She’ll be missed by many.”
Burton Cummings shared on Twitter: “Sad news, the lovely Susan Jacks has passed away. I met Susan on my first trip to Vancouver way back in the Sixties. She made some great recordings. My personal favourite song she ever sang was Beyond The Clouds. Her health had been failing her in the last years and she has finally succumbed to physical problems. Her recordings will live forever. Of all her recordings, probably the most well known one internationally was Which Way You Goin’ Billy but she had many that will remain with us forever. She was charming and down to earth. [Rest in Peace] Susan, we’ll all miss you.”
Known as a wonderful person, and tremendous talent, her memory will live on through her music which is cherished by so many.
Susan Jacks was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She was a Canadian singer/songwriter who shot to international fame as part of the Poppy Family with then-husband Terry Jacks, a member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. Her first recording “Which Way You Going Billy” sold 3 million records worldwide and became #1 in Canada and #2 on Billboard in the USA. A string of hits followed.
She and Terry met on the set of the National television show Let’s Go which originated in Vancouver. She has been nominated for a number of Juno Awards (“Anna Marie”, “Love Has No Pride” “All the Tea in China”). In 1980 she recorded “Ghosts” for CBS records which also received a Juno nomination. Jacks moved to Nashville in 1983. While there, she recorded “Tall Dark Stranger” which gave her another Juno nomination and won her Best New Country Artist in Oklahoma. She became a staff songwriter for a Nashville Publishing Company.
In 2004, she returned to Vancouver and has resumed her singing career.
