Susan Jacks

Two years ago today, Rock and Roll Heaven added a beautiful voice to its choir.

Susan Jacks first sang on a local ‘teen’ afternoon show called ‘Let’s Go!’, while she was still in high school. One time, she asked a guitarist from the show to accompany her on a gig. They hit it off, formed a group with another (outstanding) guitarist, and eventually married.

I first saw them live on the opening night of a (very small) ‘coffeehouse’ in my hometown. We did not know who we were going to see, some band called Power Line, but they had just changed their name in time for that gig to The Poppy Family. Susan’s husband, Terry Jacks, was the leader and producer of the band, but Susan’s voice was what people came to hear. They came to our town many times, to ever growing audiences, not for the money, but because Terry, an avid outdoorsman, was promised he would be taken salmon fishing.

I saw them live at least a dozen times over the next few years. In 1969, they released their first single, followed by several more and some albums. Eventually, the marriage broke up and both pursued solo careers. Terry had, for a long time, the all time highest selling single ever, Seasons in the Sun. Susan moved to Nashville and recorded several albums. They are good, but none showed the power and range she had when performing live.

She eventually returned to Vancouver, suffered from kidney failure, received a transplant from her brother, but succumbed to kidney failure. While she may not have had great renown, she will never be forgotten by many fans who appreciated the quality of her voice.

The black and whites were taken by a good friend at a 1969 concert at UBC.

Here are two versions of The Poppy Family’s greatest hit-

From 1969

https://youtu.be/SdZlp2Xdf6I?si=JTpWTbw0JZ9jVn1-

From the more recent past. A richer, more mature voice.

https://youtu.be/xIn1Po2V-Hs?si=Xx4_TDO4ffWwZSsj