Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex signing autographs outside Toronto's Elgin and Wintergarden Theatre. (Ken Regular photo) Canadian Idol judge Sass Jordan shares a laugh with segment producer Jodi Mercier on her way to address a group of competitors at the Montreal auditions. Judge Zack Werner acts as his usual caustic self at a Halifax Media Idol competition. Idol judge Jake Gold settles in for a day on the Winnipeg set.

Idol judges combine cutting wit with industry expertise

Updated Tue. Jun. 19 2007 12:08 AM ET

Eye on Idol

Sorting through singers from across the country and acting as Canadian Idol's judging panel all summer may seem like a full-time job as it is -- but Sass Jordan, Jake Gold, Farley Flex and Zack Werner know you can't be an industry expert without staying in touch with your industry.

In interviews broadcast on Tuesday's show, the judges revealed why they got their jobs in the first place and what it is that drives them to fill every minute of their time with music, showbiz and community service.

Farley Flex

Life before Idol: Helped launched FLOW FM, Canada's first urban music radio station, and played university soccer

"It was a landmark thing -- a black owned and operated radio station on commercial airwaves in Toronto. We introduced Canada to India Arie, to Alicia Keys."

Ongoing: Works as an artist manager (managed hip-hop giant Maestro in the peak of his career), motivational speaker at events across the country

"It's fantastic for me to go to different parts of the world and experience all this knowledge and share my perspective at the same time."

Community Involvement: coaches kids' sports teams, member of Toronto Mayor David Miller's election campaign

Recognition: Won the Harry Jerome Arts/Media Award in 2007 and has been the recipient of The Urban Music Association of Canada's Bob Marley Community Role Model Award

Sass Jordan

Life before Idol: worked as one of Canada's first VJs, played with bands the Box and The Pinups, acted off-Broadway

"Performing today is exactly the same thing as it was years ago. It doesn't matter if there are 100 people or 750,000 people... It means so much to me to be able to move people, to galvanize people. Music is so unbelievably powerful."

Ongoing: million-selling rock career, touring with her new album "Get What You Give"

"I can honestly say I think this is the most exciting time in my career so far... I'm working with some incredible musicians."

Zack Werner

Life before Idol: Member of bands The Ringing and Thick As Thieves, entertainment lawyer who put the "X" into Bush X

"When we were in LA we did play shows with Alice and Chains and the early version of Pearl Jam. They were really focused on the job at hand and the job at hand was just to live the life and make the music. I started realizing my talent did not lie in making the music... but in helping others make that music at that level."

Ongoing: President of Venus Records, where he has worked with artists including The Johnstones, Ali Milner, Down with Webster, Esthero, Robin Black

"I continue to be hungry to create new things and be part of the lottery ticket ride of trying to create a new entertainment vehicle- be it a band or a new TV show. All of these things are still very exciting to me."

Community Involvement: coaches kids' hockey

Special Mention: represented Canada as a judge in World Idol in December 2003

Jake Gold

Life before Idol: Managed bands including the Tragically Hip (18 years) and the Watchmen (14 years), organized Winnipeg benefit concert that raised $400,000 for War Child Canada

"I remember standing on stage and there was this roar of $100,000 people. I remember thinking this is why I do this."

Ongoing: Co-owns independent label Kindling Music, artist manager (acts include Sass Jordan, the Cliks and the Populars), keynote speaker/panelist at music industry conferences

"I have to assess talent on a day to day basis, all day long, that's what I do. Most of the artists I have managed over the years, we picked up because we saw them as career artists.... (I have to ask myself) 'will it have a career, will it make money?' At the end of the day its not music friends, it's the music business."

Awards: Manager of the Year at the Canadian Music Industry Awards in 1991, 1993 and 1994

 

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