In Memory of My Friend, Kenny Rankin

Kenny Rankin died on June 7th. He was 69 years old and died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, where he lived.

I first started listening to Kenny's music when I was in college in 1976. His vocal range, from a falsetto to rich, bluesy tenor was remarkable. I had the good luck to run into him at LA airport a few years back and tell him how much his music meant to me. He offered to perform at any charitable event I might be affiliated with, schedule permitting. Last year, Kenny made good on that promise and did a show at the Stephen Talkhouse on Long Island to benefit the East Hampton Daycare Center.

Kenny played the hell out of the guitar and put on a wonderful show for the relatively small crowd. He never mentioned that he was sick.

When the Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Paul McCartney asked Kenny to accept the award on the group's behalf. Rankin had recorded beautiful and lilting versions of a number of Beatles' songs. Kenny wrote for Peggy Lee, Mel Torme and Helen Reddy in the 60's and 70's. He played guitar on Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Hom e" album in 1965.

Kenny Rankin, the self-described "jazz singer," a great guitarist and vocalist, died last Sunday. Rest in peace, Kenny.

Comments

[LeftLeanWing]

for those who knew him well and not so well too !:
Kenny's Youtube Library

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=kenny+rankin&search_sort=relevance&search_category=0&page=

[CamJam]

thank you for this!

Rest in sweet peace Kenny!

[littlepeople]

Thank you.....hard to believe that voice is silenced :-(

[LeftLeanWing]

I discoveedr Kenny around the same time as you and he has been a constant companion in my home and/or my car CD-Changer since. My own personal musical treat.that I never outgrew.

He was a wonderful exception to my musical heroes back then: Funkadelic-Parliament, Zappa, Return-to-Forever -gasp!- Disco and what ever I could hear on the 10 kilowatt 4 hour 'black' radio show in Boston.

Rest in Peace, Kenny
Thanks for contributing to my Life's Soundtrack

[skeeler]

I first saw Kenny Rankinlive when I was 13 years old. He was the opening act for George Carlin. I became a lifelong fan of both these genius talents. RIP Kenny.

[tcmfan]

He will be missed. He was, will be the greatest!

[Loki11467]

Dude your not that older than me. Remember Berner was called the Burner Burn Outs...helen reddy and mel torme were not played in Zappa Woods!

[mperl95]

Thanks Alec, for writing a tribute to a really good musician and singer. At this moment I am listening "On and On", " Groovin", " The way you Look Tonight" , "Blackbird",
" Round Midnight", " I could Write a Book" and "Peaceful"are all my favorite.
Kenny should of gotten more recognition and he will greatly be missed.

[Rankinfile]

Dear Alec,

I am Kenny's eldest daughter, Gena.
Thank you for your kind words about my father.
It's lovely of you to share this side of him with people.

With gratitude,
GR

[Loki11467]

Ok maybe KR wasn't played in Zappa Woods but the fact you read his post and it was from his heart exonerates Alec. peace and love be with you!

[mperl95]

Gena, Hi! Sorry for your loss. My sympathy for your family and we loved his music. I have it on my ipod.

[LeftLeanWing]

Sorry for your loss, Gena.
I will miss him too.

[ropadopa]

To quote Bob Marley, "no woman, no cry," loved Kenny too Gina will miss him a lot but his music will live forever in our hearts.

[Lion24]

Gena,

Kenny had a unique and beautiful style -- all of his own making. His appearances on the Tonight Show following the tumultuous Vietnam era served to remind us of the simple pleasures of life -- great music interpreted by a supremely-talented artist.

[colonelklink]

Even as a rabid liner-notes reader though I never caught his Dylan credit. Sounds like a nice man.

[Nagarjuna]

That album with the Don Costa arrangements is really gorgeous... With "Sunny Gets Blue"

[LeftLeanWing]

I describe that as John Denver meets Mel Torme

[Katherine Taylor]

the song that always reminded me of him the most " was House of Gold". Any song he sang, he made his own.

[sabrinatee]

That's an old Hank Williams tune, but Rankin turned it into his own soaring masterpiece. I love that song.

[davidmnc76]

Thanks Alec, I never knew that he played on Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home". I think I will listen to that right now.

[vew]

I remember vividly his performance at a small auditorium in Santa Cruz , California about 1976.
Been a fan ever since. "Down in Jamaica....."

[jozinha]

A great jazz voice. He made his mark.

[Airmail56]

RIP man. Thanks for all the great music and romance that it inspired. You will be missed.

[MarkEbner59]

On and On... RIP Kenny

[biglover]

I did not know this. I used to love Kenny Rankin. I went to a lot of concerts just to listen to his melodious sound.

I guess he was a smoker. Sorry to see you go Kenny.

[Laurie Bennett]

You do not have to be a smoker to die of lung cancer.