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

[topkatnc]

I didn't know him or his music....but he sounds like he was a very talented man....RIP..

[Sheridan1]

My soon to be husband called me at my dorm in 1970 after he heard Kenny on The Tonight Show. A few years later, I was lucky enough to be working with his producer then, Michael Stewart. Michael also left us way too soon. I met Kenny several times through mutual friends and saw him not too long ago performing at The Canyon Club in Ca. His voice was as clear and beautiful as ever! If there are angels, and if they sing - Kenny will be teaching them a thing or two!

[T Pol]

Beautiful memorial piece. Gave me goosebumps. And I didn't know that McCartney had Rankin accept the induction for the Beatles. That was a classy thing to do.

RIP, good man.

[iwant2no]

I was shocked to hear that the beautiful soul ,Kenny Rankin has passed.
I now why I think so much of Alex Baldwin. Thank you for the heads up.
Peace to Kenny, Alex.

[Dana Camp-Farber]

I heard Kenny at many a jazz festival. This is very sad. He will be missed!!

[goingnow]

Kenny Rankin is one of my favorite singers and this is sad that he has passed away. The best concert I ever attended was in the 70's with Kenny. I was amazed how his voice was even better live than on the albums. After the concert we got to talk with him and he was so personable. What a quality act. He is singing with the angels now.

[JMK62]

We just saw here in Las Vegas last summer. He was fantastic! One of my husband's all-time favorites.

[McGuinness]

I lived with my teachers, in the late 70s, in college. (I still have one in the other room) and Kenny Rankin was the soundtrack for our lives. They only listened to people who articulated.
"Silver Morning"
"Someone killed a cat"
"Penny Lane"
"Blackbird"
"Haven't We Met"
fantastic.
RIP, buddy. (I saw him on TV doing a song about addiction, called 'coming down'....powerful)

[William Belote]

I first heard Kenny in the early 70's and was amazed at his voice. I wanted to sound more like him than anyone else. He was also a great interpreter of songs and I think vastly under appreciated for his talent. Bless you, Kenny.

[drgruder]

I'm sad to hear that Kenny has left us, and I can also hear him singing on the other side, "and it's oh, oh so peaceful here..." -- one of my favorite songs of his. Peace, Kenny.

[Creeker]

"Like a Seed" was and still is one of my favorite albums. Much more folk-rock than jazz in those days. Powerful songwriting performed with the voice of an angel.

RIP Kenny.

[frug]

Impeccable musicality and styling. He could do things with his voice that the jazz greats could only do with their trumpets. His track of When Sunny Gets Blue was the best I've ever heard.

[Shirley Knott]

I second that - what a beautiful song from a beautiful album.

Actually, Johnny Carson was one of his hugest fans. Of all of KR's songs, that was Carson's absolute favorite.

[biglover]

I just got goosebumps when you mentioned "When Sunny Gets Blue" I can hear him singing it now.

So sorry to see you go Kenny. Rest in Peace

[HarlemFreeThought]

I became aware of Kenny back in HS in the 70s. Years later, I heard his music on Johnathan Schwartz's weekend program, and took more of an interest in his vocal style.
Pete Fornatale's Mixed Bag Program will feature Kenny and his music this Saturday from 4-8 on WFUV.

[jinjinpinti]

What a terrible loss to music lovers everywhere. No one, no one sang, "Here's that rainy day," like Kenny did.

[markmitch]

I agree with the tribute to Kenny Rankin. He was very reminiscent of Cat Stevens, but jazzier. His cover of "Blackbird" by the Beatles was incredible.