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

[yjuana]

What an absolute shock!

I love this man's music and had actually hoped to meet him someday. Not having heard him live has just become one of my greatest regrets.

God bless you for recognizing this great loss, Alec.

-Juan Ramirez

[kokokahi]

Thank you Alec for remembering Kenny. Now I know why the (only) jazz station in my area played him all evening last night - - it was beautiful, but seemingly with no breaks, so I didn't catch why and it didn't occur to me that he might have passed away...did­n't know he was ill or that old. I first heard him in college in the late 70s with "Wnen Sunny Gets Blue" and still have the Kenny Rankin Album LP somewhere. All a reminder that I should never have stopped listening to him.

[BarnE]

Rest in peace, Kenny, or live on in happiness, however that works.

[Milash]

I always listened to my older sisters' albums and one of them happened to be "Silver Morning". I have looked for it on cd over the years and could never find it. I think it's finally available now. I'll be purchasing it very soon.

RIP Kenny

[Apphouse50]

I've been a fan of Kenny's since I was 17 years old. He was so spectacularly successful at taking music and words and turning them into something ethereal with his beautiful voice and style, to say nothing of his guitar skill.

I've been blue all week at the thought that this musical presence has been silenced. Such a loss. But we have to take comfort in the body of work he left.

His loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers. I'll miss knowing that the world had Kenny Rankin in it.

[raprap373]

Wow, so sorry to hear about Kenny. I loved his music.

Thank you Mr. Baldwin for informing us all.

[NHBill]

Just got his Best of Album. Thanks AB

[KHAAANNN]

Sad.
I loved his work. His voice always reminded me of a soulful coronet played by a master.
He never got the recognition he deserved.

[LaylaD]

Thanks Alec for such warm and kindhearted words. I'm a huge music fan and frankly ashamed to say I 've never heard of Kenny Rankin....­after reading your comments I wish I did . You have prompted me to seek out his music.

[raker]

This is as good a starting place as any. Cheers.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=kenny%20rankin%20stringman&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wv#

[golaud]

I discovered Kenny Rankin's music back in the late 1970s and have been a fan ever since. He has left a wonderful legacy, and he will never be forgotten. It was nice of Alec Baldwin to enter this personal RIP.

[raker]

I've loved Kenny Rankin since I first heard him, coincidentally, when I was in college in 1976. His songs like Blackbird and Stringman were played regularly on a mainstream FM soft-rock station in Boston, something unheard of today. I've seen him perform many times since then in small local clubs. He always sang beautifully, before small crowds of enraptured fans.

[Shirley Knott]

So sad to hear this news - I had no idea.

Have loved his music for years and was introduced to it by happenstance through a neighbor I only knew briefly. Thereafter it was my pleasure to introduce various friends to his soothing music throughout the years. He had a knack for putting a creative twist on of some of the songs that others had made into hits, and those were some of my personal favorites. But also one that he wrote, "Haven't We Met?" never failed to put me in a better mood.

My condolences to his family, his other fans, and to those who knew him personally - such as you, Alec.

[SeaBlood]

He was one of my favorites. I must say that he was quite unappreciated, and it saddened him greatly.

[GeneQueen]

Im SO sorry to hear this. I have loved Kenny Rankin's music for over three decades. What a wonderful sound, and a great musician. He will be missed. Thanks for the loving tribute, Alec.

[Greathill]

thanks for the kind words; these could only be written by a child of 70's rock and roll . And according to the NYT obit, it was the Songwriters Hall of Fame (not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) where Kenny stepped in for Paul McCartney.