Singer, Songwriter KENNY RANKIN Dead at 69

     MUSIC NEWS - Kenny Rankin, 69,  New York-based singer/ songwriter who early in his career was one of the contributors Bob Dylan’s 1965 classic Bringing It All Back Home, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles as a result complications related to lung cancer after learning of the cancer only three weeks ago. 

Rankin was signed to a contract with Decca Records while still in his teens, then switched to Columbia Records, where he was asked to join in on the recording sessions for Dylan. Rankin had a have a popular solo career of his own, starting with the 1968 album Mind Dusters and peaking with 1976’s The Kenny Rankin Album. The much acclaimed The Kenny Rankin Album was recorded in 1976 live with a 60-piece orchestra, arranged and conducted by the legendary Don Costa, creating what many now consider the first contemporary “torch” album. Other popular albums of his during the period were,  "Silver Morning" and "Inside" and continued to tour, perform regularly.  

During his career, he appeared over 20 times on the The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, with Mr Carson such a big fan that he wrote the liner notes for Rankin’s Mind Dusters album. Rankin also recorded a well respected version of the Beatles’ White Album album ballad “Blackbird” for his own 1975 album Silver Morning.  Rankin's cover of the song was so respected, Paul McCartney requested that Rankin perform his version at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony where McCartney and John Lennon were inducted.

Rankin is survived by his daughters Gena and Chanda; son, Chris and a granddaughter.  A memorial service is being planned for Los Angeles, details tbd.

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