Kenny Rankin

Kenny Rankin ( born February 10, 1940 in Manhattan, New York City; † June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles ) was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter.

Life and work

Rankin grew up in the multicultural district of New York Washington Heights, where he heard Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and popular music early on. His mother, who sang at home for the family and for friends who sparked his interest in music. An important achievement was the praise of his music teacher after he had sung at a Christmas play at school O Holy Night.

Already in the late 1950s, he received a recording contract with Decca Records, for which he recorded several singles. In 1964 he moved to Columbia Records, trying, looking for a career opportunity, including as a pop singer with the German singles Mexico Guitar / Two eyes full sun (CBS 1701). He also worked as a songwriter and session guitarist, including 1965 on the album Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan.

One of the first cover versions of his own songs was Cotton Candy Sandman, taken by the group Harpers Bizarre 1968. Peaceful His song was interpreted by several artists, including by Georgie Fame in 1969, Helen Reddy, reaching the 1973 place 12 on the U.S. charts.

Early Rankin discovered his love for jazz, especially in the form of bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, but also for Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. Although he himself wrote several notable songs that among other things were recorded by Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae. But his focus was on the processing of songs by other composers such as The Beatles (With a Little Help From My Friends, Penny Lane, While My Guitar Gently Weeps ), Young Rascals ( Groovin '), Bob Dylan ( Mr.Tambourine Man) Curtis Mayfield ( People Get Ready) or Hank Williams (A House Of Gold ).

Paul McCartney Rankin had in 1975, on the occasion of the recording of Lennon and McCartney asked into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Blackbird singing. His album Here in My Heart, he took with session musicians like Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts mainly in Rio de Janeiro.

In the 1970s he published continuously albums, of which three on the Billboard album charts, reached the Top 100. Since the 1980s, he focused mainly on concerts. For his performance he said in the biography of his website: " My interpretation of songs is purely emotional. We've already had disappointments and a broken heart, and that's what I want to express. It has already accused me, I drifted with the melody from, but when I sing I feel and do not think. "

In the 1990s, the singer turned with the characteristic warm voice and the accompaniment on the classical guitar more to his jazz roots, establishing a loyal following. With its accompanying musicians Alan Broadbent, Mike Wofford and Bill Watrous, he developed a live program, which ranged from Latin jazz to gentle ballads to up-tempo swing numbers.

He was more than 20 times a guest on The Tonight Show from Johnny Carson, who was a great admirer of Rankin and 1967, the liner notes wrote to his first album Mind Dusters. Shortly before his death, he worked with producer Phil Ramone on a new album.

Kenny Rankin died on June 7, 2009 in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 69 years to lung cancer. He was divorced from Yvonne Rodriguez- Calderone, leaving his son Chris, his daughters, Gena Rankin -Ray and Chandra Rankin and a granddaughter.

Discography

Albums

• Mind Dusters (1967 )
• Family (1970 )
• Like a Seed ( 1972)
• Inside (1975)
• Silver Morning ( 1975)
• The Kenny Rankin Album ( 1976)
• After the Roses ( 1980)
• Hiding in Myself (1988 )
• Because of You (1991 )
• Professional Dreamer (1994 )
• The Best Of Kenny Rankin (Compilation, 1996)
• Here in My Heart ( 1997)
• A Christmas Album ( 1999)
• A Song for You (2002)

DVD

• The Jazz Channel Presents Kenny Rankin (1990 )