[JPL] Kenny Rankin RIP

[Doug%20Crane]

I've been a fan of his since 1974 when the LP "Silver Morning" was released.  It and the 1977 LP "The Kenny Rankin Album" are two of my guiltiest pleasures.  If anyone successfully straddled the boundaries of jazz and pop of the time, it was probably him.  Don Costa's orchestrations on the latter recording are perhaps a bit excessive but work quite well with the gift that was Kenny's voice.  It was clear from the liner notes that they certainly enjoyed working with each other. 



Roseanna Vitro recorded Kenny's "In the Name of Love" on her CD "Reaching for the Moon" (1991) in an almost literal re-creation of it right down to the scat singing. 



In 1987, Paul McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  On the strength of some of Kenny's covers of Lennon/ McCartney songs, Paul requested Kenny to represent them at the ceremony.  Kenny's version of "Blackbird" is a personal favorite of mine. 



While Kenny never reached the mass public's consciousness, he was a favorite of Johnny Carson.  He appeared on the Tonight show around 20 times during Carson's tenure as host.  Carson wrote the liner notes to Kenny's debut LP issued in 1967. 



Those who had hit songs with Kenny's own compositions include Helen Reddy "Peaceful" (1973) and Stephen Bishop "On and On" (1977). 



One of my many regrets is never to have seen Kenny perform live. 



Doug Crane 

dcrane at comcast.net 

KUVO Denver 89.3 FM 

  

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bobby Jackson" ftapache1 at sbcglobal.net 

I read on Facebook that Kenny Rankin passed away yesterday, a victim   
of stage 4 cancer.  I think Kenny was grossly underrated yet his   
supple tenor voice was amazing to hear and even better to witness in   
person.  I met him years ago at Night Town in Cleveland Heights.  One   
of the better concerts I've seen and a delightful surprise as I wasn't   
that into him prior.  If you haven't checked him out, there are   
several videos on You Tube. 

Kenny Rankin........RIP brother.  You were great!!!! 

Aloha, 

Bobby Jackson