Kenny Rankin facts for kids

Kenny Rankin (born February 10, 1940 – died June 7, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter. He was known for blending pop and jazz music. Kenny grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan, a neighborhood in New York City, New York.

Biography

Kenny Rankin grew up in New York. His mother loved to sing, and she introduced him to music. He started recording songs when he was 17 years old, in 1957. Later, he became a songwriter for Columbia Records. Kenny wrote his first song, "My Carousel," for singer Carmen McRae. He also wrote "A Happy Guy" for the popular teen singer Rick Nelson.

When he was 24, Kenny taught himself to play classical guitar. He was inspired by Don Costa, a famous music arranger. Kenny even played rhythm guitar on some songs for Bob Dylan's album Bringing it All Back Home in 1965. During the 1970s, Kenny Rankin became very popular. He released several albums, and three of them made it onto the Top 100 list of the Billboard Album Chart. He loved jazz music from a young age. However, to succeed in his career, he often focused more on pop music. He often said that singer-songwriter Laura Nyro was a big influence on his music.

Kenny Rankin appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson more than 20 times. Johnny Carson was so impressed by Kenny that he wrote the notes for Kenny's first album, Mind Dusters, released in 1967. This album included the song "Peaceful." Kenny's friend Helen Reddy later covered "Peaceful" in 1973. Her version became very popular, reaching number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Georgie Fame also had a hit with this song in 1969 in the United Kingdom.

Kenny Rankin's song "In the Name of Love" often featured his amazing wordless singing. It showed how well he could sing fast and clearly. When performed slower, the song had a beautiful Brazilian feel. Kenny's speaking voice was deep, but his singing voice was much higher. It often sounded like a clarinet. He learned to play the guitar very quickly. This allowed him to perform his own songs with rich harmonies, like Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell.

Kenny was a very private person, especially in his early interviews. He believed that personal details took away from the music. His album "Family" featured a picture of him holding his two young daughters. His wife, Yvonne, and their daughters sometimes sang backup on his songs.

By the 1990s, Kenny Rankin was able to choose songs that he truly loved to perform. He pleased both his old fans and new listeners. His warm singing style and soft guitar sound made him perfect for jazz clubs. He started including many classic songs from the 1930s and 1940s in his shows. Music magazines like Down Beat often praised his jazz performances.

Kenny Rankin's song "Haven't We Met" was performed by famous singers like Mel Tormé and Carmen McRae. Jazz musician Stan Getz once said Kenny was "a horn with a heartbeat." Kenny often performed with talented musicians like pianists Alan Broadbent and Mike Wofford, and trombonist Bill Watrous. These performances often had a smooth jazz feel. He also worked with Don Costa, who created full orchestral arrangements for his voice. Kenny was also very interested in Brazilian music. He recorded his album Here In My Heart mostly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This album featured jazz guests like Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts. When he moved to Verve Records, he recorded more modern songs. These included The Beatles' "I've Just Seen A Face" and Leon Russell's "A Song For You."

Kenny Rankin had a special talent for making classic songs his own. He recorded The Beatles' "Blackbird" for his album Silver Morning. His version was so impressive that Paul McCartney asked Kenny to perform it. This happened when McCartney and John Lennon were honored at the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Kenny Rankin passed away on June 7, 2009, at the age of 69. He had been living in Los Angeles, California, for many years.

Discography

Studio 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 (1990)
• Because of You (1991)
• Professional Dreamer (1994)
• Here in My Heart (1997)
• A Christmas Album (1999)
• A Song for You (2002)

Compilations

• Peaceful: The Best of Kenny Rankin (1996)