Kenny Rankin (February 10, 1942 – June 7, 2009) was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York.
Rankin appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson more than 25 times. Host Johnny Carson was so impressed by him that he wrote the liner notes to Rankin’s 1967 debut album Mind Dusters, which featured the single "Peaceful," a cover of which Helen Reddy would reach #12 in 1973. Georgie Fame also had a hit with this song in 1969.
When Paul McCartney and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987, McCartney asked Rankin to represent them at the ceremony based on the strength of his 1975 versions of McCartney’s songs Blackbird and Penny Lane.
Death of Kenny Rankin
Rankin passed away from lung cancer on June 7, 2009
Kenny Rankin was 67 years old at the time of his death
Kenny Rankin – Blackbird
Kenny Rankin: Haven’t We Met