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SignedRW
Fifth Love
USA
280 Posts |
 Posted - 09/06/2009 : 19:20:35
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Singer-songwriter, song-interpreter Kenny Rankin passed away Sunday in Los Angeles, just three weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Kenny was scheduled to start a new album very soon, and had just completed a series of recent live shows, working as always. His first album, "Mind Dusters," was released at about the same time as "Forever Changes," and was, in it's own way, a nice companion to
it. Kenny was by no stretch of the imagination a "rocker," but his covers of songs by Fred Neil, Stephen Stills, and the Beatles remain among the best cover versions ever of many of those songs. Although
not a "rock dude," he did play guitar on Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home" (a pretty watershed rock moment), and was close to (and much influenced by) the late Laura Nyro. For how many times I
listened to "Mind Dusters" back to back with "Forever Changes" in late 1967, early 1968, as a seventeen year old "searching for the meaning of it all" twerp on acid, Kenny Rankin's work will always remain imprinted on my DNA. It was never less than a pleasure to hear him perform live, and also to have had the chance to sit with him and interview him on the air and to have him play live in the studio on the radio. Thanks, Kenny; peace to you and yours.
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Edited by - SignedRW on 09/06/2009 22:54:36 |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9880 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2009 : 22:41:33
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Nice eulogy for Kenny, I really love his work. I heard a lot of him on underground radio in Phoenix in the early 70's. I think of him as a more folk-jazz style artist. His cover of "Blackbird" was so loved by Paul Beatle that he asked Rankin to perform it at his and John's induction into the Hall.
Along with Jerry Riopelle, a Phoenix favorite and the late great John Stewart....The Phoenix Concerts LP is so good.....it still was a nice period in the early 70's on underground radio.
But back to Kenny Rankin...thanks, rick. I hadn't thought of him in a while. Too bad it had to be this way. I'm guessing that is another of your "lost" interviews!
Here's the song covered by Helen Redding...which I wouldn't find myself listening to even on a slow day, but by Kenny it is a wonderfully jazzy classic....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKMUQXofa3E
Where you been RW?!!
lk
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rocker
Old Love
USA
3606 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 14:02:46
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| I also read the obit yesterday. He's a professional's professional. They all know what's good!..;-)...RIP Ken.. |
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lemonade kid
Old Love
USA
9880 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2009 : 16:19:34
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quote:
Originally posted by rocker
I also read the obit yesterday. He's a professional's professional. They all know what's good!..;-)...RIP Ken..
I think he did more covers of Beatles' songs than anyone I can name....one two or three per album .....for quite a few years.
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Never run from anything immortal. It attracts their attention. |
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Kenny Rankin
