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Show Rankin plays Salt Lake cabaret some other place to play, she was trying to sleep. "It's tough in show business," said Rankin. Rankin has been in few bands and only as background vocalist. He has appeared on the Tonight Show a record 30 times in eight years. Rankin said breaks like that take being good and having the right ears hear you. Rankin is working on a new album of live concert releases. The New American Orchestra, an 80-piece Los Angeles based ensemble directed by Don Kosta, has invited him to play with them three nights with Tom Scott and Bill Conti. Of the problem of placing trust in people who have control of his product, Rankin claims one of his unreleased records rides in the trunk of an Orange County lawyer. It seems his friend and manager sold out to a group of businessmen needing a tax shelter. As soon as the album was released the company filed bankruptcy using Rankin's work to prove existence of the company. Although bitter, Rankin seems to be in control of his life. He spoke frankly about his new music, a new love and a workable future. by Curtis Willey Kenny Rankin, guitaristvocalist, played to an intrigued audience at Nino's cabaret in Salt Lake Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, July 17-19. Alone on center stage, playing in his own inimitable style, Rankin mesmerized his listeners with perfect pitch, wide vocal range and jazzy guitar phrasing. Born and raised in New York City Rankin lives in Los Angeles because, he said, he likes it. Rankin grew up listening to jazz and classical and still does. He's never taken a music or voice lesson and cannot read or write music. "My style comes from knowing what I want to hear and figuring out how to play it." When asked how he developed his trademark scat singing, he claimed, "I've developed that from forgetting the words." No formal education and a good musical ear helped Rankin produce a sound of his own with no structure or guidelines to get in the way. Rankin has been in the music business 25 years. At 44 he's played guitar for exactly his life. Although never in the pop spotlight his music has received much play on middle-of-the-road radio where he has followers in the easy-listening genre. "Silver Morning," his most famous album produced in 1974, contains such gems as "In the Name of Love," written by Estelle Levitt and Rankin, Lennon and McCartney's McCart-ney's "Penny Lane" and Rankin's best known "Haven't We Met," written bv Ruth Bachelor and Rankin. He played all three Tuesday night. "Silver Morning" is still mucial current and a worthy investment as an introduction to Rankin's style. Rankin's guitar is a Guilt Mark IV Classical. After 20 years of devoted use the body is literally wearing through in spots, but still sounds great. A divorced father of three, Rankin speaks of his children with love. As a wedding present to a friend Rankin's son gave his dad. Rankin will play two songs at the affair. In a mushy mood Rankin once decided to sing his daughter to sleep. Before the lullaby developed, however, she asked if Dad could find The show was a relaxing musical event laced with quick wit and candor but the start was a little heavy, almost stuffy, since Rankin's music can be personal and deep. When from the back of the room came a heckle the audience held its breath. Without apology or second thought Rankin quipped, chidipg the heckler with no self-consciousness and turning the moment in to welcome comic relief. From then on the air was lighter. Instead of two sets the show ran straight through for an hour and a half. Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" was dedicated to Rankin's daughter, and the choice of "Time and Love," recorded by both Barbara Streisand and Laura Nero, Lennon and McCartney's "Blackbird," and songs by Hoagie Carmichael and Jimi Hendrix give an idea of Rankin's format. Rankin needs to be recognized in his full capacity. Keep your eyes peeled for any of his material, new or past, and judge for yourself a marvelous one-of-a-kind performer. |
