Kenny Rankin was born on February 10, 1940 in New York City, New York, USA. He is known for his work on A Change of Seasons (1980), Taking It Home (1986) and The All-Time American Songbook (1982). He was married to Yvonne Rodriguez-Calderone. He died on June 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Above all, I'm a jazz singer who likes to mess with the melody. I sing the songs that touch me in the heart, the songs I would like to sing to someone in front of a roaring fire...But don't get me wrong. We don't live in a fantasy world, though we all have one. (from an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1997)
Johnny Carson was so impressed with Rankin that he contributed liner notes to Rankin's first album, 1967's "Mind Dusters".
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Was recording with Phil Ramone at the time of his death.
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Paul McCartney asked Rankin to perform his cover version of the Beatles' 'Blackbird' when McCartney and 'John Lennon' were inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
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Johnny Carson was such a huge fan of Rankin's that he invited him to perform on The Tonight Show more than 20 times, and wrote the liner notes to his 1967 debut album, 'Mind Dusters'.
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Was signed to Columbia Records in the '60s, and played guitar on Bob Dylan's 1965 album, 'Bringing It All Back Home'.
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Boasted a more than 50-year career in music, beginning back in the 1950s while he was on Decca Records.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sarah G Live
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Stingray
1987
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Taking It Home
1986
TV Movie performer: "Hello, Home" / writer: "Hello, Home"
Fame
1982
TV Series performer - 1 episode
A Change of Seasons
1980
performer: "Where Do You Catch The Bus For Tomorrow?"
The Graham Kennedy Show
1973-1975
TV Series writer - 3 episodes
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet
1964-1965
TV Series writer - 3 episodes
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Muppets Tonight
1996
TV Series production accountant - 11 episodes
The Secret World of Alex Mack
1996
TV Series payroll coordinator - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1972-1973
TV Series
Musical Guest
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Taking It Home
1986
TV Movie composer: theme music
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Live with Kelly and Michael
1989
TV Series
Himself
The Pat Sajak Show
1989
TV Series
Himself
Christmas with the Stars: An International Earthquake Benefit
1989
TV Movie
Himself
On Stage America
1984
TV Series
Himself
The All-Time American Songbook
1982
TV Movie
Himself - Singer
Ad Lib
1981/I
TV Series
Himself
The Alan Hamel Show
1977-1978
TV Series
Himself
Dinah!
1975-1976
TV Series
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1975
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1967-1975
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Musical Guest / Himself - Guest
The Mike Douglas Show
1975
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist
The Midnight Special
1975
TV Series
Himself
In Session
1974
TV Series
Himself
The Helen Reddy Show
1973
TV Series
Himself
Discs a Go-Go
1965
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
A Change of Seasons (1980) as Soundtrack
Taking It Home (1986) as Music Department
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1967-1975) as Musical Guest / Himself / Himself - Guest / Himself - Musical Guest
$250,000
