Jimmy Rankin
Biography
Jimmy Rankin (born James Kevin Rankin in Mabou, Nova Scotia, on 28 May 1964) is a Canadian country and folk artist.
Rankin was the principal songwriter as well as a lead vocalist and guitarist for The Rankins. In 2001, he released his first solo record - a year after his brother and band-mate, John Morris Rankin, died in an automobile accident. The album, Song Dog, was named "Album of the Year" at the Canadian Country Music Awards and at the East Coast Music Awards. In 2003, the track "Midnight Angel" was named "Single of the Year" and Rankin was named SOCAN Songwriter of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards.
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In September 2003, Rankin released Handmade. Recorded in Toronto and co-produced by Rankin and Tim Thorney (Song Dog). It was named "Album of the Year" and "Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year" at the East Coast Music Awards in 2003. "Morning Bound Train" was named "Single of the Year" and Rankin was named SOCAN Songwriter of the Year at the ECMA's. "Butterfly" was named "Single of the Year" and "Video of the Year" at the ECMA's in 2005. Rankin also received SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for the song.
After a brief hiatus, Edge of Day was released in May 2007 and produced three singles, "Slipping Away", "Got to Leave Louisiana", and "Still Lovers Now". In 2008, Rankin was named Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards for the song, "First Time in a Long Time" with Deric Ruttan. At the East Coast Music Awards, Edge of Day was named Country Recording of the Year, FACTOR Recording of the Year and Konica Minolta Male Solo Recording of the Year. He was also awarded SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for the song, "Slipping Away".
Forget About the World was released in April 2011 and spored three singles, "Here in My Heart", "I'm Just Saying", and "The Hurtin' Part". Forget About the World was nominated fore Juno for Country Recording of the Year and a record breaking 8 ECMAs including: Recording of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Country Album of the Year, Video of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. In September 2011, Rankin won a CCMA for "Roots Artist of the Year" and in November 2011 he won the Music Nova Scotia "SOCAN Songwriter of the Year" Award as well as a SOCAN top radio play award for his song "Up All Night". The accolades continued in December with Rankin's fans naming him one of CBC Radio's Top 50 Artists of 2011. Rankin's song "Here in My Heart" was named the number one Canadian Country song of 2011 by Top Country. Rankin won "Roots Artist of the Year" for the second year in a row in September 2012.
He has subsequently released Tinsel Town (2012), Back Road Paradise (2014), Moving East (2018), Harvest Highway (2023), .....
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.