Music
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Jimmy Rankin –Quick Sheet (nov.07)
• Jimmy Rankin, one of Canada’s premiere singer songwriters returns with his much awaited
third (tentatively self titled) solo album in stores April, 2007.
• The First single – “Slipping Away” has been serviced to radio with the video directed by
David Hogan (Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Elton John) to follow in January.
• The new album is a blend of roots-rock and alt-country tracks produced by Colin Linden
(Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn) from live sessions at Pinhead Recorders, Toronto and
The Rendering Plant, Nashville.
• Mixed by John Whynot at Pinhead Recorders, Toronto and Masterlink in Nashville, the
album features a host of world class musicians: Anthony Crawford (Neil Young), Garry
Tallent (Bruce Springsteen), Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson), Dave Jacques (John Prine),
Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller), Colin Linden, Richard Bell, Gordie Sampson, Jon Randall,
Cookie Rankin, Fats Kaplin, Jonathan Yudkin, John Whynot, Sam Bacco, and Gary Craig.
• Jimmy embarked on a solo career in 2001 with his critically acclaimed CD, “Song Dog”. His
first solo effort won numerous awards including Best New Solo Artist – Adult Contemporary
at the Canadian Radio Music Awards, a SOCAN top radio play award and two Juno
nominations.
• In 2003, he returned with “Handmade”, another treasure-trove of roots-rock/alt-country
gems, which spawned top-ten radio and video hits across Canada and won jimmy recognition
south of the border with his peers in Nashville.
• In addition to completing numerous successful solo headline Canadian tours, Jimmy has
opened for the likes of Keith Urban, John Prine and Great Big Sea on their national tours.
Says Urban of his touring with Rankin:“I’ve been a Jimmy Rankin fan for a while. And to be
able to hear him play every night was enough for me to want to go on this tour”(Anika Van
Wyk, Calgary Sun/Jam.canoe.ca)
• Since 1990, Jimmy has been the lead singer, guitarist and songwriting lynchpin for Canadian
Celtic-pop heroes, The Rankins, who have sold over 2 million records and earned five Junos
including the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” award and cemented their place in Canadian
music history with Jimmy’s gorgeous single, “Fare Thee Well Love” (Juno for Single of the
Year).
• In 1999 The Rankins won the Juno for Country Artist of the Year for “Uprooted” produced
by the incomparable George Massenburg. Other awards include: 5 Junos, 23 East Coast
Music Awards, 5 SOCAN top radio play Awards, 4 Canadian Country Music Awards, 2
Canadian Radio Music Awards.
• Jimmy and Mia Rankin became parents for the first time this past year with the birth of their
son James. - An overview of press information
Attention News/Entertainment Editors:
Second Cup and the Songwriters Association of Canada Support Emerging Canadian Artists
TORONTO, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - The Second Cup Café Music Series returns this
fall to give coffee drinkers a grassroots musical experience and emerging
Canadian musicians the exposure they deserve. Now in its second year, the
Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.) has joined the initiative that will
see emerging artists as well as feature acts perform at Second Cup cafés
throughout the country. The program, developed by the Canadian-born and
Canadian-run organization, is Second Cup's way of supporting Canadian
singer-songwriters and bringing music lovers closer to classic rockers and
future stars.
The S.A.C., an association led by active professional and amateur
songwriters, is committed to the development and recognition of Canadian
songwriters. The partnership has led to the participation of a number of
talented Canadian musicians in the Café Music Series, including Jimmy Rankin,
Suzie McNeil, Colin James Duo, Melissa McClelland, Hayley Sales, Wil, Jill
Barber, Ima, Michael Kaeshammer, Pascale Picard and Amanda Martinez.
"In addition to being a Canadian singer-songwriter, I am a huge supporter
of Canadian music," said Jimmy Rankin, one of the program's feature artists.
"I like what Second Cup and the S.A.C. are doing to help promote Canadian
music through the Café Music Series. Emerging Canadian musicians have the
opportunity to show music lovers what they're made of, and established artists
can prove they can still bring down the coffee house."
Second Cup and the S.A.C. selected the local artists for the Second Cup
Café Music Series based on their ability to produce meaningful, provocative,
interesting and melodic music.
Karen Gold, vice president of marketing for Second Cup, said the musical
initiative is indicative of how much Second Cup cares about supporting
emerging and established Canadian singer-songwriters.
"Each artist participating in the Café Music Series benefits from
increased exposure and the opportunity to grow their fan base, and provides
our guests with an enhanced experience," said Gold. "Second Cup cafés provide
the perfect warm and cozy atmosphere to sit back, relax and connect with
talented Canadian musicians and close friends."
Second Cup is also supporting Canadian music on an ongoing basis by
building and sharing a database of Canadian singer-songwriters with its
franchisees. Second Cup franchisees nationwide will contact talented local
musicians that have entered their names into this database, and invite them to
perform for Second Cup guests and the media. Second Cup is encouraging
emerging Canadian singer-songwriters who would like to get involved with the
Second Cup Café Music Series to apply via e-mail to music@secondcup.com.
"Partnering with Second Cup on the Café Music Series initiative was a
natural fit," said Eddie Schwartz, acting president, Songwriter's Association
of Canada. "Our goals are aligned with many of Second Cup's goals for Canadian
music. For example, we both seek to promote Canadian singer-songwriters, and
to educate Canadians about Canadian songwriters - the people behind major hits
nationally as well as internationally."
The music begins on September 25, 2007 with the first concert in the
Second Cup Café Music Series taking place in Toronto. Some of Canada's most
acclaimed singer-songwriters will perform in 13 Second Cup locations in nine
cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton and Calgary. Canadian
pop icons and emerging stars will be bringing popular music back to the
intimate venue from which it emerged - the coffee house.
About Second Cup
Second Cup is Canada's largest specialty coffee franchisor and operates
more than 360 cafés across Canada. Serving specialty coffee, food, and unique
and stylish gift ideas, Second Cup invites Guests to make Second Cup their
Second Home. For more information, visit www.secondcup.com
<<
Second Cup
Independently owned / Uniquely Canadian
>>
For further information: or concert listings please contact: Karen
McCullough, Lisa Gilbert, APEX Public Relations, (416) 924-4442 ext. 257, 242,
kmccullough@apexpr.com, lgilbert@apexpr.com - CNW Group
More Performers Announced for CCMA Awards Show
Country's Biggest Acts and Special Guests Serve Up A Night of Stars
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2007) - CCMA Awards producers continue to announce performers for this year's show, to be held September 10 at Regina's Brandt Centre and broadcast on CBC Television that night.
Hosted by Paul Brandt, the show lineup now includes multi-nominated group Doc Walker, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year nominee Jim Cuddy, and multi nominee and Saskatchewan native Brad Johner. Also confirmed is perennial CCMA awards winner Carolyn Dawn Johnson in a special performance with celebrated East Coast artist Jimmy Rankin.
Producers are also promising special guests, drawing from Canada's most-acclaimed and current entertainment personalities - with renovation guru Mike Holmes first to be announced.
The show will feature a "super-group" of Canada's top musicians to showcase the best-loved country songs from the past year. Led by award winning music producer Tom McKillip, the band of acclaimed session players, will anchor live performances throughout the night.
Performers for the CCMA Awards show will continue to be announced up until September 10, and today's announcement is in addition to already confirmed stars: Paul Brandt, Emerson Drive, George Canyon, and Shane Yellowbird.
The remaining tickets for this year's CCMA awards show are available through www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling toll free to 1-800-970-7328 or 306-543-7800.
The 2007 CCMA Awards broadcast will air across Canada on September 10 at 8PM (9pm AST & 9:30pm NF) on CBC TV, with encore airings on CMT Canada, in the U.S. on television network Great American Country (GAC), and in Australia on Country Music Channel (CMC). - Marketwire
Discography
Edge of Day, relesed May 8, 2007
Handmade, Released Sept 2, 2003
Song Dog, Released 2000
Photos
Bio
JIMMY RANKIN
Like any painter worth his salt, Jimmy Rankin knows how to make a lasting impression.
Except that, as a man who has won four SOCAN-sponsored ECMA-and-Juno Songwriter Of The Year Awards for the chart-topping "Fare Thee Well Love," "You Feel The Same Way Too," "Followed Her Around" and "Midnight Angel," his canvas isn't restricted to an easel and a few tubes of paint.
It's framed by experience -- and depending on how the Cape Breton native channels his idea -- a masterstroke of an alt. country, adult-contemporary or rock-flavoured arrangement depicting his life, emotions and observations with resonating finesse.
Just hand him a guitar -- preferably an acoustic Gibson; give him a little think-time and watch Jimmy -- no, hear him -- weave some aural magic.
"To me, writing a song is almost like creating a painting," notes Jimmy, who offers 13 picture-perfect portraits of sonic splendour on his new, self-titled album, Jimmy Rankin.
"You build it and colour it until all of the images blend together as one complete portrait that tells some kind of story."
Whether it's the potent roots-scented shuffle of "Stranded;" the guilt-tinged poignancy of the album's first single, "Slipping Away;" the urgent fiddle-driven desperation of "Got To Leave Louisiana;" the romantic resignation of "Hopeless" or the euphoric optimism of "When I Rise," the musical tales woven on Colin Linden-produced Jimmy Rankin are borne from the days he's spent living, traveling and soaking in the planet since the release of 2003's Handmade.
"Over the past three years I've taken a lot of my inspiration from the world I see around me," says Jimmy, who recorded the album in Nashville at the Rendering Plant and at Pinhead Recorders in Toronto during a busy year that also included a World Vision trip to Nicaragua and a recording reunion of The Rankins.
"Some of my songs are autobiographical. While others, although written in the first person, are about a story or something I heard. I do a lot of touring, traveling and reading and I think my songs reflect that. I'm always on the lookout for a good story and definitely tune into other peoples' experience in the world."
And for the first time, Jimmy is also enlisting a generous portion of observation from outside his own perspective: half the songs on Jimmy Rankin involve an impressive list of collaborators ranging from Gordie Sampson and Tom Wilson to Jon Randall and Craig Northey.
"Essentially I wanted to work with other people," Jimmy explains, noting that his first two albums, 2001's song dog and Handmade, were predominantly solitary songwriting efforts.
"I've done some co-writing in my career, but never to the extent that I have for this album. It's nice to be able to bounce ideas around, pick someone else's brain and see what sticks. When you work with other writers, you learn tricks of the trade."
Jimmy Rankin is a contrast from its predecessors in other ways as well.
"It's less harmony-driven," explains Jimmy. "There's mostly two-part on this record, which is just a different style for me. It's also a lot looser and a lot rougher than my other records."
The loss of some of that varnish can be attributed to producer Linden's approach of live studio takes; employing crackerjack musicians such as keyboardist Richard Bell, percussionist Sam Bacco and Willie Nelson harmonica player Mickey Raphael -- as well as the noted guitarist producer himself -- and anchoring them around two solid rhythm sections: Toronto drummer Gary Craig and John Prine bassist David Jacques, and Mississippi -based Buddy Miller stick-handler Bryan Owings and Bruce Springsteen bassist Garry Tallent.
"I like Colin's approach to recording," says Jimmy. "This album feels more comfortable and natural to me in the way that it's very much a live recording and band vibe. I've tried to capture that essence on the other records, but this one's the most organic."
Jimmy says playing with such a stellar group of musicians raised his own lofty standards of performance.
"I play an acoustic guitar and I kind of drive the band and set the tempo and the energy of the song," he explains. "Playing with great players just ups the performance ante and enhances everything sonically. I like the idea of collaborating with musicians and really letting them shine."
Most important, perhaps, within the pensively reflective strains of "501 Queen;" the reassuring romanticism of' "Shot In The Dark," and the restless realization behind "Drifting Too Far From Shore," is the notion of just how far Jimmy has progressed as a songwriter.
While adult contemporary and country radio stations all over Canada have readily embraced such memorable hits as "Followed Her Around," "Butterfly," "California Dreamer" and "Morning Bound Train," the truth is that Jimmy Rankin didn't choose songwriting as an eventual career path -- it chose him.
"Initially I had no intention of becomi
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