June 9, 2009 1:45

Bob Dylan collaborator Kenny Rankin dies

The musician and songwriter was 69

Photo Gallery: Bob Dylan
Photo: Pa Photos

Musician and songwriter Kenny Rankin, who played guitar on Bob Dylan's landmark 1965 album 'Bringing It All Back Home', died yesterday (June 7) in Los Angeles, aged 69.

Rankin, who had been working on a new album with producer Phil Ramone, died of complications relating to lung cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his label, Mack Records, announced today (June 8).

In addition to being a renowned songwriter who wrote tunes for Peggy Lee and Mel Torme, Rankin reworked a number of Beatles tunes, which reportedly impressed Paul McCartney so much he asked him to perform 'Blackbird' when he and John Lennon were inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

"That he was still at the top of his game is one of the saddest parts of his passing for me," Denny Stilwell, president of Rankin's label Mack Avenue Records, said in a statement. "He performed the new material in our office over the last few months and his voice was still in its finest form — he sounded absolutely amazing. Our hearts and prayers are with his family."

Rankin is survived by his son, two daughters and granddaughter. A memorial service in Los Angeles is expected to take place within the coming days.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
[url="/about"] Find out more about NME.[/url]