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.
Was signed to Columbia Records in the '60s, and played guitar on Bob Dylan's 1965 album, 'Bringing It All Back Home'.
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'.
Boasted a more than 50-year career in music, beginning back in the 1950s while he was on Decca Records.
Was recording with Phil Ramone at the time of his death.
Johnny Carson was so impressed with Rankin that he contributed liner notes to Rankin's first album, 1967's "Mind Dusters".