Raylene Rankin lost her fight with cancer

[karrie]

Raylene Rankin died Sunday morning at the age of 52. (ERIC WYNNE / Staff / File)

NOVA Scotia has lost one of its sweetest, purist songbirds.
Raylene Rankin, who turned 52 in September, passed away Sunday after a long, re-occurring battle with cancer.
The tiny Mabou, Cape Breton singer burst, with four of her 11 siblings, into the national and international spotlight in the late '80s and early '90s as a member of the Rankin Family.
Singing beautiful harmonies with younger sisters Heather and Cookie, performing alongside brothers Jimmy and John Morris, the distinctive sound of the Rankin Family brought international success to the essentially private Raylene, who had trained as a lawyer.
Raylene's crystal-clear, sweet, soaring voice on Rise Again was without doubt her signature song, a stirring, powerful anthem to human endurance.
She also wrote and performed, with the Rankin Family, the foot-tapping international hit Gillis Mountain.


Full article

Rankin Family - Rise Again - YouTube



The Rankin Family - Fare thee well love - YouTube

 

[bill barilko]

Very sad-she was an exceptional talent.

RIP and my condolences to her family.

 

[SLM]

Sad. Too young to pass.

Musically not really my cup of tea, but she did have a beautiful voice.

R.I.P.

 

[Walter]

Sad news. We have all their albums. Used to be a competition in the car between listening to The Rankin Family or Stan Rogers.

 

[TenPenny]

At least she's with her brother John Morris.

Fare thee well, Raylene.

 

[Nuggler]

John Morris lost a few years ago to a car accident.

This was Raylene's 3rd go round with cancer.

A brave gal and wonderful singer.

RIP.