Heather Rankin (singer)
| Heather Rankin | |
|---|---|
Heather Rankin in 2013. Photo by Timothy Richard.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Heather Elaine Rankin |
| Born |
October 24, 1967 Mabou, Nova Scotia |
| Genres | Folk, Country, Singer-Songwriter |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-Songwriter and Actor |
| Years active | 1989-Present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | The Rankin Family, Jimmy Rankin, Alvvays |
Heather Elaine Rankin (born October 24, 1967) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor. She is most well known as a member of the multi-platinum selling musical group The Rankin Family.
Between 1989 and 1999, the family band released five full albums, a five song EP and two compilations of their most popular songs. They toured extensively in Canada, the U.S, the U.K, Australia and New Zealand and won six Juno Awards, three Canadian Country Music Awards, an American Country Music Television Award and fifteen East Coast Music Awards. Combined sales of their recordings exceeded 1.5 million copies.
As an actor, Rankin has performed on stages in Toronto and Halifax and has appeared in a number of films. She is also co-owner of The Red Shoe Pub in Mabou, Cape Breton.
Rankin’s first solo record, featuring seven co-written songs, was released April 1, 2016. .
Heather Rankin was born in Mabou, Nova Scotia, a rural community deeply rooted in its Gaelic tradition. She is the eleventh of twelve children born to Kathleen and Alexander (Buddy) Rankin. She began singing as a child in the St. Mary’s Parish Choir and the Community Children’s Gaelic Choir. Her parents encouraged all their children to perform at community concerts and that is where Rankin began singing and step dancing at the age of five years.
In the 1970s Rankin’s older siblings, Genevieve, Geraldine, David, John Morris and Raylene began singing together at community events in Mabou, licensed dances called Pig and Whistles, and at wedding receptions and concerts. When the eldest siblings, Genevieve, Geraldine and David went on to University or College, younger siblings Jimmy, Cookie and Heather took their places. Heather was the youngest and last member to join the family band.
Rankin’s earliest influences as an actor were touring productions from Mulgrave Road Theatre and Mermaid Theatre, as well as watching The Carol Burnett Show. She performed in a Community Theatre production of A Christmas Carol while in Junior High and in High School was selected for the Highland Youth Theatre Exchange in Scotland. She went on to Major in Theatre at Acadia University, from whence she graduated in 1989. While in University, Rankin performed as a singer and an actor in the The Cape Breton Summertime Revue, which toured to Halifax, Pictou and Sydney.
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