Career
Best known for his work with Nazareth (1980-1983 & 1990-1994), he also had a successful solo career, including a United States hit single "Baby Come Back". As of 2013 Rankin is part of multi media group "Team Rock" and broadcasts "The School of Rock" show on Team Rock Radio. He joined Nazareth in 1980, and appeared on their albums Snaz (1981), and before leaving the band.
Rankin issued a solo album Growin" up Too Fast in 1984, and had a hit single in the United States with "Baby Come Back", taken from the album.
A follow up album called Crankin was released in Japan only in 1985, but with little success. He rejoined Nazareth in 1990, and recorded and before leaving the band again in 1994.
As well as guitar, he also occasionally played keyboards. After leaving Nazareth, he played at the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert, issued on Civil Defense in 1997.
He also appears on a number of Nazareth retrospective and compilation albums, including Rock Ballads (1998), Back to the Trenches (2001), Live in Texas "81 (2004), The River Sessions (2004) and Hair of the Dog – Live (2007).
His latest solo album Shake was released in 1999. Rankin worked as a truck driver with the supermarket chain ASDA before getting a job as a presenter. Rankin was the breakfast presenter with 96.3 Rock Radio, Scotland"s first classic rock station before the station was subject to a corporate acquisition, changing its name to Real Radio XS in the process.
Rankin was not part of the reshuffle plans and parted company with the station in July 2012.
As of 2013 Rankin is part of "Team Rock Radio" and currently broadcasts "The School of Rock" show, Saturday and Sunday mornings 9am-midday on Dictionary of American Biography (United Kingdom Only) and on Digital (Worldwide).
