Country-folk singer Jimmy Rankin is leaving his step-dancing sisters behind when he makes a tour stop next week in Red Deer.
“I’m just going out with myself and a guitar,” said Rankin, who’s even leaving his band at home this time — although he might bring along the ghost of Colorado Dave.
That’s the nickname of a fellow Nova Scotian who apparently rode with Jesse James in the 1880s and was wily enough to eventually escape from the notorious gang of bank robbers to return to his Canadian home, where his mother had Sunday dinner waiting for him.
Rankin heard the story of the farmer’s son turned outlaw a long time ago from Jim St. Clair, a friend and local historian who swears it’s true.
“That song has been kicking around in my head for 20 years,” admitted The Rankins Family singer, who finally wrote the ballad Colorado Dave for his fourth, just-released solo album, Forget About the World, which also features contributions from Keith Urban and Serena Ryder.
While ballads are seldom a good fit with radio play, Rankin, believes some stories are just too good to pass on. “Whether it be a story, conversation or whatever, it has to make me feel something. It needs to be real to me.”
Rankin, who expects to perform an intimate concert on Thursday at The Hideout in Gasoline Alley, south of Red Deer, has written an album chock-full of country-pop tunes that celebrate love, lament loss or just reflect on life.
And the first single, Here in My Heart, is already shooting up the country charts.
The song about the ups and downs of long-term relationships features a guitar solo by Keith Urban, who has long been a fan and supporter of Rankin’s.
Their connection goes back to 2002 when they met at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary and stayed up late jamming together in the hotel bar. As luck would have it, Rankin bumped into Urban again shortly after arriving in Nashville last March.
“He’s a real stand-up guy and an amazing guitar player,” recalled Rankin, who was thrilled when Urban agreed to perform as guest guitarist on the track. Rankin believes the Australian country star brings an energetic spark that adds a “very cool dimension” to the song.
The 46-year-old songwriter didn’t have a personal connection to Ryder, although he’s admired her “gutsy” singing style.
When Rankin needed a duet partner on the adventurous travelling song Walk That Way, he specifically sought out the Canadian alt-country singer.
“You’re never really sure how it’s going to work out but her voice sounded great with mine,” said Rankin. who’s perhaps best known for penning the ethereal, Juno-winning single Fare Thee Well Love for The Rankin Family.
Rankin, who lost his only brother, John Morris, to a tragic road accident in 2000, spends most of his time in Nashville, which he considers a music “mecca.” But he still takes time from his solo career to regularly tour with his sisters, Raylene, Cookie and Heather.
“I think the last time I was in Red Deer was probably with The Rankin Family,” said the singer, who relishes this opportunity to show Central Alberta fans his other side.
For more information, call The Hideout at 403-348-5309.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com