October 24, 2012
Rankins lose Raylene
Raylene Rankin of the internationally acclaimed Nova Scotia musical group The Rankin Family died at the end of September, after losing her fight with cancer. .Raylene first battled and beat breast cancer more than a decade ago, but it returned in 2009. Last year, she was diagnosed with liver cancer.
She was 52.
Rankin and her four siblings — John Morris, Jimmy, Cookie and Heather — formed the group more than 20 years ago and are credited with taking Cape Breton Celtic music to the mainstream.
In a statement Raylene's younger sister, Heather said her sister fought "a very long and courageous battle with grace and dignity and was an inspiration."
In 2000, John Morris Rankin died when his truck plunged into the icy Gulf of St. Lawrence near Margaree Harbour, N.S. He was 40.
The Rankin Family sold more than two million albums, won 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four SOCAN Awards and three Canadian Country Music Awards.
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