Heather Rankin

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.

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.

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.

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 Cape Breton Summertime Revue, which toured to Halifax, Pictou and Sydney.

In 1989 Rankin and four of her siblings, John Morris, Raylene, Jimmy and Cookie, had their music featured in a show called The Mabou Jig.

They recorded their debut album, The Rankin Family, the same year at Inception Sound in Toronto, Ontario.

The record featured original songs by Jimmy and Raylene and original fiddle tunes by John Morris, as well as traditional folk songs, jigs and reels.

The Rankin Family was first featured on CBC Television in an episode of On the Road Again in 1989.

The following year their second album, Fare Thee Well Love was recorded at Inception Sound and released on November 7, 1990.

Initially, the Rankin siblings distributed both of these records themselves, peddling them to gift shops, grocery stores, record stores, at live performances at music festivals across the country, and out of the trunk of their mother's car.

In 1990 the CBC produced a documentary television special called Here Come The Rankins!, which followed the band to the Winnipeg Folk Festival and then back home to Cape Breton.

In 1991, The Rankin Family won their first three ECMA Awards for Best Live Act, Best Roots & Traditional Artist and Best Recording Band.

The record would be re-released by Capitol Records in 1992 and be certified Platinum by CRIA.

This record was re-released by Capitol Records in 1992 and is certified 5× Platinum by CRIA.

The title song, "Fare Thee Well Love," along with "Orangedale Whistle" and Gillis Mountain peaked in the top ten on the RPM Country and Adult Contemporary Tracks in 1992.

In 1992, The Rankin Family signed with EMI Canada, were nominated for three Juno Awards, and on July 1 performed on Parliament Hill for Queen Elizabeth II as part of the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation.

The music video for "Fare Thee Well Love" was on the Top 30 Charts for Much Music for nine weeks in 1993.

Their third album, North Country, was released on August 24, 1993.

It peaked at number one on the RPM Country Albums chart.

It is certified 4× Platinum by CRIA.The title song, with lead vocals by Heather, peaked at number four on the RPM Country Albums Chart.

The music video for "North Country" was also on the Top 30 Charts for Much Music for five weeks in 1994.

Later that year The Rankin Family won four Juno Awards.

Their limited-edition EP, Grey Dusk of Eve, was released in March 1995 and is certified Gold by CRIA.

Endless Seasons followed on August 29, 1995, and peaked at number six on the RPM Country Albums Chart.

They would go on to win twelve more before they disbanded, the last being for Group of the Year in 1999.

Rankin has released two solo records, A Fine Line (2016) and Imagine (2017).

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.