A spokesman for Mack Avenue Records said Rankin, 67, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Rankin released 13 studio albums during his 50-year career from 1967’s Mind-Dusters to 2002’s A Song For You. The singer-songwriter appeared on “The Tonight Show” more than 20 times and in return host Johnny Carson wrote the liner notes to Mind-Dusters, according to Rankin’s Web site.

He worked with artists such as Bob Dylan, playing guitar on Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home, and wrote songs for Peggy Lee and Mel Torme.

Paul McCartney was such a fan of Rankin’s version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” featured on Rankin’s 1975 album Silver Morning, that he asked the singer-songwriter to represent himself and John Lennon when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Rankin’s last performance was May 3 at McAuley Performing Arts Center in Cincinnati.

Mark Avenue Records spokesman Don Lucoff said funeral arrangements are pending.

Click here for Rankin’s Web site.

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