A little Jamaica blooms in the heart of the desert

By Jerry Fink

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.

There’s no greater disciple of reggae music in Las Vegas than Stan Rankin T.

He writes reggae music. He fronts a reggae band and has released six reggae CDs. He owns a reggae record company — Patois Music — and a reggae store — Caribbean Lifestyle, 1151 Las Vegas Blvd. South — where he sells reggae recordings and Caribbean-style clothes.

But he’s probably best known as the host of “Reggae Happenin’s” on KUNV 91.5-FM, where he has promoted his favorite subject for 26 years. Rankin was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Jamaica native lives, breathes and preaches the sound that came out of the Caribbean in the ’60s. He met reggae’s best known apostle, Bob Marley.

“I knew Bob very well,” says Rankin, who has lost none of the Jamaican lilt in his voice since moving to the United States in early ’70s. “I used to go to the Bob Marley shop on Orange Street (in Kingston, Jamaica). Bob was all over the place with his guitar. He was already recording winners.

“He had good vibes. He never discouraged no one from doing nothing. I speak to him many times. To me, he was very, very, very kind.”

The last time Rankin saw Marley was at a 1976 performance at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. Marley died of a brain tumor in 1981.

Rankin, who was born in Portland Parish on the northeast corner of the island, says he has been a singer his entire life.

“My grandfather had his own band. I picked up on my uncles’ guitar and banjo when I was young,” says Rankin, 56. “I was taught the right songs ever since I went to school.”

He says he learned to play drums in church and when he was growing up toured his country performing calypso and reggae with a group called Count Owen and His Band.

Rankin moved to Los Angeles in 1973 and joined the Soul Providers, an American blues band.

He moved to Las Vegas, a reggae desert in 1983, and soon after formed his band, Stan Rankin T. with Meshack.

“My main interest in coming here was to bring the music to Las Vegas,” he says.

Rankin became a DJ on KCEP 88.1-FM and KUNV and performed at the now-defunct Club Rouge.

Today KUNV is his forum on the airways. His show can be heard from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

“Interest in reggae has grown so much since I’ve been here,” he says. “They’re having concerts now that bring in 8,000 people — it’s very, very big. Everywhere you go everyone wants reggae. You hear it all over the world.”

The appeal, Rankin says, is the spiritual nature of the music.

“It is very spiritual. The beat comforts your mind. All nations love reggae. Doesn’t matter where you come from, what language you speak. That beat is inspiring. You can’t resist it, it’s so spiritual,” he says.

This being the land of the Rat Pack, Rankin sometimes will sing a Frank Sinatra song.

“Sure,” he says. “But I sing them in the reggae style. I sing crossover songs in a reggae beat.”

Rankin’s future? More reggae.

He’s busy planning his first reggae festival, a free concert set for May 9 at the Veterans Memorial Center in Boulder City. It will feature local bands, including his group.

“We’ll have a reggae cafe and will sell Caribbean food, Red Stripe beer,” says Rankin, who wants to make it an annual affair.

“Reggae is my life,” he says. “I don’t do anything but reggae. I promote it, I write the songs and sing the music and sell the music and DJ the music. That’s what I’m going to do the rest of my life.”