The Sound of Home: The Rankins enter the Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame

October 24, 2025

On June 19, Centre 200 in Sydney was filled to the rafters with music fans gathered from across Cape Breton to celebrate three legends of East Coast music as they were inducted into the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative’s Hall of Fame. Among the honourees were broadcaster and champion of local music Donnie Campbell, the late and much-loved Bruce Guthro, and Mabou’s very ow Rankin Family.

Rising to fame in the 1990’s, the Rankin Family band was comprised of siblings Heather, Raylene, Cookie, Jimmy, and John Morris. Their music captured the rhythm of rural life, honoured the family’s Gaelic roots, captured stories of local characters, and has been a soundtrack of east coast life for over three decades.

Before catching the attention of EMI Records in 1992, the band sold 100,000 records independently—many of them through consignment sales at Cape Breton shops and gas stations. After they were signed, the band sold more than two million records, won five Junos and 15 East Coast Music Awards, among other honours.

The Hall of Fame show paid tribute to each inductee with live performances of their songs, played by close friends, family, and the house band—including Rankin Family touring member Howie MacDonald. Marilyn MacKinnon, Fiona MacGillivray, Delores Boudreau, and Gordie Sampson, took to the stage to honour The Rankins with covers of beloved classics like Feel the Same Way Too, Gillis Mountain, Fare Thee Well Love, The Orangedale Whistle, and more. The group captured the heart, energy, and harmony of the original family band.

But it was Marilyn’s performance of Rise Again that truly stilled the room. The song, so closely tied to the late Raylene Rankin’s unforgettable voice, seemed to cast a quiet spell over Centre 200. For a few moments, the crowd sat in stillness, wrapped in harmony, memory, and something that felt a lot like magic. It was a powerful tribute—not only to the music, but to the presence and legacy Raylene left behind.

While many know the Rankins for their vocals and storytelling, Cape Breton’s fiddle players and fanatics know that John Morris Rankin left a mark of his own in that scene before his passing in 2000. His tunes are stitched into the island’s musical fabric. That night, Howie MacDonald played a lively set of John Morris’s compositions, including Jack Daniel’s Reel and Molly Rankin’s, the latter named after John Morris’s daughter, who now fronts the indie rock band Alvvays. It was a nod to legacy—how Cape Breton music continues to evolve while staying rooted in tradition.

The Rankins’ official induction was presented by fellow Mabou native Margie Beaton, who handed medals to Jimmy, Heather, and Howie MacDonald. In her speech, she captured what so many were feeling: “The Rankins’ music has made life better and richer for Mabou, and all of Cape Breton. It is beautiful to hear hay making and fishing in songs on the radio—to hear songs about us and our way of life.”

Heather and Jimmy took the mic for a short but heartfelt speech. They laughed about long tours and shared vans, and Heather reflected on the strength of the local scene: “It never ceases to amaze me, the talent this island cooks out.” Her words were met with loud applause. It was clear that this moment belonged not just to the Rankins, but to the whole island.

To close out the night, Rankin MacInnis—another proud Mabou native—took the stage for a rousing rendition of Mull River Shuffle. Jimmy and Heather joined in, bringing the crowd to their feet. The final note of the night came from Howie, who fired up Hull’s Reel, written by John Morris—a perfect ending that celebrated both joy and legacy.

The Rankins’ music is more than entertainment—it’s part of Cape Breton’s cultural DNA. It tells our stories, honours our people, and keeps our traditions alive. As Margie said, hearing your own life reflected through the radio is a powerful thing. On June 19, Cape Breton returned the favour with a standing ovation, offering thanks to a family who helped define who we are—one harmony at a time.