Stann Rankin T – Reggae Into The Night

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.