Born Joseph Jackson, in Kingston, Jamaica, July 1st, 1959, Rankin Joe was introduced to the music business at Tarrant Junior Secondary School in Kingston where he performed at school concerts and won local talent contest in the mid -70’s.

As he got older, Rankin Joe participated in stage shows and parties in different Jamaican parishes for veteran singer/promoter Jackie Brown. His first performing name was DJ Jolly, and he performed with well known artists like Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, Bingy Bunny, Bongo Herman and Keith Poppin.