South Carolina’s Ranky Tanky Brings Gullah Music to Southern California, May 6

South Carolina’s Ranky Tanky Brings Gullah Music to Southern California, May 6

Ranky Tanky

LONG BEACH, California — South Carolina quintet Ranky Tanky appears at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of Cal State Long Beach, on Sunday May 6, 2018 at 2 pm as the season closer to the Center’s 2017-2018 Sunday Afternoon Concert Series.

Ranky Tanky takes its name from the Gullah expression that loosely translates to “work it” or “get funky.” The band formed in 2017 when South Carolina natives Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton and Clay Ross of the Charleston Jazz Quartet reunited after 20 years apart with a deeper understanding of home, the fertile musical roots of Charleston. The idea to form a band focused on Gullah music came when the group joined with gospel, pop, and R&B singer Quiana Parler. Parler, who trained in opera and appeared on Season 2 of American Idol, has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists from Clay Aiken to Renee Olstead and Maroon 5.

Ranky Tanky performs jazz instrumentals with the timeless music of Gullah culture from spirituals to lullabies and children’s games songs, considering themselves “protectors of the tradition” and raising awareness of Gullah music across the nation. The Gullah language and culture was born from the descendants of West African slaves in the Sea Islands and coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia and means “a people blessed by God.” Many American’s are familiar with Gullah music, like the classic campfire song “Kumbaya.” In fact, Gullah music has inspired much of contemporary music from the Rolling Stones’ “You Gotta Move” to the swing in Count Basie Band and the drumming of Rufus “Speedy” Jones, who played with Duke Ellington and Maynard Ferguson.

Single tickets for Ranky Tanky start at $40. For tickets and more information, visit CarpenterArts.org or call the Carpenter Center Ticket Office at (562) 985-7000. This series is made possible in part by Season Media Partner KPCC 89.3-FM.

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Photos are available at http://www.carpenterarts.org/press.html

Additional Information and tickets available at the Carpenter Center’s website: www.CarpenterArts.org