The soulful songs of the Gullah culture are brought to life by Ranky Tanky, a band of native South Carolinians who mix Lowcountry traditions with large doses of jazz, gospel, funk, and R&B. Trumpeter Charlton Singleton, guitarist Clay Ross, bassist Kevin Hamilton, and drummer Quentin Baxter originally worked together as an in-demand jazz quartet on the Charleston scene in the late 1990s before splitting off to make their way as freelance musicians. Gaining years of valuable experience while developing a deeper appreciation for the South Carolina Gullah tradition, the band re-formed with the dynamic vocalist Quiana Parler to celebrate the bone-deep mix of spirituals and gutbucket blues that mark the Lowcountry mainland and Sea Islands. The word Gullah comes from West Africa and means “a people blessed by God,” and “Ranky Tanky” translates loosely as “Work It!” or “Get Funky!”

They are joined on stage by Grammy-winning vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer. With remarkable vocal range and vocabulary, Fischer can sing soul, jazz, rock, gospel, pop, folk, and classical with equal facility and authority. Emerging from New York’s fervent studio scene in the early 1980s, she sang for two decades with legendary vocalist Luther Vandross and released So Intense, earning her first Grammy Award with “How Can I Ease the Pain.” She joined the Rolling Stones for their 1989 Steel Wheels tour and continued to grace their stage for the next 26 years. Fischer’s passion for constant growth and experimentation with different styles led to collaborations with musical legends Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, and YoYo Ma, to name just a few. While Fisher’s range is legendary, her greatest gift is the ability to reach the hearts of her listeners.

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