One of the most striking phenomena on the music scene in the past two years is the quintet Ranky Tanky, hailing from Charleston, South Carolina. After the attention they received in the popular NPR radio show Fresh Air, the group’s eponymous debut album rocketed to the top of charts like Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon. Noteworthy is the fact that in their music, Ranky Tanky sing in Gullah. This is the West-African derived, English-based Creole language (and culture) of the Sea Islands in the south-east of the US. These roots inspire the group to make timeless songs in a wide range of styles. All in all, their music, with a high dose of funk and R&B, really swings like nothing else. But the group can just as easily touch an audience with beautiful gospels, allowing Quiana Parler to showcase her soulful vocal talents. An original and authentic group, with very special West-African influences.
