Local Band Ranky Tanky Earns Grammy Nomination

Local band Ranky Tanky is in the running for a Grammy nomination! The group features three College of Charleston (CofC) alumni.

Started by CofC alumnus Clay Ross ’98, Ranky Tanky, which is a Gullah term loosely translated as “work it” or “get funky,” takes a modern approach to the traditional sounds of Gullah music. Rooted in the cultural traditions passed down from West African slaves in the sea islands of South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina, Gullah culture encompasses a rich African-American heritage expressed through arts, crafts, cuisine and the creole influenced language of Gullah.

Ranky Tanky features a quintet of musicians including Ross on vocals and guitar, Quentin Baxter ’98 on drums, Kevin Hamilton ’95 on bass, Charlton Singleton on trumpet and vocals, and Quiana Parler on vocals. Ross, Baxter and Hamilton all majored in music at the College. Baxter also previously worked as adjunct faculty at CofC, teaching jazz percussion.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, the Grammy Awards released its 2020 nominees list, which included a nomination for Ranky Tanky’s new release Good Time, for Best Regional Roots Music Album. The category is for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental regional roots music recordings.

Good Time, Ranky Tanky’s sophomore album, debuted in July 2019 at No. 2 on Billboard’s Jazz Chart. The band’s self-titled freshman release, which came out in 2017, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Jazz and Contemporary Jazz charts in January 2018.

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