Two-Time Grammy-Winning Trailblazers Ranky Tanky Bring Gullah Music To The World On ‘This Village,’ New Album Out July 17

Listen To The Title Track "This Village" Here: https://rankytanky.ffm.to/village

Read A Feature With Garden & Gun About The Band's West African-Rooted, South Carolina-Based Sound: https://gardenandgun.com/ranky-tanky-this-village

Ranky Tanky have broken new ground for Gullah music on some of the world's biggest stages - from the GRAMMY Awards to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - and next month return with This Village, a 16-song collection celebrating and uplifting their hometown community. Five long-time friends, having met in the South Carolina Lowcountry, they are passionate ambassadors for the sentiment found in songs and stories of the Gullah people, honoring traditions passed down from enslaved West Africans in the region that are faithfully preserved by generations of descendants into the present day. After winning the first-ever GRAMMY Award for a collection of Gullah music in 2020 (Best Regional Roots Album), Ranky Tanky followed it up with a second win in 2023 and - on This Village - continue to make history while delivering their signature "soulful honey to the ears" (NPR).

Listen to Ranky Tanky's "This Village" - the album's title track out today - from band members Quiana Parler (vocals), Charlton Singleton (trumpet, vocals), Clay Ross (guitar, vocals), Kevin Hamilton (bass), and Quentin E. Baxter (drums, percussion): LINK

"The song speaks on love and the spirit of the culture, the generosity, the shoulder to shoulder, the helping one another out, and actually having one another's backs, even when you need your own back had," says Baxter; who also serves as Producer on both the title track and full album.

"'This Village' really means a lot to me. It's about family and community. Growing up in a small community in a small town, everyone knew each other. It's about standing strong, being together as one and unity. That's what 'This Village' means to me," says Parler, who shares lead vocals on the song with writer Charlton Singleton.

Read more about the group's thoughts on the song, the new album and Gullah music via Garden & Gun : https://gardenandgun.com/ranky-tanky-this-village

Pre-order This Village here, which arrives in full on July 17: https://www.rankytanky.com/store

On this new album, Ranky Tanky have returned with more of their own original music than ever before - steeped in the rich traditions of the Gullah community. They are joined on the album by legendary multi-time GRAMMY winner Lisa Fischer for two interpretations of classics: a cover of Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands," and their own arrangement of the traditional "Pick'n Po Robin" (featured prominently in the recent Sinners soundtrack). Each of the five band members participated in the writing process on This Village, with additional collaborators including GRAMMY Award-winning engineers Vance Powell (Sputnik Sound - Chris Stapleton, Jack White), Elliott Elsey (Truphonic Recording) and Vlado Meller (Vlado Meller Mastering), as well as Demetrius Doctor (piano, string arrangement - "This Village"). With the new album, Ranky Tanky look to build on a sound that - in addition to the accomplishments mentioned above - has already brought them to #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts and media spotlights from NPR's Fresh Air and Morning Edition to PBS Newshour and The TODAY Show.

Photo credit: Sully Sullivan

RANKY TANKY - THIS VILLAGE

1. Be Alright

2. Rejoice

3. Lift Me Up

4. Out Of One, Many [Prelude - This Village]

5. This Village

6. Stomp It In The Ground

7. Down In My Heart

8. Lie Down

9. Pick'n Po Robin

10. Our Love

11. Jump In The Water

12. Right Here

13. Tell Me

14. Untie My Hands

15. Grandma's Hands

16. Say Goodnight