University of Massachusetts Amherst, Fine Arts Center

Ranky Tanky (a Gullah phrase for “get funky”) are five lifelong friends from Charleston, South Carolina who
have established themselves as passionate global ambassadors for their local culture and community, helping to
faithfully preserve the traditions originated by African Americans in the coastal South during slavery that are
kept alive through the present day. Ranky Tanky will perform song from their latest record, Good Times, and we will work to facilitate outreach for Ranky Tanky and Lisa Fischer with various groups on campus, such as: student groups the Black Student Union, Black Mass Communications Program, SoulTV, and others; academic connections like jazz and Afro-American Studies faculty and ensembles; and campus life organizations like the Malcolm X Cultural Center and others. We will also engage the artists with a post-performance talk-back for the general public.