Recipient Information
Location
North Charleston, South Carolina
Year of Award
2023
Grant or Fellowship
Jazz Road Creative Residencies Grant
Grant Amount
$40,000
This project will be a creative residency focused on preserving and promoting Gullah culture and its connections to jazz through authentic compositions inspired by stories and memories of Gullah elders. At Truphonic Recording studio, Ranky Tanky will dedicate a week to writing, rehearsing and creating demos. These compositions will be showcased at the Gaillard Center in a special performance for public school children to support the local community through music and education.
About the Artist
A native of Charleston, South Carolina. Quiana Parler began her professional career singing for Calvin Gilmore of the "The Carolina Opry". After years of being one of the most sought after vocalists in South Carolina Low Country, in 2003 she parlayed a placement in the Top 48 of season two of the Fox hit American Idol into an enviable career as a featured vocalist on national tours with some of the country's most well-known artists. She has shared those stages with a diverse array of artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Keith Sweat, Clay Aiken, Miranda Lambert, and others. Additionally, Quiana can be heard on albums by Clay Aiken, Bianca Ryan and Renee Olstead, and she has recorded with some of the industry's most respected producers, like Walter Afanasieff and David Foster. Her talents have been highly sought after for events held by some of the area's biggest corporate and non-profit organizations, such as Benefit Focus, Roper Xavier Hospital, The Duchess of York, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, DART, Baker Motor Company, Piccolo Spoleto, Morris Nissan, Moja Arts Festival, & many more. In addition to her national touring experience, Quiana has performed on Saturday Night Live, The View, NBC's Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Tyra and numerous other national television programs.