Charleston City Paper: Digs - June 2022

June 2022

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At Home with

Charlton Singleton +

TIME TO ENJOY THE

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DIGGING THE SEASON

Time to enjoy the flavors of summer From staff reports Bringing your family together for a meal that tastes like summer is what the season is all about. If you’re spending an evening firing up the grill, flipping on the oven, forming a homemade salad or anything inbetween, the time spent together enjoying warm weather flavors is what people across the Lowcountry crave.

Your next backyard meal can start with a flavor infusion from a tasty vinaigrette dressing that can be tossed with salads or added to proteins before cooking. Use premium ingredients and mix herbs, spices and fresh garlic into the dressing to deliver a delightfully bold and zesty flavor with every bite.

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Take advantage of the dressing’s mouthwatering taste with Summer Shrimp and Squash Kebabs, an easy way to bring loved ones together both before and during the meal. While one person should heat the grill, the rest of the family can work together to marinate a concoction of shrimp, tomatoes, corn, red onion, squash and zucchini before threading onto skewers that are ready to hit the grates.

If hot weather means lighter fare is on the menu, a Mediterranean Orzo Salad can be ready in minutes. Just toss together a handful of tantalizing ingredients for a simple bite of summer that’s perfect as a meatless meal or al fresco side dish. Or you can turn it into a quick weeknight dinner by adding cooked chicken, shrimp or a protein of your choice.

Courtesy FamilyFeatures.com

Summer Shrimp and Squash Kebabs yellow squash and zucchini; marinate 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat the grill to medium heat.

Skewer pieces of cherry tomato, shrimp, corn, zucchini, red onion and yellow squash on a wooden skewer. Repeat with remaining ingredients and skewers.

Grill kebabs about 8 minutes, turning frequently until shrimp and veggies are cooked. Serve with additional vinaigrette.

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Mediterranean Orzo Salad Servings: 4 2 cups cooked orzo 2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered ½ cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed ½ cup arugula ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup pitted Kalamata and green olives,

SIM

cut in half ¹⁄³ cup of a vinaigrette dressing In a large bowl, combine orzo, cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, olives and feta cheese. Toss with vinaigrette.

Serve with additional vinaigrette, if desired.

Family Features contributed to this story. Find more summer meal solutions at NewmansOwn.com.

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Servings: 4 (2 skewers per serving) 8 wooden skewers (12 inches each) 1 cup of a vinaigrette, such as Newman’s Own Garlic Vinaigrette & Marinade 16 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 16 cherry tomatoes 2 ears fresh corn, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges 2 yellow squash, sliced ½-inch thick 2 zucchini, sliced ½-inch thick Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

In large bowl, combine vinaigrette, shrimp, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion,

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AT HOME IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

The man behind the trumpet

By Samantha Connors

Awendaw native and Grammy Award-winning musician Charlton Singleton is lucky his older sister and brother took music lessons.

“[My musical career] all started with me just trying to copy what my big sister and brother were doing,” Singleton said.

His older siblings were taking piano lessons and 3-year-old Singleton was particularly observant. When his parents noticed him playing some melodies to songs he had heard, they asked the teacher to start giving him 10-minute lessons.

Though his siblings didn’t pursue music later in life, Singleton turned his humble beginnings as a toddler pianist into a successful, lifelong career.

“I did have this fixation on being a starting shortstop or a second baseman for the New York Yankees,” Singleton said. “But, music just seemed to be the most natural thing for me.”

Singleton went on to learn the organ, violin, cello and his main instrument, trumpet, with a focus on jazz.

Digs 06.08.2022

A budding musical career

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After graduating from South Carolina State University in 1993 with a degree in music performance, Singleton worked at a West Ashley music store called CD Superstore (later renamed Millennium Music), where he met his wife MaryJo in 1994. At the store, Singleton had even greater access to inspirational music. He said he was a “late bloomer” getting into Prince, who became a major musical influence, but when he did, he dove in headfirst.

“It was to a point where I was militant about it,” he said. “I would yell at customers [at the music store] if they didn’t know Prince information. I got reprimanded for it, actually.”

Singleton’s love for Prince is evident in his home office where a framed photo of the High Priest of Pop lives on top of his upright piano along with a mini plunger used to create a “wah-wah” effect on the trumpet. Fun fact: The use of a mini plunger as a trumpet mute

Charlton Singleton always keeps a mini plunger handy, which is used by trumpet players to create a “wah-wah” sound.

was popularized by James “Bubber” Miley, an Aiken, S.C., native who played in Duke Ellington’s band, but it may have originated from the Jenkins Orphanage band in Charleston, Singleton said.

During his time at the music store, Singleton started landing more gigs and performing with two current members of Ranky Tanky, Quentin Baxter and Kevin Hamilton, in different bands, but he decided to teach private lessons and in public schools in 2000, including the Charleston School of the Arts. After seven years, he left teaching to pursue performing.

“I never really pictured myself being a performer, but it just sort of came out that way, and I made the decision to jump in with both feet,” he said.

He co-founded Charleston Jazz Orchestra in 2008, where he served as artistic director until 2018. Singleton released his first solo music in 2011 and was playing gigs often, but he felt that he wasn’t quite where he envisioned himself to be until 2015 when he was named artist-in-residence at the Charleston Gaillard Center, where he remained until 2019; Singleton currently holds the title of artist-in-residence emeritus.

THE LOWDOWN ON CHARLTON SINGLETON Age: 51.

Birthplace: Charleston, S.C. Education: Bachelor’s degree in music performance, S.C. State University.

Past professions of interest: School band director.

Family: Wife, two kids, granddaughter.

Pets: Three dogs (Sassy, Jango, MoJo), two cats (Pumpkin and Ginger). Since we’ve been married, my wife and I have owned probably 14 to 15 cats and dogs.

That same year, Ranky Tanky was born.

The jazz-inspired Gullah group went on to win a Grammy for Best Regional Roots Album in 2019 with its album Good Time.

“It was a very emotional day,” he recalled. “You literally go from just being on pins and needles and not knowing to: ‘Oh my God, did that just happen?’ ” Singleton proudly displays his Grammy on a table in his dining room. He jokingly said that it makes for a great background piece in Zoom calls.

Ranky Tanky returned this month from a five-day tour playing in Finland, Sweden and Germany. Next up, they’re playing in the Northeast for several weeks, making it all the way up to Canada before heading west to California and Colorado with vocalist Lisa Fisher, then back to Europe. Every member of the band has at least one other side project he or she is working on, Singleton said. That can make it difficult to get together unless they’re playing shows.

“A lot of magic happens in sound check,” he said. “A lot of the Grammy Award-winning album was created, in a way, at sound check. Somebody was doing something and somebody added on while we were waiting for them to check their microphones and then it turned into something.”

In addition to Ranky Tanky, Singleton plays with his groups Contemporary Flow and Charlton Singleton and Friends, as well as several orchestra ensembles.

On the road

The walls of Singleton’s office tell the story of his music career with framed concert posters from shows, including Ranky Tanky performances and a Prince cover show with Charlton Singleton and Friends, and a photo of Singleton playing at the Music Hall with famous saxophonist and Goose Creek native Bob Belden.

When asked about some of his more memorable tour moments, Singleton reminisced on times with his post-college ska band called Skwzbxx (pronounced squeeze box).

“One night, we played at The Elbow Room in Columbia, and the whole WCW wrestling crew walked into the building and Ric Flair jumped up on stage with us,” he said, laughing. “It was one of the most memorable experiences that I’ve ever had. It was a crazy night full of laughter.”

More recently, Ranky Tanky toured with folk and jazz artist Bobby McFerrin in 2019, an experience he said was like no other.

“Being out on the road with him and watching him work was amazing. The banter on the bandstand, watching him sing and do all of these polyrhythms with Quentin Baxter, I felt like I could’ve died right there and I would’ve been cool with it.”

Though Singleton has played with many acclaimed musicians, he’s had a lot of run-ins with influential music industry people at the airport.

Singleton’s office is decorated with concert posters (above). His Grammy (right) is displayed in the living room.

One of his biggest fanboy moments took place at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York as a college student while returning from Edinburgh, Scotland.

His two friends spotted one of Singleton’s greatest inspirations, S.C. native and jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, at a newsstand with a funky hat Photos by Rūta Smith and oddly shaped trumpet bag. Singleton’s friends pushed him to Gillespie. The moment he turned around, Singleton fired off in rapid succession information about his aspirations as a trumpeter and his backstory as a South Carolinian, before the jazz legend yelled, “STOP!” Gillespie asked an out-of-breath Singleton, “Do you play [trumpet] as fast as you talk? … You’d be one helluva trumpet player if you did that.”

Gillespie spent the next five minutes suggesting musicians to listen to and books to read before he said, “We’ve got a plane to catch. It’s always good to talk to someone from South Carolina.

Good luck in your career young man,” and he was off.

Gillespie’s niece invited Singleton to play that very same trumpet he saw Gillespie holding that day 20 years later in 2013 during the South Carolina Jazz Festival honoring Gillespie.

Ushering in next generation

“When younger students of mine ask about the business, I always tell them it’s about relationships,” Singleton said.

Over the course of his career, Singleton has built plenty of relationships — with bandmates, fellow musicians, teachers and local jazz artists. He reflected on his own years coming up as a musician when the prominent jazz artists in town encouraged him to watch their shows and get up on stage to play.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” he said.

“We’re now the ones playing in clubs and asking the young musicians today to come in and get that experience. It’s a revolving sort of energy. For the aspiring musicians today, I say: Be seen. Be heard. Go and establish those relationships.”

Something people would be surprised to learn about you: I am very nervous when I am onstage. I literally practice just about everything that I say in between songs.

Favorite thing to do outside of work: I love watching anything on TV that is going to make me laugh hard! Old comedy shows!

Favorite food to cook: Steak.

Favorite cocktail or beverage: Half and half (unsweetened/sweet tea).

Four foods you always need in your refrigerator: Fruit, veggies, eggs and bacon.

Three people (alive or dead) you’d like to dine with: Jesus, Ella Fitzgerald, Prince.

What meal would you want served to you for your last supper: Bread, fish and wine.

Something that you have too much of at home: Lint rollers (we have five pets).

Guilty pleasure: Yacht Rock.

Favorite musicians: Dizzy Gillespie, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Lalah Hathaway, and of course … MY BANDS!!

Describe your best day in 50 words or less: June 3, 2000 — 95+ degrees at Charlestowne Landing, family and friends all around, MaryJo walking down the aisle, my Dad marrying us.

(Honorable Mention … Los Angeles when we won a Grammy!)

Pet peeve: Those stray marks that are left on the dry erase/chalkboard!

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The birth of a huge success

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MT PLEASANT | WEST ASHLEY | NORTH CHARLESTON | CLEMENTS FERRY | SUMMERVILLE

first Westerner to collect this specimen was George Forrest, a Scottish botanist Throughout human history, the gifting and who explored the depths of the biologitrading of plants has been a way for people cally diverse Yunnan province of China to connect. A 2018 study published in in the early 1900s. It was later scientifiScience Daily discussed an analysis of plant cally named and forgotten for decades as remains found at a site in Uzbekistan conthe plant itself has no real economic or taining species exotic to the area. The site, medicinal use. dating back to 800 A.D., coincides with the In the 1980s, cuttings of this plant were popularity of the Silk Road, the trade route sent into the Royal Botanic Gardens for connecting Eastern and Western worlds. identification. Many scientists had not seen This study is one of many that demonstrates the plant before but realized that people the cultural importance of exchanging throughout England were growing this as plants for crop production, medicinal puran indoor plant. In an effort to figure out poses and even ornamental reminders of far how the plant got to England, an illusaway lands. trated article was published in 1983 asking Today, plant parents the public to submit stories on how they everywhere have likely received the plant. experienced the joy of It turned out that in the mid 1940s, sharing one of their a Norwegian missionary named Agnar beloved plants. Many Espegren brought a few clippings of Pilea houseplants are easy peperomioides from China back to Norway to propagate. Pothos, after all missionaries were asked to leave philodendrons and China. He shared some of the clippings other trailing plants with family and friends, further spreading Reale typically are cut below them around Europe. a node and placed in This pilea became popular once again water. This cutting will eventually develop a about 10 years ago and you can find root system, provided the water is changed hundreds of thousands of posts with the out once a week, and can then either be kept hashtag #PILEAPEPEROMIOIDES. in water or planted in soil. Other plants such as snake plants and ferns, can be How to care for and share shared by division. Once the plant is mature your friendship plant enough, remove the plant from the pot and Bright, indirect light is best. Direct sunlight break apart the root system to share. can cause damage. The plants can tolerate Pilea peperomioides (commonly called lower light, but will not thrive and grow as Chinese Money Plant, Friendship Plant, Missionary Plant or UFO plant) is a unique well. These plants grow towards the light, so rotating your plant regularly will ensure plant that recently resurged in popularity for its interesting leaf morphology and ease a full plant all around.

Similarly as you’d care for succulents, let of propagating. This evergreen plant is only this plant completely dry out between waterfound growing wildly in parts of China in ings and avoid overwatering. Well-drained low- to mid-altitude forests but is easily soil also is important. This plant does not cultivated indoors. need to be fertilized, but if you choose to do This plant has a very interesting hisso only lightly fertilize in early spring. tory and was largely unknown to the Pileas produce baby plants or “pups” at Western world until it was commercially grown in the late 2010s. Records show the the base of the mother plant or will pop

By Toni Reale, special to Digs

Advocating for Clients and Community Since 1988

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The friendship plant is only found growing wildly in parts of China but is easily cultivated indoors.

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up from the soil. To propagate these pups, wait until they are about two to three inches in size. Don’t pull them out of the soil, but rather use sharp snips to cut the pup from the mother plant or soil. Cut as close to the base as you can get without hurting other pups or the mother plant.

Place your pup directly into moist soil or into water. Roots typically appear two to

four weeks after propagation.

Toni Reale is the owner of Roadside Blooms, a unique flower and plant shop in Park Circle in North Charleston. It specializes in weddings, events and every day deliveries using nearly 100 percent American- and locally grown blooms. Online at roadsideblooms.com.

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