Coventry's 'Queen of Ska' receives honorary degree
Ska singer Pauline Black has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Literature at the University of Warwick today
Pauline Black, founding member of legendary 2-Tone band The Selecter has received an honorary degree from the University of Warwick on Thursday 21st July.
The highly acclaimed singer, known as the ‘Queen of Ska’, released five top 40 singles in the UK with the Coventry-based group, including iconic hits “Too Much Pressure” and “On My Radio”.
The Selecter, alongside The Specials and Madness, were part of a new wave of ska bands, which burst onto the British music scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s, fusing reggae with punk and highlighting issues such as racism, sexism and poverty.
The 68 year old released her autobiography ‘Black by Design’ in 2011 and has collaborated with artists including Blur frontman Damon Albarn during her career. She continues to perform live with The Selecter and record new music.
Outside of music, Pauline has been a long-standing champion for racial equality, and played a pivotal role in the Coventry 2021 City of Culture bid, which included performing in the Opening Ceremony. She has lived in the city for more than 50 years.