Pauline Black

Pauline Black, pioneer of Two-Tone and lead singer of groundbreaking ska band, The Selecter, talks to Adrian about her connection to the Midlands and Coventry in particular. She talks about, amongst other things, the first time she came to the Midlands as a student. “I got off the train in Coventry and I felt immediately at home.” Pauline studied at Lanchester Polytechnic and went on to work in Coventry hospitals. She kickstarted her musical career playing folk gigs in Coventry pubs. “Nobody asked me to leave.”

Midlands Memory: Hauling heavy musical equipment up the steep stairs for The Selecter’s first recording session at Horizon Recording Studios in Coventry. “I'd never been near a recording studio before. It was just like walking into a magical place where obviously magical things happened.”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Pauline Black © Dean Chalkley.

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Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

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