The Selecter
(1979-present)

group and band

Aged 45

The Selecter are an English 2 tone ska revival band, formed in Coventry, England, in 1979. The Selecter featured a diverse line-up, both in terms of race and gender, initially consisting of Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson and Pauline Black on lead vocals, Neol Davies and Compton Amanor on guitar, Desmond Brown on Hammond organ, Charley 'H' Bembridge on drums, and Charley Anderson on bass. The band's name is based on the term "selector", which is a Jamaican word for disc jockey (DJ). The band were one of the most successful ska bands of the 2 tone era, notching up several top forty singles in the British charts. Having co-released the first 2 tone ska single with the Specials, they are considered one of the founding acts of the movement. Though highly influential, the original lineup only remained together for a year, and even with replacement players the band only continued until breaking up in 1981. The Selecter reformed in 1991 and lead vocalist Black continued to perform and release music under the Selecter name until 2006. By 2011, another version of the band featuring Neol Davies was touring separately. In June 2011 Black applied for, and won, the Selecter trademark and the right to use the name herself. The reformed, Pauline Black-led line-up still tours and releases albums under the Selecter name, most recently releasing Daylight, the band's fifteenth studio album, in 2017.

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Commemorated on 4 plaques

51 Albany Road The birthplace of 2-Tone The ska phenomenon was created here by Jerry Dammers, The Specials and The Selecter It also served as the HQ for the iconic 2-Tone Record label

51 Albany Rd, Coventry, United Kingdom where it created the ska phenomenon

Horizon Studios The renowned Horizon Studio complex stood across the road from here. It was there that The Specials and The Selecter recorded much of their classic work during 1979/1980

Horizon Studios site on Rocket Pub, Warwick Road, Coventry, United Kingdom where it recorded

Site of Tiffany's Nightclub. 2-Tone bands The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, Madness, The Swinging Cats and The Bodysnatchers all played at this once popular venue

Tiffany's Nightclub (Central Library), Coventry, United Kingdom where it played

Near this site stood The Rocket pub used by many artists who recorded at Horizon Studios that stood across the road from here Including: The Specials & The Selecter

Coventry Station, Warwick Road, Coventry, United Kingdom where it recorded