Mick Hucknall awarded honorary degree for contribution to music

Manchester Met has presented Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall with an honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to music.

The singer was awarded with the honorary Doctorate of Arts (DArt) from Professor Martyn Evans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Manchester Met, for his services to music during his impressive career.  On receiving the award, Hucknall told the ceremony: “I’m really honoured to receive this and it means a great deal to me and my family who are here today”.

“Growing up in East Manchester, I didn’t know anybody who went to university,” he continued. “I studied Fine Art, but music was always bubbling away. It doesn’t mean to say that what you are now is what you will be in 10 years time. You may end up taking a different path, a different subject but what you learn will always be there inside you, this experience that you had and it’s something to really treasure. I wish you all the best for your future and every success in every endeavour you take.”

What Dreams Are Made Of

Professor Evans said: “Mick remains a proud Mancunian and credits the city with the amazing start it gave him. The synergies between music and art are the norm for art school students and this was very much the case for Mick. His passion for art and music fed each other, but ultimately there would be only one winner.

“In 1984, Simply Red emerged out of the streets and clubs of Manchester in a post punk era and within 12 months they were riding high in the British charts. Simply Red’s career are what dreams are made of.”

Reeling Back The Years

Hucknall, who graduated from Manchester Met’s Manchester School of Art, then known as Manchester Polytechnic, with a BA in Fine Art in 1981, has received an Ivor Novello Award in 1992 and was named as songwriter of the year, before winning an Outstanding Achievement award from MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin) in 1997.

Simply Red, best-known for hits such as Money’s Too Tight To Mention, Holding Back The Years, The Right Thing, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, A New Flame, Something Got Me Started, Fairground and Stars, will be heading out on a 40th Anniversary Tour in 2025.

Simply Red Tour

23 Sept – Belfast, SSE Arena
24 Sept – Dublin, 3 Arena
26 Sept – Leeds, First Direct Arena
27 Sept – Manchester, Co-op Live
28 Sept – Glasgow, OVO Hydro Arena
30 Sept – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
01 Oct – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
03 Oct – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
04 Oct – Birmingham, Utilita Arena
05 Oct – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
07 Oct – Brighton Centre
09 Oct – London, The O2
10 Oct – London, The O2

For tickets click here

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