Before he gave his life to God and became a Christian 19 years ago, Audley Rollen hung out with the toughest of the tough and the baddest of the bad. Now an ordained pastor, he still sings to the reggae beat that launched his career in the 1960’s.
On his latest song, Never Knew Love Till You, Rollen not only rejoices in his faith, but reminds people that they serve a forgiving Master.
“In relationships leave room for disappointments, and try to forgive others even as you would like to be forgiven. And understand that God’s love is the greatest love because He loved us even when we did not love Him, so let us look for the joy in our trials and thank God for His love,” he reasoned.
Rollen, a longtime South Florida resident, produced Never Knew Love Till You. He also co-wrote and serves as executive producer with Dawn Marie Wisdom, his wife.
Some of the musicians who backed him on the track are Grammy-winning keyboardist Jason Farmer, saxophonist Jerry Johnson and trumpeter Howard Perry. Never Knew Love Till You has a rocking rock steady rhythm; for Rollen, the message, not the beat, is what counts.
“Christianity has impacted my life in a meaningful and a special way, and so, as a minister of the gospel I share the Word with everyone. I overlook no one, the Word must be heard,” he said.
Rollen was, in Jamaican parlance, a hardcore ‘rude bwoy’ who grew up in some of Kingston’s toughest communities. In the early 1970’s, he lived in the city’s east end and became a member of The Emotions, a harmony group that included Lloyd Shakespeare (older brother of famed bass player Robbie Shakespeare), Leroy Brown and Milton Henry.
As a solo act, he had hits with Repatriation and Hallelujah. Rollen recorded several albums after migrating to the United States over 40 years ago; personal tragedy led him to Christianity in 2002, but he never lost the zest for singing.
“Singing and playing music is my passion and first love, and I would like to think that I still do it well enough to keep on doing it. Never Knew Love Till You so far, the reviews have been great, but ultimately the people will be the judge as to how well I’m doing after all this time,” he said. It has already entered the Clinton Lindsay-compiled, South Florida Top 25 Reggae Chart.
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