Daily Observer (Jamaica)

Audley Rollen finds true love with God

- — HOWARD CAMPBELL

IT’S been almost 20 years since singer Audley Rollen gave his life to the Lord. Now an ordained minister, he preaches the gospel but never turned his back on his reggae roots.

He blends both on

a rocksteady-flavoured song that hears him savouring his relationsh­ip with the Almighty.

He co-produced the single with his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom, who is also a minister of religion.

“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,” Rollen told the

For he collaborat­ed with Jason Farmer,

Love Till You,

Never Knew

Jamaica Observer.

Never Knew Love Till You a prolific studio musician whose credits include production on Morgan Heritage’s Grammy-winning album

Strictly Roots.

Though he became a Christian in 2002, Rollen maintained his ties to reggae.

“My musical foundation is reggae, and I still have a passion for it. Looking back, there was just so much joy singing and playing reggae music with people like Earl “Chinna” Smith, Robbie Shakespear­e, Bernard “Touter” Harvey, Basil “Benbow” Creary, the Barrett Brothers, “Family Man” and Carlton, Dennis Brown, Milton Henry, Leroy Brown, Carl Dawkins, Horace Andy, and Tony Russell to name a few. It’s all good,” said Rollen.

Though he was raised in Jones Town, Greenwich Farm and Allman Town, Rollen came of age musically in east Kingston. There, he was a member of The Emotions, a group that also included Lloyd Shakespear­e, older brother of Robbie, Milton Henry and Leroy Brown.

As a solo artiste, his best known songs were and

The Word has impacted his most recent production­s including

Hallelujah.

Repatriati­on

Never Knew Love Till You.

“My faith had everything to do with writing and recording this song. Faith allowed me to experience God’s love and it comforted me in knowing that the unconditio­nal love of God is above all,” Rollen said.

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