SINCE 1958 when he and his older brother Patrick entered Vere Johns’ Opportunity Knocks talent show as a novelty act, Audley Rollen has been an entertainer. On July 17, he celebrated his journey with an event in South Florida.

Dubbed ’64/55′, it was held at Jacaranda Country Club in Plantation. The evening reflected on the years since Rollen’s Vere Johns debut and his career as a recording artiste which began in 1967.

He was joined by his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom, as well as contemporaries Milton Henry and Winston Dias, and veteran broadcaster Clinton Lindsay.

“An occasion such as this means a lot to me, it helps me to reflect on where I’m coming from to where I’m at. It also made me feel the love of the people who were in attendance at my major milestone event of 64/55. It also helped me to reflect on the fun days Milton Henry and I would have as we rehearsed and honed our music and vocal skills at 101/2 Wild Street in Allman Town, where later ‘Tony Russell’ and ‘Carl Dawkins’ would join us,” Rollen told the Jamaica Observer. “Now, considering the changes, the music and I have been through it’s a great testament of my endurance over the years and the ability to still be able to write, perform, and produce timeless quality music like Never Knew Love Till You and Close To You, that meet people where they are and is embraced by the populace, and that’s gratifying.”

Rollen first recorded as a harmony singer in 1967 on Summertime Rock, a song by The Progressions. The following year came Whisper A Little Prayer, his first solo song, produced by Keith Hudson.

In May, Rollen released I Need You, his 11th album which he co-produced with Jason Farmer. It contains the hit songs, Never Knew Love Till You and Close to You.

An ordained minister of religion, Rollen migrated to the United States in the mid-1970s after a fruitful career as a vocalist. He was a member of The Emotions and Youth Professionals in east Kingston and also recorded solo for producers such as Lloyd “Matador” Daley.