There are not many survivors of the Vere Johns Opportunity Knocks and Opportunity Hour talent shows that started in Jamaica during the 1950s. Audley Rollen, who first appeared on the popular series in 1957, is among the handful still alive.

On March 30, he will receive a Special Diamond Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Reggae And World Music Awards, at Coral Springs Center For The Performing Arts. An ordained minister, the South Florida-based Rollen began recording music in the mid-1960s and has worked with some of reggae’s most influential artistes, musicians and producers.

“The secret to my longevity is first off being blessed by God, who had a purpose for my life and watched over me as I grew up in almost every town in Kingston, where I honed the skills and the love of my craft that enabled me to remain consistent and relevant musically,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve worked with and rubbed shoulders with the greats; people like Robbie Shakespeare, Familyman Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Sonia Pottinger, Lloyd ‘Matador’ Daley, Carl Dawkins, Keith Hudson, Milton Henry and Tony Russell.”

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Rollen lived in east Kingston where he was a member of The Emotions, The Hippy Boys and Youth Professionals, whose ranks included the Barrett brothers, who later found fame as members of Bob Marley’s Wailers band; Shakespeare, world-famous for his role in Sly and Robbie and keyboardist Bernard “Touter” Harvey of Inner Circle.

Repatriation Is A Must, Rollen’s 1973 signature song, was produced by Daley. Other songs, like Hallelujah and All That Glitter is Not Gold followed, before he migrated to the United States in 1976 and established himself on the Philadelphia reggae scene.

These days, Rollen and his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom minister to the flock at Wisdom Sabbath Ministry in Plantation, South Florida. He became a Christian 20 years ago after suffering personal losses.

While he appreciates the recognition by organisations like IRAWMA, Rollen is concerned that many who contributed to the development of reggae are overlooked. Heading that list is Vere Johns, whom he refers to as the Ed Sullivan of Jamaican music.

“I’m very disappointed that the government of Jamaica has not recognised him for his contribution, and what a great contribution he made. In the late ‘50’s, Opportunity Knocks was the thing, it kept so many youth engaged in entertainment that the crime rate was very low, there were stage shows at Majestic, Ward, Palace, Rialto, Ambassador, Queens, Globe, Tropical, and all the theatres in Kingston. The youth were very interested in performing and or attending Opportunity Hour, not to mention the Christmas morning shows he had at Carib, Regal, Ward, and State,” Rollen noted.

A journalist by profession, Johns organised and financed his groundbreaking shows which helped launch the careers of Millie Small, The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, John Holt, Bob Andy, Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis, Lloyd Charmers, The Blues Busters, Derrick Morgan, Lascelles Perkins, Higgs and Wilson, Laurel Aitken, Jimmy Tucker, Roy Richards, Charlie Organaire, and Rico Rodriguez.

He died in 1966 at age 72.

Audley Rollen is one of nine persons being acknowledged by the IRAWMA with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The 2024 biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, will also receive a special award.