It has been almost 40 years since Joanna Marie Robinson recorded Single Girl, her first song, but she was musically active before that track was released. She continues to record, but has also been a producer, artiste manager and co-founded a radio station.

That endurance is being acknowledged by the 42nd International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA), which will present her with a Lifetime Achievement Award on March 30 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts in South Florida.

“It’s an incredible honour to be recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This acknowledgment means so much to me because it reflects not just my journey but also the love and support I’ve received along the way,” she said. “It’s a reminder of the hard work, sacrifices, and passion that have fueled my career, and I’m truly humbled and grateful to be celebrated in this way.”

Known as Joanna Marie, she is a mainstay of the South Florida reggae scene. Single Girl was produced by Clint O’Neil, the influential Jamaican disc jockey credited with making reggae popular on that region’s airwaves.

During the 1990s, while she continued to record, Joanna Marie also worked as a harmony singer for acts like Garnet Silk. Currently, she manages Reggae Global Radio with her husband Ed Robinson, a fellow artiste best known for his hit cover of Bob Dylan’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door.

She pointed to the most glaring changes in the music business in the last 40 years.

“The music business has evolved tremendously since I began. Technology has revolutionised how music is produced, distributed, and consumed. When I started, we relied heavily on physical records, radio airplay, and live performances,” Joanna Marie noted. “Today, digital platforms and social media dominate, making music more accessible but also creating a very saturated market. Artistes now have more control and independence, but it’s also a challenge to stand out and remain authentic in an era of quick trends and viral moments.”

Born Joanna Marie Espeut, she was raised in upper St Andrew. The Espeuts, originally from France, have lived in Jamaica since the late 19th Century.

One of her cousins was singer Suzanne Couch, who died in 2018.

As she looks forward to the IRAWMAs, Joanna Marie pointed to rocky times in her career.

“There were moments when I felt overlooked or underestimated, particularly as a woman in the reggae industry. However, I’ve learned that those disappointments often paved the way for growth and greater opportunities. They taught me resilience and pushed me to stay true to my craft and vision,” she said