Like many Jamaicans who live in South Florida, Audley Rollen made the move after many years of residing on the chilly East Coast. He quickly established himself as an artiste, broadcaster and pastor.

On February 11, his achievements were recognised by the city of Tamarac which honored him as one of its five Black History Month recipients.

Rollen received the award from Tamarac mayor Michelle J Gomez on February 11 at Tamarac City Hall.

“I feel deeply honoured and humbled to be receiving this award here in South Florida for all the work I’ve done over the past 67 years. My career began as a child of the Jamaican soil where my brother and I became All Island Champion on September 3rd 1959 on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour. So, it’s rewarding to receive this international honour,” he told Observer Online.

When Rollen moved to South Florida from Philadelphia over 20 years ago, he was an established singer. He continued to record music and operated a record store in Miami.

Today, he and his wife Dawn Marie Wisdom are pastors at Wisdom Sabbath Ministry in Plantation. They also host several shows on WAVS 1170 AM.

Prior to migration to the United States in the mid-1970s, Rollen was a committed Rastafarian whose songs included Repatriation is A Must and Hallelujah.

That background, he noted, makes the Tamarac recognition even more special.

“It exemplifies my lifelong dedication to cultural preservation, mentorship, spiritual leadership, and the significant contribution of musical excellence that merit this recognition in Black History Month,” said Rollen.

Attorney Kaysia Earley, Cheryl Holtz, choreographer Jimmy Locust and entrepreneur Jimmy Pinchinat are the other 2026 Tamarac City Black History Month recipients.

– Howard Campbell