Lieutenant Stitchie, gospel reggae and dancehall icon, dies at 60

Veteran deejay and gospel reggae icon Lieutenant Stitchie, born Cleveland Laing, has died at the age of 60. He passed away on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Kingston Public Hospital, just one day before his 61st birthday.

Stitchie’s health had been in decline following a debilitating stroke in September 2024 that left him with limited mobility and an inability to speak. His wife, Sophia Laing, had recently made a public appeal for blood donors after his blood count dropped.

Known as the “Governor” of dancehall, Laing rose to prominence in the early 1980s on the Spanish Town sound-system circuit. He achieved significant commercial success with hits such as “Wear Yuh Size” and “Natty Dread,” eventually becoming one of the first dancehall artists to sign an international deal with Atlantic Records in 1988. He was noted for his prolific output, once recording 14 number-one songs in a single calendar year, and is credited with introducing dancehall music to Germany and the Netherlands.