Lt. Stitchie, dancehall and gospel reggae icon, dies at 60

Jamaican music icon Lt. Stitchie, born Cleveland Laing, has died at Kingston Public Hospital. He passed away on Monday, September 28, just one day before his 61st birthday, following a period of health struggles that included a debilitating stroke in September 2024.

Stitchie was a versatile artist who achieved fame as a dancehall deejay before reinventing himself as a prominent gospel reggae artist. His career milestones included being the first dancehall reggae artist to sign with a major US label, Atlantic Records, in the late 1980s. His hits, such as ‘Wear Yu Size’, achieved significant success in both Jamaica and England.

Following his passing, fellow reggae artist Beenie Man paid tribute to him on social media, describing Stitchie as ‘one of my inspirations’ and acknowledging the path he helped pave for Jamaican music.