Country: Jamaica
Cleveland Laing (Lieutenant Stitchie / Stitchie) Cleveland Laing, born on 29 September 1965 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, is a deejay who initially made his mark in dancehall before transitioning to gospel reggae in 1997 after surviving a car crash. Early in life, Laing worked as a biology teacher while beginning his music career, performing in the late 1970s and joining sound systems such as Django (as DJ Ranking Noseworthy) and Stereo One. His first single, recorded under the name Ranking Citrus (or Citchie), led to the adoption of the stage name Stitchie, which stuck after a misprinted record label. In 1986, Stitchie began working with Prince Jammy and released his debut album Great Ambition in 1987. Known for his humorous style and character-driven vocals, his single "Natty Dread" topped the Jamaican charts for 14 weeks. His success led to a major-label deal with Atlantic Records in 1988, making him one of the first dancehall artists (after Yellowman) to sign with a major label. He released several albums with Atlantic, including The Governor, Wild Jamaican Romances, and Rude Boy. After losing part of his dancehall audience, Stitchie returned to Kingston studios, working with producers like Danny Browne, Donovan Germain, and King Jammy. Following the end of his Atlantic contract in 1994, he continued to release chart-topping singles in Jamaica, including "Bun It Down", "Hello Carol", and "Hot Like the Sun". He also released the albums Gangsta (1995, VP Records) and Bangarang (1995, Shanachie Records), cementing his legacy as a prominent figure in dancehall music.
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