The Jamaican deejay, who helped shape dancehall in the 1980s before building a second career in gospel reggae, died in Kingston one day before his 61st birthday.
Lieutenant Stitchie, the veteran Jamaican deejay who emerged from the formative years of dancehall and later became a prominent gospel reggae artist, has died at the age of 60.
The entertainer, whose given name was Cleveland “Cleve” Laing, died at Kingston Public Hospital on Monday, September 28, 2026, one day before his 61st birthday. His death was reported by Jamaican media following confirmation from medical personnel and comes after years of health complications.
Stitchie had been receiving treatment at Kingston Public Hospital after his blood count fell, according to his wife, Sophia Laing, who confirmed his hospitalisation to the Jamaica Observer on Sunday. His immediate cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
The veteran performer had also been living with the effects of a debilitating stroke suffered in September 2024. His wife had previously said the stroke left him with limited mobility and unable to speak, requiring ongoing care.
From Spanish Town to the Dancehall Mainstream
Born in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Stitchie developed his musical identity through Jamaica’s competitive sound-system culture during the early 1980s.
He came up alongside deejays including Papa San, Wickerman and Major Worries, establishing a reputation for rapid-fire delivery, humour and intricate wordplay.
His breakthrough arrived in 1986 with “Wear Yuh Size,” a humorous dancehall recording that helped bring his distinctive style to a wider audience. He followed it with songs including “Natty Dread,” further establishing himself as one of the recognizable voices of Jamaica’s emerging dancehall movement.
Stitchie’s rise soon extended beyond Jamaica. In 1988, he signed with Atlantic Records, becoming part of an era in which Jamaican dancehall artists were increasingly reaching international audiences. He recorded three albums for the label, including Wild Jamaican Romances.
Before music became his full-time profession, Laing had also worked as a schoolteacher and was involved in athletics. He studied at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport after attending Tivoli Gardens High School.
A Second Life in Gospel Music
Stitchie’s career took a significant turn in 1997 following a car accident, after which he became a born-again Christian.
He subsequently moved away from secular dancehall and devoted himself to Christian ministry and gospel reggae. His later recordings included To God Be the Glory and Real Power, while his energetic delivery remained a defining part of his musical identity.
The transition gave Stitchie a second chapter in Jamaican music. Rather than abandoning the performance style that had made him known, he redirected his lyrical ability and rapid-fire deejay technique toward inspirational and faith-based music.
His contribution was formally recognised in 2021 when he received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD) for his contribution to music.
Tributes Begin
News of Stitchie’s death has prompted tributes from members of Jamaica’s entertainment community.
Irie FM reported that producer Danny Brownie credited Stitchie with helping inspire him to establish Main Street Records, while dancehall figures including Mr G and Spragga Benz also remembered the veteran performer and his contribution to Jamaican music.
For more than four decades, Stitchie occupied a distinctive place in Jamaican music — first as one of the energetic voices of early dancehall, and later as a gospel performer whose career was shaped by faith and ministry.
His death brings to an end the life and career of an artist whose work connected two important chapters of Jamaican popular music.
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