{{Short description|Jamaican musical artist (b. 1965)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use British English|date=December 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lieutenant Stitchie | image = Stitchie.jpg | caption = Performing live in 2007 | image_size = | birth_name = Cleveland Laing | alias = Stichie | birth_place = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1965|09|29}} | origin = [[Spanish Town]], Jamaica | instrument = Vocals | genre = {{hlist|[[Dancehall]]|[[gospel reggae]]}} | occupation = | years_active = Late 1970s–present | label = {{hlist|Jammy's|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[VP Records|VP]]|Drum & Bass}} | website = {{URL|www.kingstitchie.com/}} }} '''Cleveland Laing''' (born 29 September 1965), better known as '''Lieutenant Stitchie''', is a Jamaican [[Deejay (Jamaican)|deejay]] who originally worked in the [[dancehall]] style but switched to [[gospel reggae]] in 1997 after surviving a car crash, thereafter working under the shorter name '''Stitchie'''.
==Biography== ===Dancehall career=== Laing was born in [[Spanish Town]] and worked as a biology teacher at Spanish Town School before embarking on a career in music, for a time pursuing both.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p. 170</ref><ref name="Moskowitz">Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, {{ISBN|0-313-33158-8}}, p. 177-8</ref> In the late 1970s he began his career as a singer.<ref name="Larkin" /> In the mid-1980s he began working on [[Sound system (Jamaican)|sound systems]] such as the Django sound system (as DJ Ranking Noseworthy), and released his first single under the name Ranking Citrus, or Citchie for short, being known for his love of citrus fruits.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Moskowitz" /><ref name="DMV">VandeHoef, Diana Moes "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stitchie-p430225/biography Stitchie Biography]", [[AllMusic]], retrieved 7 July 2011</ref> He went on to work on the Stereo One sound system, where he adopted the stage name Stitchie after being credited as such via a misprinted record label.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> In 1986 he began working with [[Prince Jammy]], recording the single "Wear Yuh Size", followed in 1987 with his debut album ''Great Ambition''.<ref name="Moskowitz" /> His style was humorous, often adopting the voices of several different characters during a song.<ref name="Kenner">Kenner, Rob (1995) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=ySsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=stitchie&pg=PA147 Boom Shots]", ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'', December 1995/January 1996, p. 147, retrieved 7 July 2011</ref> His single "Natty Dread" topped the Jamaican charts for 14 weeks.<ref name="Kenner" /> Commercial success led to a record deal with [[Atlantic Records]] in 1988, Stitchie becoming one of the first dancehall artists, four years after Yellowman, to sign a deal with a major record label, releasing the albums ''The Governor'', ''Wild Jamaican Romances'', and ''Rude Boy''.<ref name="Kenner" /> He lost some of his dancehall following so returned to Kingston studios, recording hit records for producers such as Danny Browne, [[Donovan Germain]], and a return to the now King Jammy.<ref name="Larkin" /> Released from his Atlantic contract in 1994, he had chart-topping singles in Jamaica with "Bun It Down", "Hello Carol", and "Hot Like the Sun".<ref name="Kenner" /> He released the album ''Gangsta'' in 1995, now on [[VP Records]], and ''Bangarang'' later that year (on [[Shanachie Records]]).<ref name="Kenner" />
===Conversion to Christianity=== Stitchie was injured in a car crash in August 1997 while driving to [[Montego Bay]] to perform at the [[Reggae Sumfest]] festival, receiving cuts which required hospital treatment.<ref name="Moskowitz" /><ref name="DMV" /><ref name="Dawes">Dawes, Mark (2003) "[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030610/mind/mind1.html Stitchie Singing a new tune] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008052224/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030610/mind/mind1.html |date=8 October 2012 }}", ''[[Jamaica Gleaner]]'', 10 June 2003, retrieved 7 July 2011</ref> Against medical advice he went on to perform as scheduled, after which he was given a [[Gideon Bible]] by a Canadian boy.<ref name="Dawes" /> After reading the Bible in his hotel room he became a Christian and soon moved away from his dancehall songs to work in gospel reggae.<ref name="Dawes" /> Although he completed a further album in the dancehall style (''Raw Episode''), he refused to promote it, and spent a period away from music, studying the Bible.<ref name="Dawes" /> His first album in the gospel reggae style was ''To God Be the Glory'', released in 1999, with further albums following in a similar style. In 2002, he won the 'Outstanding Male Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year' award at Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards.<ref name="DMV" /> He has performed at several festivals since adopting gospel, on occasions giving Bible teachings to other performers.<ref name="Dawes" /><ref name="Evans">Evans, Teino (2004) "[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040729/ent/ent2.html Stitchie blesses artistes backstage at Sumfest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008052306/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040729/ent/ent2.html |date= 8 October 2012 }}", ''[[Jamaica Gleaner]]'', 29 July 2004, retrieved 7 July 2011</ref>
In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[Cornerstone Christian University]] in [[Orlando, Florida]], in recognition of his contribution to gospel reggae music. He was officially inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame on 17 January 2016, by The Jamaica GHF president and Founder Bishop Dr. J.O Baker in Kingston, Jamaica.<ref name="Brooks">Brooks, Sadeke (2012) "[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120603/ent/ent2.html Stitchie Does It Again]", ''[[Jamaica Gleaner]]'', 3 June 2012, retrieved 3 June 2012</ref> In 2014 his autobiography, ''The Power of Determination'', was published.<ref>"[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Power-of-Determination_15748805 Power of Determination: Reggae gospel act drop autobiography]", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014</ref>
In 2021, he was honoured in the National Honours and Awards on Jamaica's 59th Anniversary of Independence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Honours in order Ernest Ranglin, Aston Barrett, Lt Stitchie, The Mighty Diamonds to receive national awards |url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20210808/honours-order |website=Jamaica Gleaner |date=8 August 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>
==Discography== *''Great Ambition'' (1987), [[King Jammy|Jammy's]] *''The Governor'' (1989), [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] *''Wild Jamaican Romances'' (1991), Atlantic *''Rude Boy'' (1993), Atlantic *''Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie and Beenie Man'' (1995), [[VP Records|VP]] – with [[Mad Cobra]] and [[Beenie Man]] *''Gangsta'' (1995), VP *''Bangarang'' (1995), [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]] *''Raw Episode'' (1999), Ernie B *''To God Be The Glory'' (1999), *''Ghetto Soldier'' (2000), [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]] *''Real Power'' (2000), *''Kingdom Ambassador'' (2004), Drum & Bass *''Real Life Story'' (2007), Drum & Bass *''Real Power'' (2007), Drum & Bass *''Serious Message'' (2010), Burnside *''Warrior'' (2015), Earlydays Records *''Masterclass'' (2019), XRAY Productions
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.kingstitchie.com/}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stitchie, Lieutenant}} [[Category:Jamaican reggae singers]] [[Category:Jamaican gospel singers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Atlantic Records artists]] [[Category:People from Spanish Town]] [[Category:Musicians from Saint Catherine Parish]] [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:VP Records artists]]