Stitchie

Cleveland Laing, known professionally as Stitchie, is a Jamaican gospel reggae artist who rose to fame as a dancehall musician before a life-changing conversion led him to a new career in Christian music. Born on September 29, 1965, in Jamaica, he worked as a biology and physical education teacher at Spanish Town School while beginning his early music career.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Laing gained prominence as a dancehall artist under the name Lieutenant Stitchie, releasing a string of popular singles and albums. His recorded work during this period included the single "Wear Yuh Size" (1986) and albums such as Great Ambition (1987), The Governor (1989), Wild Jamaican Romances (1991), and Rude Boy (1993). A serious car accident in 1997 marked a turning point, leading to his conversion to Christianity and a transition to gospel reggae music. Following this spiritual shift, he began performing under the shortened name Stitchie and released his first gospel album, To God Be the Glory, in 1999.

In 2012, Laing received an honorary doctorate from Cornerstone Christian University in recognition of his contributions to gospel reggae. He was honored with the Outstanding Male Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year award at the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards in 2002. In 2014, he published his autobiography, The Power of Determination. His lasting impact on the genre was further acknowledged when he was inducted into the Jamaican Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016.