Lieutenant Stitchie, the Jamaican dancehall icon Cleveland Laing, died on September 28, 2026, at the age of 60. His death was confirmed by family members late Tuesday. Known for his influence in dancehall music, he spent decades building a career that stretched from the late 1970s into this year.
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Laing rose to prominence in the early dancehall scene in the 1980s. His stage name, Lieutenant Stitchie, became synonymous with a gritty, energetic style that pushed the genre forward.