Jah Stitch (born Melbourne James, 27 July 1949 – 28 April 2019) was a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile D ...

best known for his recordings in the 1970s.

Biography

After an introduction to music singing in a yard with the likes of

The Wailers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

The Heptones The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady into ...

, Roy Shirley, and Stranger Cole, James became well known in Jamaica by deejaying with the ''Lord Tippertone'' and ''Black Harmony'' sound systems, working as Jah Stitch.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, His debut single was the

Errol Holt Errol Holt (born 19 July 1950), also known as Errol Carter and by his nickname Flabba, is a Jamaican bass guitar player and a singer who was a member of The Morwells and the Roots Radics and has played on hundreds of Jamaican albums. Biography ...

-produced "Danger Zone". Big Youth was an early influence on Stitch's deejay style and he had several hits working with producer

Bunny Lee Edward O'Sullivan Lee OD (23 August 1941 – 6 October 2020), better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee, was a Jamaican record producer. He was known as a pioneer of the United Kingdom reggae market, licensing his productions to Trojan Records i ...

, with deejay versions of songs by

Johnny Clarke Johnny Clarke (born 12 January 1955) is a Jamaican reggae musician, best known for his recordings with producer Bunny Lee in the 1970s. Biography Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town and attended Jamaica College.Yabby You Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work. Biography Jac ...

. Shortly before the ''

One Love Peace Concert The One Love Concert (OLPC) was a large concert held on 22 April 1978 at The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. This concert was held during a political civil war in Jamaica between opposing parties Jamaican Labour Party and the People's ...

'' in 1976, Stitch survived being shot, providing the inspiration for "No Dread Can't Dead". His success in Jamaica continued and in 1977 he toured the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. In the mid-1980s, he worked as a

selector Selector may refer to: *Selector, electrical or mechanical component, a switch *''Selector'', music scheduling software for radio stations created by Radio Computing Services *Selector, of music, otherwise known as a disc jockey *Selector, a per ...

Sugar Minott Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott (25 May 1956 – 10 July 2010)Campbell, Howard (2010)Reggae singer Sugar Minott dies at 54, Associated Press, 11 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010Peru, Yasmine (2010)Godfather of Dancehall, Sugar Minott, dead at ...

's ''Youth Promotion'' sound system, now under the name Major Stitch.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.", Rough Guides, He resumed his recording career in 1995, working with Trevor Douglas and

Jah Woosh Neville Beckford (1952 – 21 February 2011), better known as Jah Woosh, was a Jamaican reggae deejay and record producer, primarily known for his work in the 1970s. Biography Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Beckford served an apprenticeship as a m ...

. His peak 1970s output for Bunny Lee and Yabby You was collected in 1996 by Blood and Fire on the ''Original Ragga Muffin (1975–77)'' compilation. He died on 28 April 2019, aged 69.

Albums

Studio albums

*''No Dread Can't Dead'' (1976) Third World *''Watch Your Step Youthman'' (1977) Third World *''Straight to Babylon Chest'' (1979) (with

Prince Jazzbo Linval Roy Carter (3 September 1951 – 11 September 2013), better known as Prince Jazzbo, was a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay and producer. Career Born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, and raised in Kingston, Linval Roy Carter (who wou ...

) *''Moving Away'' (1979) Live & Love *''Jah Woosh Meets Jah Stitch at Leggo Sounds'' (1995) Leggo

Compilations

*''Original Ragga Muffin (1975–77)'' (1996) Blood and Fire *''The Killer'' (1999)

Culture Press Culture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. LP Discography *VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews *VSLP5001 - Clint Eastwood - The Best Of Clint Eastwood - 1984 *VSLP5002 - Dillinger - Blackboard Jungle - ...

*''Love & Harmony'' Rhino (with Jackie Mittoo) *''Dread Inna Jamdown'' (2007) Jamaican Recordings *''Anthology 1969-1990'' (2012), Attack

References

External links

Jah Stitch at Roots Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stitch, Jah 1949 births 2019 deaths Jamaican reggae musicians Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica