Members of the musical fraternity gathered at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew on Saturday to bid farewell to veteran deejay Cleve Aman Laing, more popularly known as Lieutenant Stitchie.

Reggae artiste Tony Rebel, who was among the attendees, recalled his early years with Stitchie, describing his lyrical ability and the contribution he made to the music industry.

“Stitchie is an artist we rate from before we buss. We always see him at Stereo One, know say him lyrical bad, and when we buss, we have some youth where the whole of them used to go to Wolmer’s Prep and in the morning time when me and him buck up down there, it’s like we start to talk and them go in a class, and them come back home for break time at 11 and we still there to talk,” said Rebel.

He added that, “Lieutenant Stitchie has done his job. He has made a valuable contribution to the music industry, into the dancehall fraternity, and into the music in general, and to Jamaica. And then him transfer over to the Christian thing, and him never change. Rest in power, Lieutenant Stitchie. We love you”.

Dancehall DJ David ‘Wickerman’ Taylor described Stitchie as an artiste who was filled with humour and vibes.

“Them youth deh we rate them and respect them. Stitchie couldn’t pass and leave us, and we’re not here. We have to show him respect. Stitchie is really one of the big, big superstars,” he said.

(Video: Llewellyn Wynter)