Jah Stitch was born Melbourne James in Kingston, Jamaica. He honed his vocal skills in the same singing yard as Roy Shirley, Stranger Cole, & The Heptones. Together with a friend called Finger he started the Fingertone Sound System. That Sound would later evolve to Lord Tippertone Sound System. Around this time Jah Stitch met Bunny Lee. They started a musical & personal friendship. Stitch's first release however was produced by Errol Holt as the single “Danger Zone Chapter 3“. Jah Stitch soon left Tippertone. He joined Black Harmony Sound which resulted in the shooting of Stitch outside of Bob Marleys shop in Kingston’s Beeston Street. This incident would lead to Jah Stitch reinventing his deejay style. He cut “No Dread Can't Dead” where he had an almost spoken delivery.
In the 80s he changed his name to Major Stitch. He also joined Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion focusing on Selecting for the Sound as well as supervising the cutting of dubplates. He was responsible for the first recording efforts of Yami Bolo, Nitty Gritty, Pinchers, & Tenor Saw.
Jah Stitch died April 28, 2019.
Dread inna Jamdown was recorded in the late 70s at Harry J's, Randy's Studio 17 & Channel 1 in Kingston, Jamaica. Musicians involved include: Earl 'Chinna' Smith & Tony Chin - guitars; Winston Wright - organ; Aston 'Family Man' Barrett & Robbie Shakespeare - bass; Carlton 'Santa' Davis, Carlton Barrett, & SlyDunbar - drums; Tommy McCook & Lennox Brown - saxophone; Vin Gordon - trombone; & Bobby Ellis - trumpet...all cream of the crop. The best by any test.
Dread inna Jamdown
Dem Seek Natty Everywhere
Make a Joyful Noise
Serious Thing
The Best by Any Test
Natty Dread Skanking
From Dusk to Dawn
Hold on Tight
Love for Everyone
Rock to the Beat
Natty Going on So
Live Together in Harmony
Tune into Jumpers
Channel 1 Lesson
Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ
Dread inna Jamdown
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