Hot like the sun

Dancehall / gospel DJ Stitchie is scorching hot these days. The release of his new song titled ‘Letter to Dad’ has got everyone talking. Long time fans who knew the Governor from back in the late 80’s and early 90’s when songs like ‘Wear Yuh Size’ and ‘Natty Dread’ were hot picks in the dancehall are now reminiscing over the Stitchie of old, while a whole new generation of youngsters are now turned on to the DJ and they are amazed at his musical genius and his ability to ride the riddim.

Since the release of ‘Letter To Dad,’ the respected minister of the gospel has been been in hot demand for radio, print and TV interviews, to speak about the song that has created a buzz in both secular and gospel music circles.

Stitchie has appeared on stations in Jamaica, Florida, New York and was the featured guest on the popular entertainment television show Onstage in Jamaica. He has also appeared at the JC Interschool Christian Fellowship; IRIE FM’s Health Fair at Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios; Lava Lounge (Jewel Resort, Portmore); True Light Worship Center in Pt. St. Lucie, Florida and Countyline Worship Center in south Florida. In February he was honored for his contribution to reggae by the Jamaica Reggae Music Industry Association (JaRIA) at the annual JaRIA Honor Awards.

To capatilize on his resurgence, Stitchie went back in studios recently to collaborate with Assassin, aka Agent Sasco. The two DJs recorded a hot new song at Penthouse Recording Studio that will be included on Stitchie’s album which will be released this summer.

It has been more than a decade since Stitchie last performed at a major outdoor festival in the tri-state area and he is primed and ready to ‘Bun it Dung’ at the annual Groovin’ In The Park concert at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. The festival is expected to hit a sizzling energy level when the dancehall pioneer takes the microphone and delivers what should be a blistering performance that will engage both the young and the old alike. Stitchie’s ability to interject humor and inspiring words of wisdom in his performance as he journeys back to old classics such as ‘Wear Yu Size,’ ‘Natty Dread,’ ‘Big Broad Hips,’ ‘Hello Carol,’ ‘Story Time’ and ‘Body Body’ is what will separate him from his peers.

“I was the first dancehall artiste to be signed to a major label which was Atlantic Records and also the first dancehall artiste to hit the Billboard charts with ‘Dress To Impress.’ In 1989, I was taking dancehall to Europe and explaining to people what dancehall was and also made it clear that the genre wasn’t a fad and was here to stay. Since I became a christian, I have been ministering to lost souls and expect to give fans a little of the old mixed with some new songs when I hit the Groovin stage in June,” the gospel DJ said.

Stitchie will share the stage at Groovin’ In The Park with Michael Bolton, Billy Ocean, Morgan Heritage, Cocoa Tea, Capleton and Luciano.

Presenting sponsor of Groovin’ In The Park 2015 is the Door Restaurant. Supporting sponsors include The Smoke House, TD Bank, SQPA, Nutrament, Caribbean Foods Delight Inc, BullZii Marketing, Groovin’ Radio, Laparkin Shipping, Tower Isle Patties and VP Records. Log on to www.groovininthepark.com or www.groovinradiony.com for concert information.