Jamaican musician Melbourne James, known as Jah Stitch, was born on July 27, 1949. He began his career singing in local groups alongside artists like The Wailers and The Heptones. His breakthrough came with the single "Danger Zone", produced by Errol Holt. In the mid-1970s, Jah Stitch gained prominence through collaborations with producer Bunny Lee and Yabby You, releasing hits such as "African Queen" and deejay versions of Johnny Clarke's songs. He survived a shooting incident in 1976, which inspired his album No Dread Can't Dead. In the mid-1980s, he worked as a selector for Sugar Minott’s Youth Promotion sound system under the name Major Stitch. Jah Stitch resumed recording in 1995 with Trevor Douglas and Jah Woosh. His 1970s output was compiled on Original Ragga Muffin (1975–77) (1996) by Blood and Fire. James passed away on April 28, 2019.
