Winston Sparks (aka King Stitt) passed away yesterday in Jamaica, after a long two front battle against prostate cancer and diabetes.  Stitt was 72 years old, and was Jamaica's oldest living DJ.  He began his career in the mid '50's, being inspired by the deejays he heard on the radio that was picked up on the airwaves all the way from New Orleans.

King Stitt is credited as one of the earliest performers to "toast", or talk and rhyme over the records he would play at mobile sound systems.  He was easily recognizable around Kingston due to his deformed face and missing teeth, but never let that slow him down.   In fact, it was actually his dancing which got him noticed by famed MC, Count Machuki, who was so impressed with Stitt's footwork that he asked him onstage and handed him the mic, knowing that if he moved that good, he had to have more amazing things in store.

As a kid, Winston was given the nickname 'Stitt'.  After he found his voice toasting, he branded himself as 'King Stitt', king of the deejays.  He had a few hit singles ("Fire Corner", "Lee van Cleef") and was well known for his work with Studio One head, Clement Dodd.

Watch a clip of Stitt in action below, and notice his true DJ style...

Especial King Stitt #03

As primeiras gravações de King Stitt foram lançadas pelo produtor Clancy Eccles. São tunes clássicos do estilo deejay.

Acima: FIRE CORNER