Born on 21 June, 1946 in Christiana, Manchester, Jamaica. He grew up in Trenchtown before emigrating to England aged 17 where he joined the Vibrations and then he formed Youth And Rudie And The Shell Shock, with which he performed until launching his solo career, as The Youth, in 1966.
He became known as Ijahman whilst encompassing spiritual pursuits in prison from 1972 to 1974 and then returning to Jamaica where he recorded the album Haile I Hymn (Chapter 1) which was released to great critical acclaim.
As well as pursuing a solo career he scored a No.1 UK hit in 1985 with his wife Madge Sutherland singing ’I Do’ as ’Ijahman and Madge’.
He is generally credited as T. Sutherland for songwriting credits.