Richie Stephens
Richie Stephens

Jamaican born crooner Richie Stephens will receive the biggest award of his career when he is honored at the 34th annual ASCAP POP MUSIC AWARDS.

Paul Williams, President of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in a letter to the singer said, “I am pleased to inform you that you will be honored at the 34th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards on Thursday, May 18th, at The Wiltern, in Los Angeles, for ‘Work’ (recorded by Rihanna), which is among the most performed ASCAP pop songs of 2016, we hope you will be able to join us as we celebrate you and your colleagues at what I’m sure will be an exciting evening.”

Rihanna
Rihanna

In was just over a year ago that Stephens got the news that his ‘Sail Away’ riddim, which was released in 1998 on his Pot of Gold label was sampled by pop singer Rihanna featuring Drake on the hit single ‘Work.’ Stephens was credited as co-writer of the song. ‘Work’ peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained there for nine weeks, becoming Rihanna’s fourteenth number-one single. The song was also #1 song in Canada, Brazil, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, it also made the top five on charts in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Richie Stephens
Richie Stephens

Stephens is scheduled to depart Kingston, for Los Angeles, in early May to attend the exclusive, invitation-only gala that celebrates the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed songs of the year. The event is expected to be attended by dozens of celebrities, music industry insiders and international media.

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