IT was smooth sailing for reggae singer Richie Stephens this year. There was hardly a break for the entertainer as he toured US and Europe consistently with his Ska Nation band. The singer also gave his local fans a treat as he brought the house down at Reggae Sumfest held in Montego Bay, St James in July.
However, two of his most significant moments were when he was honoured on separate occasions at the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards.
In May, he received a pop award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, California, Hollywood.
The entertainer collected the award for Song of the Year and Digital Sales of the Year for his contribution to Rihanna’s Work. The track is among the top ASCAP songs on the 2016 year-end charts. Producers of Work sampled Stephens 1998 Sail Away rhythm, which was released by his Pot of Gold label. It earned him writing credits for the song which topped the Billboard Singles chart in the United States.
“I have been working hard for so long, and to be honored for work that was done 18 years ago is really encouraging. Rihanna’s songs is one of the most played song last year and a gesture such as this encourages me to keep going,” he told Jamaica Observer.
Five months later, Stephens would jet off to England to collect two awards for the same single. This time time he copped the Song of the Year and Digital Sales of the Year Awards.
ASCAP is an American not-for-profit performance rights organisation that protects its members’ musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, including via a broadcast, and compensating them.
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