ALTHOUGH his name may not appear on the credits of Rihanna’s hit single Work, Richie Stephens will be recognised for his contribution to the song.

The occasion will be at the 34th annual ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Pop Music Awards at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, May 18.

“Monte Moir is also a writer, but I played live on the track. I am the musician on the track and this is why I am being honoured by ASCAP,” Stephens told Jamaica Observer yesterday.

J Braithwaite, Matthew “Boi-1Da” Samuels, A Ritter, R Thomas, A Graham, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, and Monte Moir are credited on Work, which appears on the album ANTI. According to Rihanna’s website, it contains an interpolation of American R&B singer Alexander O’Neal’s If You Were Here Tonight written by Moir.

Initially Work credited Stephens (real name Richard Stephenson) for sampling his 1998 the Sail Away rhythm.

Stephens said however, he is overwhelmed by the recognition.

“This is definitely great news. I have been working hard for so long and to be honoured for work that was done 18 years ago is really encouraging. Rihanna’s song is one of the most played song last year and a gesture such as this encourages me to keep going,” he said.

Stephens received the news via a letter from Paul Williams, president of ASCAP.

“I am pleased to inform that you will be honoured at the 34th annual ASCAP Pop Awards on Thursday, May 18, at The Wiltern in Los Angeles for Work (recorded by Rihanna) which was among the most performed ASCAP Pop songs of 2016,” said Williams in a published release.

Work is the first chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 for Jamaican-born, Canada-based co-producer Samuels and the 14th for Barbadian Rihanna.

ASCAP is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organisation (PRO) that protects its members’ musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, including via a broadcast, and compensating them.