Mikky Ekko

The Nashville songwriter who co-wrote and sang on Rihanna's global hit "Stay".

Mikky Ekko is an American singer, songwriter and record producer from Nashville who co-wrote and was featured on Rihanna's 2013 single "Stay". The song charted in multiple countries, becoming his first-charting material. It gave Ekko his first entry on the UK Singles Chart, charting at number four, and on the US Billboard Hot 100 at three. The song charted in the top five of 19 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. It has sold an approximate 10 million copies globally, making it his best selling single.

Quick Facts

Birth name

John Stephen Sudduth

Birthplace

Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Occupation

Singer
songwriter
record producer

Years active

2008–present

Label

RCA; Interscope

Lore & Background

In November 2012, Ekko was featured on Rihanna's seventh studio album Unapologetic on the track "Stay", which became a single in 2013. The song was originally written by Ekko and English songwriter Justin Parker. Ekko performed "Stay" together with Rihanna for the first time at the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013. Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times positively reviewed the performance and wrote that it was the most memorable moment of the night. The song charted in the top five of 19 countries and has sold approximately 10 million copies globally.

Reader's Guide

The collaboration emerged when Ekko co-wrote "Stay" with English songwriter Justin Parker. Rihanna included the track on her seventh studio album Unapologetic, released in November 2012, and it became a single in 2013. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song has sold approximately 10 million copies globally. Ekko performed the song live with Rihanna for the first time at the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013, a performance that Los Angeles Times critic Mikael Wood called the most memorable moment of the night.