Martha Reeves has secured a permanent place in Hollywood more than 60 years after finding fame in the Detroit music scene.
The 82-year-old Grammy and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member celebrated her hard-earned star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday with a ceremony attended by Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Motown founder Berry Gordy.
She put on a dazzling display in a strapless white dress covered in a metallic gold art deco print.
Reeves accessorized with layers of gold jewelry and a matching wide-brimmed hat shaped like flower petals.
After her former manager nominated her, Reeves managed to crowdfund more than $50,000 just in time for her star ceremony.
Martha Reeves celebrated her hard-earned star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday
The ceremony was attended by Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and other Motown stars.
Lead vocalist of Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, the group found success with Motown in the ’60s, releasing hits such as ‘Quicksand,’ ‘Nowhere to Run,’ and ‘Dancing in the Street.’
After her former manager nominated her, Reeves managed to crowdfund more than $50,000 just in time for her star ceremony.
she took Facebook last week to thank his fans for their support. ‘I want to thank everyone who donated and helped spread the word. “It has meant a lot,” Reeves wrote.
“A special thanks to my manager Chris Roe at Chris Roe Management for making all of this happen,” he added. ‘Today is a beautiful day.’
Lead vocalist for Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The group found success with Motown in the ’60s, releasing hits like ‘Quicksand,’ ‘Nowhere to Run,’ and ‘Dancing in the Street.’
Gordy, 94, who signed the group to his Motown label in 1962, gave a sweet speech referencing their hits.
‘She’s raw and she’s real. She may be bold, but always classy. And when she did her thing, there was really nowhere to run and nowhere to hide,’ Gordy said.
He continued: “She and the Vandellas caused a heat wave that was felt around the world and everyone was dancing in the street. I’m talking about the one and only Martha Reeves.
Robinson, 84, credited Reeves with “one of our most profound acts,” noting that his work “helps put Motown on the map around the world.”
“I’m very happy and very proud to be here today and see another member of our Motown family have a star on the Walk of Fame,” he said.
‘We had so many wonderful, talented people there, and many of them are on this path. “And Martha, it’s about time you were here,” Robinson added. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Reeves took to Facebook last week to thank his fans for their support. “It has meant a lot,” she wrote.
Reeves put on a dazzling display in a strapless white dress covered in a metallic gold art deco print. He accessorized with layers of gold jewelry and a matching wide-brimmed hat shaped like flower petals.
Reeves was honored onstage with tributes from Wonder, Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Gordy, 94, who signed the group to his Motown label in 1962, gave a sweet speech referencing their hits.
Robinson, 84, credited Reeves with “one of our most profound acts,” noting that his work “helps put Motown on the map around the world.”
Wonder, 73, concluded the speeches with “a serious moment” as he recounted how he met Reeves.
Martha was also accompanied by her son Eric Reeves at Wednesday’s ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Wonder, 73, concluded the speeches with “a serious moment” as he recounted how he met Reeves.
“We live in serious times all over the world, like in the ’60s, when I was 11 and came to Motown,” he explained. ‘And one of the first people I got to meet was Martha.
‘Martha listened to the songs I wrote half-written. “She would stop me from eating too much candy from the candy machine,” Wonder added. And she encouraged me to continue writing and studying.
Wonder continued, “She motivated me to sing and be nice to people.”
Reeves’ full Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony is available to stream on Youtube.