Martha Reeves, a Grammy and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, began her musical career in Detroit and rose to prominence in Hollywood six decades later.
At 82, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, flanked by music giants such as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Motown creator Berry Gordy.
During the ceremony, Reeves looked stunning in a strapless white dress with a shiny gold art deco motif, as reported by Daily Mail. The music diva looked stunning for her Hollywood Walk of Fame event, wearing layers of gold jewelry and a wide-brimmed hat inspired by flower petals.
Following a nomination by her old manager, Reeves successfully raised over $50,000 just in time for the star ceremony.
She thanked her fans on Facebook last week for their support. In her message, she stated, “I want to thank everyone who gave and helped spread the word. “It has meant so much.”
“A special thank you to my manager Chris Roe at Chris Roe Management for making it all happen,” she said in a statement. “Today is a beautiful day.”
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were a successful Motown group in the 1960s, with hits such as “Quicksand,” “Nowhere to Run,” and “Dancing in the Street.”
Gordy, 94, who signed the trio to his Motown label in 1962, gave a touching address at the ceremony, referring to their legendary tunes.
“She’s raw and real. Despite her sass, she maintains a high level of elegance. And when she did her thing, there was literally nowhere to escape or hide,” Gordy added.
He went on to say, “She and the Vandellas sparked a global heatwave, and everyone was dancing in the street. I am talking about the one and only Martha Reeves.”
At the Hollywood Walk of Fame event, Robinson, 84, praised Reeves as “one of our profound acts,” who helped place Motown on the global map with her music.
“I’m so happy and so proud to be here today and to see another one of our Motown family members have a star on the Walk of Fame,” he told the crowd.
“We had so many beautiful, talented people there, and many of them are taking this walk. “And Martha, it’s about time you came here,” Robinson continued. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
When Wonder, 73, recounted a personal narrative about his meeting with Reeves, he effectively ended the moment.
“We are living in serious times throughout the world, as were we then back in the 60s when I was 11 years old, coming to Motown,” he went on to say. “And one of the first individuals I got to meet was Martha.
“Martha would listen to half-finished songs I had written. “She would prevent me from eating too much candy from the candy machine,” Wonder continued. “And she would encourage me to continue to write and to study.”
Wonder went on to say, “She inspired me to sing and be kind to others.”