Martha Reeves
Summary
Performer Martha Reeves was honored on March 27, with the 2,776th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
WHO | HONOREE Martha Reeves
GUEST SPEAKERS Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Stevie Wonder
EMCEE Angelique Jackson, Variety Senior Entertainment Correspondent
WHAT Dedication of the 2,776thth star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WHEN Wednesday, March 27, at 11:30 AM PT
WHERE 7080 Hollywood Boulevard
WATCH LIVE The event was live streamed exclusively at walkoffame.com
Performer Martha Reeves was honored on March 27, with the 2,776th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was unveiled at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard. Reeves was awarded her star in the category of Recording. Speakers joining emcee Angelique Jackson were Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Stevie Wonder.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted globally iconic ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.
ABOUT OUR HONOREE
“We are very proud to honor Martha Reeves with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is wonderful to see that her legacy and contributions to the music world will be recognized” stated Walk of Fame Producer, Ana Martinez. “Being a Motown great, it is fitting that her star will be on the strip where many iconic Motown acts such as: The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and The Miracles have also been honored with their own stars!” added Martinez.
Martha Reeves has made her imprint in the history books and in pop culture for her string of hit Motown songs in the 1960’s and early 1970’s including such hits as “Dancing in the Street,” “My Baby Loves Me”, “Come and Get These Memories”, “Nowhere to Run”, “Quick Sand”, “(Love is Like a) Heatwave,” “Jimmy Mack” and “Bless You,” Martha was front and center as the lead singer of the legendary Motown girl group, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Martha recorded as a solo artist releasing a handful of critically acclaimed albums on the MCA, Fantasy, Phonarama and ARISTA labels. Her first solo album in 1974, the self-titled classic was produced by legendary record producer, Richard Perry.
While born in Alabama, Reeves moved to Detroit with her family as a baby and has become a fixture in the Motor City. She even served as an elected councilwoman for the city from 2005 to 2009. In 2007 she fought to rename the road in front of Hitsville USA on West Grand Blvd. (Now the Motown Museum) Berry Gordy Jr. Boulevard after Motown’s founder.
Martha continues to perform concerts and club dates both solo and with the Vandellas (currently her sisters, Lois and Delphine). Martha and the Vandellas were Grammy nominated in 1964 for Best R&B Performance for their hit, “Heat Wave”. In 1999, “Dancing in the Street” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and is also the recipient of the Dinah Washington Award, a Rhythm n’ Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, a Black Woman in Publishing Legends Award, and has been inducted in the Alabama Soul, Rock and Roll and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas are listed among Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Immortal Artists of all time.
2023 marked Martha’s 60th anniversary of her first two albums with Motown both from 1963, “Come and Get These Memories” and “Heat Wave”.
Reeves has been actively involved in charity work with the Shriners and Boys Town, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive impact on the community through her philanthropic endeavors.