Teddy Riley Celebrated With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
On Friday (Aug. 16), producer Teddy Riley was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“I’m thrilled [about the honor], but it’s a calm, cool excitement because I’m afraid of anxiety,” Riley said, according to Variety. “I think, however, I’m going to be pretty emotional about my star the day-of.” Riley’s new star is located on Cahuenga and Hollywood boulevards.
The first person to speak and honor the famed producer during his celebration was R&B crooner Tank. The “Birthday” singer started his speech off by revealing that he was introduced to Teddy Riley when he was 12-years-old via Guy’s self-titled album.
“I proceeded to listen, to be inspired, to learn and understand what greatness and who God is because when he makes something and he has a divine purpose for it, and he wants it to be elevated to a place that very few men have ever been or have ever seen, he does it and he does it very well,” Tank said. “And he’s done that with Mr. Teddy Riley.”
When Riley, 52, took the microphone he thanked veterans in the music industry like Mike Concepcion and Clarence Avant for helping guide him throughout his career.
“Mike adopted me as a nephew…the one thing that I was able to do with that is make it into something where people can see us and me take someone as giant as him in the street world and bring into the music industry. We made success together,” Riley said.
Riley’s coveted honoring came decades following the launch of the Harlem native’s career. He highly contributed to the New Jack Swing era of the mid-80s and ’90s.
Riley is known for his R&B hits such as “I like,” “No Diggity,” and “Before I Let You Go.”
