Legendary Motown singer Martha Reeves asks fans to help raise $55K for her Hollywood Walk of Fame star before the June deadline closes: ‘We’re down to the wire’

Legendary Motown singer Martha Reeves is facing an uphill battle to secure her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

The 81-year-old Heatwave singer – who was a rival of fellow Motown icon Diana Ross – must raise $55K to secure her major career milestone, as the prestigious plaques don’t come cheap. 

According to the Detroit Free Press, Martha could not afford to fund the costly honor herself – an expense which is usually covered by the star’s record label or a major Hollywood studio. 

The Vandellas frontwoman was selected to receive a star in 2021, but her former manager allegedly dropped the ball when it came to securing the money and ultimately ‘wasted a year of fundraising.’

Now the Nowhere to Run hitmaker and her new manager are hoping that fans can help them make up for lost time by donating to the cause.  

Legend: The Vandellas frontwoman must raise $55K to secure her major career milestone, as the prestigious plaques don’t come cheap. Reeves (middle left) pictured with her Vandellas sidekicks Rosalind Ashford (bottom) and Betty Kelly (top) in their ’60s heyday

Speaking to the Detroit Free Press, Martha’s new manager, Chris Roe, said, ‘Martha’s former representation got in over their heads on this. They didn’t realize how hard it would be and wasted a year of fundraising time. Now we’re down to the wire.’

Roe has mounted a robust fundraising campaign, working with corporations and private donors to help put Reeves over the top before June.  

Urging the public to donate, the veteran talent agent said, ‘It doesn’t take much to make a huge impact. Doing without three or four Starbucks coffees for a week is a pretty nice contribution. A donation of $25 goes a long way.’

When Reeves was selected to receive a star in 2021, she couldn’t have been more thrilled by the honor and declared that her ‘wildest dreams are coming true.’

Her new manager echoed this sentiment to the Detroit Free Press, telling the publication, ‘This honor bestowed upon Martha has meant a lot.

‘That star is there for generations to come, and Motown will always be stitched into the fabric of our society. So, it’s a great accomplishment. Martha is very deserving, and I’m happy to take her across the finish line.’

Martha and her manager are also seeking an additional $25K in donations to pay for travel, hotel accommodations, and a reception to follow the ceremony, bringing the grand total of their target sum to a whopping $80K.

The pair are aiming to hold the ceremony in the latter half of this year, as 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Martha’s first album with Motown, Come Get These Memories.

Pricey and prestigious: According to the Detroit Free Press, Martha could not afford to fund the costly honor herself – an expense which is usually covered by the star’s record label or a major Hollywood studio

Wasted time: The Heatwave hitmaker (center) was selected to receive a star in 2021, but her former manager allegedly dropped the ball when it came to securing the money and ultimately ‘wasted a year of fundraising’

Giving it their all: The Nowhere to Run hitmaker and her new manager are hoping that fans can help them make up for lost time by donating to the cause

Expensive: Martha and her manager are also seeking an additional $25K in donations to pay for travel, hotel accommodations, and a reception to follow the ceremony, bringing the grand total of their target sum to a whopping $80K

Icon: As the lead singer of Martha and The Vandellas, Reeves racked up over a dozen hit songs including Quicksand, Jimmy Mack, I’m Ready for Love, and Dancing in the Street

As the lead singer of Martha and The Vandellas, Reeves racked up over a dozen hit songs including Quicksand, Jimmy Mack, I’m Ready for Love, and Dancing in the Street. 

Alongside past members Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford, Lois Reeves and Betty Kelly, Martha was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Reeves began her career as a struggling club singer and eventually broke into Motown as a secretary.

It wasn’t long before Martha’s incredible vocals took her away from reception and into the recording studio, where she became one of the figureheads of Sixties soul.