Teddy Riley has two Grammys, an NAACP Image Award, and now a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The legendary recording artist and producer’s star was unveiled Friday, Aug. 16, on Hollywood Boulevard.
Riley’s fans, family members and friends filled the sidewalk during the ceremony. Among those attending were his mom, his children, music executive Andre Harrell and singer-songwriter Tank.
As the massive crowd looked on, Riley thanked the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for giving him its 2,670th star.
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The New York native then recalled his first visit to Los Angeles in 1988. Before deciding to pursue music, he said he was in and out of trouble. It was his mom, Mildred Riley, who insisted he get his life together.
“It’s all because of her,” Riley, 51, said as he pointed to his mother in the audience.
“When I didn’t do the right thing, she was picking me up from the precinct,” he explained. “When I was in trouble, she was there. She was also there when I was at my lowest. She was the one who said ‘if you don’t leave, you’re not going to get anywhere.'”
Riley is credited with introducing a new sound that became known as “New Jack Swing” in the 1980s.
He helped found the R&B groups Guy and Blackstreet — crafting a string of hits for Guy, including “Groove Me,” “Let’s Chill,” “I Like” and “Teddy’s Jam.” Among Blackstreet’s hits were “Booti Call,” “No Diggity,” “Before I Let You Go,” and “Don’t Leave Me.”
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Riley also helped make hits for other artists. His credits include composing, producing or writing such fan favorites as “Just Got Paid” for Johnny Kemp, Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative,” and “The Kissing Game” for Hi-Five.
He won his first Grammy in the best engineered album, non-classical category for Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” in 1992, according to Grammy.com. Five years later, he picked up a second Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal for “No Diggity” by Blackstreet. His other honors include an Image Award for the Soul Food album.
Riley told the crowd along Hollywood Boulevard he’s not done, and teased upcoming projects in the film industry.
“I look forward to sharing with y’all our new walk,” he said.
Riley was born in 1967, and raised in a housing project in Harlem. He started playing musical instruments in church, and began working with New York rappers at age 14.
His star ceremony streamed live. Check out the video of Teddy Riley getting a star below.
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