Hollywood Walk of Fame acquires new star

Ricky Martin, surrounded by hundreds of shrieking female fans, saw himself immortalized in concrete with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Photo: Hollywood Walk of Fame acquires new star

"My work has been recognized. It will stay here forever, hopefully," Martin told The Associated Press after the ceremony. "I'm so motivated right now, we'll see where this takes me."

Hundreds of fans waving Puerto Rican flags and screaming "RICKY!" flocked to the ceremony for Puerto Rico's native son, who got his start in the 1980s with the Hispanic boy band Menudo.

Since then his swiveling hips and chart-topping hits have made him a pop music juggernaut throughout the world, and fans could not stop screaming his name as his star was unveiled.

"This is an incredible moment," Martin, wearing a striped shirt and dark suit and tie, told the crowd. "Everything I do, I do with love and passion."

Those at the ceremony included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and actress Rita Moreno, who praised Martin for his altruistic works.

"To speak of his talent, his accolades, his awards is redundant," Moreno said. "He has devoted part of his life, his talent, his resources, to helping needy children around the world."

Martin, 35, started the Ricky Martin Foundation to help children in need seven years ago and has spoken out against human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The Grammy-winning singer is one of Puerto Rico's top-selling artists, with hits like "She Bangs" and "Livin' La Vida Loca," the latter a No. 1 hit around the world.

Known for his charisma on stage, Martin has sold more than 60 million albums as a solo artist.

Martin was nominated this year for four Latin Grammy awards, including best album, best male pop vocal and best long video for his "MTV Unplugged" album and record of the year for "Tu Recuerdo" ("Your Memory").

He won a Grammy award in 1998 for best Latin pop performance.

More than 65 Hispanic celebrities, including Pedro Infante, Cantinflas and fellow singer Julio Iglesias, have stars on the Walk of Fame.

Martin's star, the 2,351st awarded, was placed outside the Virgin Megastore at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.