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Charlie Wilson (silver jacket) and Snoop Dogg (blue hoodie): Award in Los Angeles
Photo: Valerie Macon / AFP
US singer Charlie Wilson has been honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. On the famous sidewalk in the heart of Hollywood, the R&B musician (“Outstanding,” “Yearning for Your Love”) unveiled his star plaque in front of cheering fans on his 71st birthday. Wilson was immortalized with the 2,770th star on the promenade. Rap greats like Snoop Dogg, Babyface, Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator paid him respect.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Wilson looked back 50 years to when he first recorded an album with his band, the soul group Gap Band, in Hollywood in 1974. The singer said he later lived as a drug and alcohol addict and homeless person on the streets of Hollywood. He then met an addiction counselor in a rehabilitation clinic and married. Thanks to the “love of my life,” he has now been free of addiction for 29 years.
This honor for Wilson is long overdue, said rapper and producer Babyface, 64, in a speech. The Grammy award winner and musician behind hits like "I'll Make Love to You" and "Whip Appeal" was honored with a star in 2013. Rapper and actor Snoop Dogg, 52, who unveiled his plaque on the Walk of Fame in 2018, praised Wilson as a man who meant “the world” to him. He loves his music and has also received a lot of personal support from him.
Wilson has released numerous solo albums, including “Forever Charlie” (2015) and “In It To Win It” (2017), and most recently the single “Superman” in December. He has worked with many stars including Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake.
wit/dpa