Songwriter-producer David Foster receives the 2,499th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MAY 31, 2013) (REUTERS) -  Songwriter and producer David Foster received the 2,499th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (May 31). Foster's career, which has spanned four decades, involved him working with some of the industry's biggest names and earned him 16 Grammy Awards.

"The entire world knows Hollywood is the place where dreams come true and today you certainly made mine come true," he said.

The Canadian-born Foster has created hit songs and award-winning gold and platinum albums for such artists as Earth, Wind & Fire, Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal,Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Brandy, 'N Sync, and Gloria Estefan.

He has also worked with Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Stevie Wonder, and Foster is credited with playing key roles in the discovery and career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Michael Buble.

At the Walk of Fame ceremony, Foster said his father wished him well when he decided to enter the music industry.

"I tried to come into the house quietly at about 4 a.m., my father was up waiting for me. I was prepared for the worst, but instead of reading me the riot act, he calmly asked, 'So David, so you really think you can make it a go at the music thing?' 'Yes,' I said. 'Of Course.' Well he said, 'I hear it's a tough business but I really believe you can do it.' My dad was absolutely right about the business challenges, but his vote of confidence meant everything to me and it was actually the only adult conversation I ever had with my father and he died about two months later on May 31st. So as I said, it's a reflective day."

Foster's 16 Grammys include three for producer of the year, in 1984, 1991 and 1993. He received a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for outstanding music and lyrics for the song "Aren't They All Our Children" for "The Concert for World Children's Day," which aired on U.S. network ABC.