4 More Legends Added to Bronx Week’s Walk of Fame

4 More Legends Added to Bronx Week’s Walk of Fame
by David Greene

Ten days of Bronx Week festivities that kicked off on May 11 has culminated with four former Bronxites who were immortalized along the Bronx Walk of Fame on the Grand Concourse.

Medical inventor Dr. Manny Villafana, actress Selenis Leyva, Hip-Hop pioneer Funkmaster Flex and rising Latin music sensation Prince Royce, were all honored during a ceremony at the Bronx County Courthouse on Sunday, May 21.

Actress Selenis Leyva speaks to a crowd about dreaming about being a performer as a kid from the Bronx.–Photo by David Greene

Dr. Villafana thanked officials from the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, whom he stated, “They took me in and taught me a lot.” Villafana added, “The Bronx is a great place to grow up and there’s challenges, but we’re working on it.”

Joined by her mother and father Leyva, who currently stars in the hit television shot, “Orange is the New Black” told a crowd including a group of young dancers from Kips Bay, “My heart overflows today and seeing these kids, doing what they do, I was once that kid with a dream, with the idea of making it in the arts.”

Under heavy police protection, Latin music star Prince Royce poises for a photo with a fan outside the Bronx County Courthouse.–Photo by David Greene

Apparently a fan, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark bolted in the direction of music legend Funkmaster Flex, as the two shared a brief laugh together.

But the large crowd of teenage girls was up early on a Sunday morning to see Prince Royce, Kayla Brun of Manhattan explained, “He’s from the Bronx. He is my babe… in my imagination. It’s great that he’s here.”