Ringo Starr, centre, is surrounded by friends and family as he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Monday. From left: Ben Harper, Don Was, Starr, Joe Walsh and Starr's wife, Barbara Bach. (Phil McCarten/Reuters)

A star for former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday evening during a whimsical ceremony that also marked the 50th anniversary of groundbreaking on the sidewalk attraction.

Starr's name was the 2,401st to be unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"This is the start of the next 50 years of stars," he said outside the Capitol Records building. "I'm proud to be the first one."

The Walk of Fame also includes individual stars for the drummer's former Beatles bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison. Last month, rock legend Roy Orbison was honoured with a star.

"It's cool to get one at night," said Starr. "I don't know about you, but where I live, the stars come out at night."

The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.

'More than just a tourist attraction'

Those by Starr's side for the unveiling included actress-wife Barbara Bach, musicians Joe Walsh and Ben Harper, producer Don Was, director David Lynch and actor Noah Wyle.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame attracts an estimated 10 million visitors annually to the 18-block stretch lining Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce conceived the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1953 in an effort to return glamour to the decaying neighbourhood at time when the film and television industry was on the decline.

"We've seen positive changes," said Hollywood Chamber of Commerce senior vice-president Bill Farrar. "We've seen an increase in housing, the opening of many new businesses, the significant reduction of crime and the continual influx of visitors. This walk represents much, much more. This is more than just a tourist attraction and a monument to art."

The Hollywood Walk of Fame's anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year with a community festival in July and a gala in November in which every living celebrity who has received a star will be invited to attend.

Other celebrities due to receive stars this year include rockers ZZ Top, funnyman Adam Sandler and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.