Wayne Lewis, vocalist, keyboardist, and co-founder of the legendary band Atlantic Starr, has passed away, Soul Tracks reported. He was 68.
Lewis’ passing was confirmed by a post from Atlantic Starr’s Instagram that paid tribute to him as a writer, singer, and producer of some of the band’s biggest songs.
“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025. Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.” the post read.
Founded in White Plains, New York, in 1976 as Newban, the band consisted of brothers Wayne, David, and Jonathan Lewis, lead singer Sharon Bryant, and musicians Cliff Archer, Porter Carroll, Joseph Phillips, Damon Rentie, and William Sudderth. Eventually, the band changed its name to Atlantic Starr in 1976 after signing with A&M Records.
In 1978, they released their self-titled debut album, which included their fist hit “Stand Up.” Changing their sound from funk to contemporary R&B, the band released Radiant (1981), featuring classics such as “When Love Calls” and “Send For Me,” and Brilliance (1982), which included “Circles.”
After several band members left the band in 1984, including lead singer Sharon Bryant, the group recruited Barbara Weathers and went on to achieve their greatest mainstream success. In 1985, their album As the Band Turns featured the smash ballad “Secret Lovers,” which went to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. They followed up in 1987, after signing with Warner Bros., All in the Name of Love, which featured their first pop number one hit, “Always.”
Throughout the 90s, the band scored hits with “Masterpiece” (Number 3 on the Pop Chart in 1992 and their last major album release was “I Remember You” in 1994.
As the years went on, the group featured several more female lead singers, with Wayne and Jonathan Lewis being the constant presence in the band.
In 2017, the town of Greenburgh honored Atlantic Starr with a street renaming. A section of Old Tarrytown Road, at the intersection with Hillside Avenue, was designated as “Atlantic Starr Way.”