Wayne Lewis, Atlantic Starr singer and founder, dead at 68
Wayne Lewis, a singer and founding member of the R&B band Atlantic Starr, has died. He was 68.
The group shared the news of Lewis' death in a statement on Facebook Friday.
'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 there privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne,' the band wrote.
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9 Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr performs in Mableton, Georgia in July 2023.
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A cause of death was not revealed.
Fans paid tribute to the legendary singer in the comments section of the post.
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'Nooooo I am devastated seeing this. My condolences to all family and friends,' one fan wrote.
9 Wayne Lewis performs at the Park West Theater in Chicago in 1983.
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9 David Lewis, Jonathan Lewis, John Phillips, Wayne Lewis and Sharon Bryant of Atlantic Starr pose for a group portrait in 1983.
Ron Wolfson/Michael'A great songwriter. Atlantic Starr was better once he became leader. He will be missed,' another fan said.
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Someone else commented, 'RIP BROTHER…The voice of a generation!!!!My condolences to the family.'
'I had the pleasure of meeting him last September, what an amazing soul. Rest in peace ,' said a fourth fan.
9 Wayne Lewis performs onstage during An Evening Of Funk at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in 2021.
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Atlantic Starr was founded in White Plains, New York in 1976 by Lewis, his brothers David and Jonathan, and drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillip.
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Other early members included lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth III, and saxophonist Damon Rentie. Bryant and Rentie were later replaced by Barbara Weathers and Koran Daniels, respectively.
9 David Lewis, Barbara Weathers and Wayne Lewis perform in Chicago in 1987.
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9 Wayne Lewis performs in Chicago in 1986.
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9 The members of Atlantic Starr at their Gold Record presentation in 1985.
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The group released their self-titled debut album in 1978 with hits including 'Stand Up,' 'Keep It Comin,'' '(I'll Never Miss) The Love I Never Had' and 'With Your Love I Come Alive.'
Over the next 15 years, Atlantic Starr put out more popular songs including 'Circles,' 'Secret Lovers,' 'Silver Shadow,' 'Masterpiece' and 'Always,' which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Black Singles charts, becoming the band's only number one song.
9 L'john Epps, Melissa Pierce, and Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr perform in Mableton, Georgia in Aug. 2021.
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The group was initially signed to A&M before moving over to Warner Bros. Records. After their relationship with Warner Bros. dissolved in the early 1990s, they began working with multiple record labels including Reprise and Arista. They released their latest album 2017's 'Metamorphosis,' with Metamorphous, LLC.
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9 David Lewis, Wayne Lewis and Barbara Weathers of Atlantic Starr perform at the Arie Crown Theater in October 1987.
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Outside of music, Atlantic Starr appeared as themselves on a 1992 episode of the daytime soap opera 'Another World.' They performed at local nightspot Sassy's during the episode.
Lewis was among the band's current lineup, alongside his brother Jonathan, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter.
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