Wayne Lewis, a founding member of R&B group Atlantic Starr, died Thursday, June 5. He was 68.
His death was confirmed by the band. “It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” the group posted on their official Facebook page Friday. “Please keep the family in your prayers and respect there privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Wayne Lewis, who served as a lead vocalist and keyboardist, and his brothers lead vocalist-guitarist David and trombonist-percussionist Jonathan formed the group in White Plains, New York in the late Seventies. The early core members included singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth, saxophonist Damon Rentie (Koran Daniels replaced Rentie in 1981), bassist Clifford Archer, drummer Porter Carroll Jr., and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips. Wayne and David Lewis are credited with writing many of their songs.
The band signed with A&M and released their self-titled debut album in 1978 featuring “Stand Up,” which hit Number 16 on the R&B singles chart, and they dropped their sophomore LP the next year with Straight to the Point. Bryant led a pair of hits from their next albums, “When Love Calls” from 1981’s Radiant and the Number Two-charting “Circles” from 1982’s Brilliance. She scored another one with “Touch a Four Leaf Clover” from 1983’s Yours Forever before leaving to pursue a solo career, with Barbara Weathers replacing her.
Their sixth album, 1985’s As the Band Turns, found the group pared down to a quintet and also brought them their breakout hit “Secret Lovers,” written and produced by Wayne and David Lewis. The single reached Number Three on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number One on the Adult Contemporary chart.
They followed up with another smash hit “Always,” which appears on 1987’s All in the Name of Love. The song topped the pop and R&B charts. Their most recent album, Metamorphosis, arrived in 2017.
Along with Wayne Lewis, the group’s current lineup included Jonathan Lewis, and Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter.
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