You cannot talk about soulful, timeless R&B music without mentioning the name Atlantic Starr, best known for their hits like, Always – The romantic ballad that became a signature track for the band, Secret Lovers – that popular and upbeat song that showcases their signature sound, Circles – The catchy and memorable song that gained significant popularity and Silver Shadow – A soulful and atmospheric song that highlights their instrumental skills. The group’s founding member, Wayne Lewis, has died at the age of 68. The band confirmed his passing in a social media post on Friday (June 7), noting that the musician died on Thursday. No cause of death has been disclosed.
“It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025,” Atlantic Starr wrote on Facebook. “Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Lewis served as a vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, which he co-founded in 1976 in Greenburgh, N.Y., alongside his brothers David Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Lewis (keyboards, trombone), as well as drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillips. 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.
“To Our Atlantic Starr Family and Our Global Facebook Family,
On behalf of my immediate family, I want to extend my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to each of you who have shared such love, respect, and beautiful memories about my beloved brother Wayne.
The outpouring has been overwhelming—a wave of comfort and compassion that truly feels like a God-sent tsunami, surrounding us with a peace that surpasses all understanding. I can’t explain it, but maybe that’s what happens when a life filled with love is poured out—it comes back in a ferociously beautiful current. Wayne wrote a song when he was about 10 years old called “You’re Beautiful.” In it, he said: “It’s truly beautiful to be important, but it’s more important to be beautiful.” That was Wayne. Beautiful in heart, spirit, and purpose.
He will forever be remembered not only as a gifted composer, producer, artist, and performer—but as someone who simply lived to make another person’s life “better.” Isn’t that our purpose, family? Yes. Yes, it is. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and remember that Wayne loved and cherished each and every one of you. Wayne, you completed your mission. Your family—spread across the world—is heartbroken, but also deeply grateful that God loved us enough to give us a gift called YOU,” David Lewis shared on Facebook.
“Greenburgh and the world is mourning the passing of Wayne Lewis – a Greenburgh legend and founder of Atlantic Starr,” Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner shared. As Joseph Boykin said in a Facebook post, Wayne was part of a “group filled with super talented, beautiful human beings. His gift was immense, writing, producing, playing, and entertaining and thrilling fans and audiences all over the world. He loved to spread love with the music he blessed us with.”
On Sunday, April 2, 2017, Wayne appeared on Black Westchester Magazine presents The People Before Politics Radio Show Episode 119 to chop it up with host Damon. K. Jones & AJ Woodson and Co-Host Dr. Robert Baskerville about Atlantic Starr’s album Metamorphosis, the Unsung Documentary, local politics, and their upcoming CD Release party and street renaming.
Wayne and Jonathan Lewis of Atlantic Starr came back to People Before Politics Radio again with their younger brother Steven Lewis on Sunday, September 29, 2018
“Rest in power, my brother. You represent God, your family, and the Greenburgh community. It was an honor to call you a brother,” BW Publisher Damon K. Jones, who grew up in Greenburgh, shared. On the show, Damon described hearing the group on the radio for the first time and what they meant to Greenburgh.
Atlantic Starr Honorary Street Naming Ceremony
On Monday, June 5, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00pm, a held a program Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains/Greenburgh, NY, 10607 to honor original and current members of Atlantic Starr with a commemorative street sign to be placed along Old Tarrytown Road at the intersections of Hillside Avenue, Manhattan Avenue and Knollwood Road. Students from the Woodlands High School Jazz Band and the Bailey Elementary School Chorus performed, along with other local music and spoken word artists. The street commemorative signs were approved at a Town Board meeting earlier. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, Council members Ken Jones, Francis Sheehan, Diana Juettner and Kevin Morgan unanimously voted to approve the street sign designation.
SAMPLE THIS, SAMPLE THAT
Sampling, a core component of hip-hop, involves incorporating snippets of existing music or sounds into a new composition. It’s a technique where artists reuse audio, often from records, to create fresh beats, melodic phrases, or vocal samples. Sampling has played a significant role in hip-hop’s development, allowing for innovation, repurposing of existing sounds, and even creating new narratives.
In my book, “We Got Our Own Thang – A Look At Hip-Hop From The 914,” I showed the great contributions artists from Westchester made to R&B and Hip-Hop, including Greenburgh’s own Atlantic Starr. Our brother Wayne Lewis’ voice lives on not only through his original recordings but continues to live through the next few generations through the artists that sampled them. See a list of tracks I found that sampled Greenburgh’s own Atlantic Starr.
SECRET LOVERS (1985)
I’m Goin Back by Jadakiss feat. Nesha (2004) – Multiple Elements
The Way We Live by Noreaga feat. Chico DeBarge (1998) -Vocals / Lyrics
Problems by Next feat. Koffee Brown (1997) – Vocals / Lyrics
Love in This Club, Part II by Usher feat. Beyoncé & Lil Wayne (2008) – Hook / Riff
LET’S GET CLOSER (1982)
Nobody Does It Better by Nate Dogg feat Warren G (1998) – Multiple Elements
A+Z by A+ feat. AZ (1996) – Hook / Riff
I’ve Changed by Jaheim feat. Keyshia Cole (2007) – Multiple Elements
Closer Than Close by Nipsey Hussle (2008) – Multiple Elements
Closer Than Close by Luniz feat. Dru Down (2002) – Multiple Elements
Let’s Get Closer by Bow Wow (2011) – Multiple Elements
Closer Than Most by French Montana (2009) – Multiple Elements
The Hard Part by Joe Budden (2011) – Multiple Elements
My Arms Are the Brooklyn Bridge by Lil B (2012) – Multiple Elements
Closer Than Friends by Domino and Mo (2006) – Vocals / Lyrics
SECOND TO NONE (1983)
Street Life by Mic Geronimo feat. Monifah (1997) – Multiple Elements
2nd to None by Dolla Boy feat Tity Boi & Raekwon (2007) – Multiple Elements
ALWAYS (1987)
Dead Bent by MF DOOM (1997) – Vocals / Lyrics
Reality Used to Be a Friend of Mine by P.M. Dawn (1991) – Multiple Elements
4 Ever by Method Man feat. Megan Rochell (2006) – Vocals / Lyrics
AM I DREAMING (1980)
Am I Dreaming by Wale (2005) – Multiple Elements
Throw Some D’s (Cookin’ Soul Remix) by Cookin’ Soul (2008) – Multiple Elements
ALL IN THE NAME OF LOVE (1987)
The M.I.C. by MF DOOM (1998) – Hook / Riff
TOUCH A FOUR LEAF CLOVER (1983)
Life on the Line by AZ (2007) – Multiple Elements
4 Leaf Clover by Erykah Badu (1997)
SEND FOR ME (1980)
Shame – by Tyrese (2015) – Vocals / Lyrics
Bladey Mae Beat 47 by 9th Wonder (2013) – Multiple Elements
WHEN LOVE CALLS (1980)
Willing & Waiting by Mary J. Blige (2003) – Multiple Elements
MYSTERY GIRL (1980)
Double Shots by Mobb Deep feat. Big Noyd (2003) – Multiple Elements
Wayne Lewis may no longer be with us in physical form, but through his timeless music, he will live forever.
Funeral Arrangements for Greenburgh’s beloved Wayne Lewis from the internationally acclaimed group “Atlantic Starr” will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Woodlands High School, 475 Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale, NY
• 11:00 AM – Viewing
• 1:00 PM – Funeral Service
• Repass to follow immediately in the school gymnasium
Black Westchester offers our sincerest condolences and prayers to all his family, friends, fans, and all the lives he touched. He was a true Black Westchester Legend!
I’m very sadden to hear about his passing. He was just touring recently, I knew his group was from NY but I didn’t know he was from White plains. RIP to Wayne Lewis. My condolences to the family.
Soundtrack to my childhood. R.I.P.
for many of us
Wayne Lewis wasn’t just a musician, he was a vessel of soul, spirit, and sincerity. Atlantic Starr gave us the soundtrack to love, heartbreak, and Black excellence, and Wayne was right there at the core of it. Secret Lovers wasn’t just a song, it was a moment, a mood, and let’s be real, a little cultural drama wrapped in harmonies! What’s even more beautiful is how his influence didn’t stop in the ’80s, it traveled through hip-hop, through generations, sampled by the likes of MF DOOM, Usher, Mary J., and even Nipsey. That’s legacy. That’s impact. Let’s continue to honor Wayne by giving flowers to the Black artists who laid the foundation while they’re here, and keep playing that real R&B LOUD. Rest in power, king. 🎤🖤✨🙏