Atlantic Starr

Biography

Atlantic Starr is an American R&B band based in White Plains, New York. They are known for songs including "Always×Always1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAlways3:59BAlways (instrumental)4:45", "Secret Lovers×Secret LoversMarch 1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASecret Lovers4:03BThank You4:28", "Circles×CirclesJanuary 1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksACircles3:58BDoes It Matter4:28", "Silver Shadow×Silver Shadow17 June 1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASilver Shadow4:55BCool, Calm, Collected (U.S. club mix)6:28", and "Masterpiece×Masterpiece8 January 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMasterpiece (edit)4:18BBring It Back Home Again4:12".

History

Atlantic Starr began in Greenburgh, New York, with trumpeter Duke Jones (who left the band prior to their first recordings), drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, percussionist and flautist Joseph Phillips, Sheldon Tucker (guitar; parted ways with the band before the first recordings), and three brothers: David Lewis (vocals and guitar), Wayne Lewis (keyboards and vocals), and Jonathan Lewis (keyboards and trombone). The band's membership eventually stabilized around Carroll, Archer, Phillips, the three Lewis brothers, lead singer Sharon Bryant (who was later replaced by Barbara Weathers), trumpeter William Sudderth III, and saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was later replaced by Koran Daniels).
In 1977, the band came to Westwood, California, and performed on the nightclub scene under the name "Newban," which they agreed to change at the request of A&M Records executive Herb Alpert when they were signed. Having already agreed to keep the Starr part of an early idea for a new band name, the members decided to add the word Atlantic, because of their East Coast roots. The nine-member band were now A&M employees.
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Atlantic Starr scored several hits on the R&B charts. However, significant crossover success (onto the pop charts) did not come until halfway into the 1980s, with the release of their album As the Band Turns×As the Band Turns25 June 1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Freak‐A‐Ristic4:05A2Cool, Calm, Collected4:02A3One Love3:55A4In the Heat of Passion4:38A5If Your Heart Isn’t in It4:03B1Silver Shadow4:55B2Let’s Start It Over5:32B3Secret Lovers5:30B4Thank You4:28 (their last on A&M Records), and the single "Secret Lovers×Secret LoversMarch 1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASecret Lovers4:03BThank You4:28". By this time, the band had pared itself down to a quintet, consisting of the three Lewis brothers, Phillips, and Weathers. In 1987, (after signing to Warner Bros. Records), the band solidified their pop success by scoring a No. 1 pop (and R&B) hit with "Always×Always1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAlways3:59BAlways (instrumental)4:45", a love ballad off their album All in the Name of Love×All in the Name of Love24 March 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1One Lover at a Time4:012You Belong With Me4:533Females3:424Don’t Take Me for Granted5:075Always4:476Armed and Dangerous4:107Let the Sun In4:038Thankful4:579I’m in Love4:2610All in the Name of Love5:2611My Mistake5:1912Interlude1:32. Following this success, Weathers left for a solo career, and she was replaced by Porscha Martin for the band's next album, 1989's We're Movin' Up×We're Movin' Up1 January 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Under Your Spell4:302Bring It Back Home Again4:133I'm in Love With You4:304Don't Start the Fire3:595Love Ain’t Fair5:026My First Love5:087Woman’s Touch4:028Friends4:139We're Movin' Up4:0610My Sugar3:5111I Can’t Wait4:0212You Deserve the Best3:37. Although this album was not quite as successful as its predecessors, it did produce another No. 1 R&B hit with "My First Love."
The band continued to score hits on both the R&B and pop charts into the early 1990s. 1991 saw the introduction of yet another new female lead singer, when Martin was replaced by Miss Black America 1986, Rachel Oliver, for the album, Love Crazy×Love Crazy29 October 1991 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1I Can't Wait5:072If You Knew What's Good for You4:383Love Crazy4:474Hold On4:155Lookin' for Love Again5:016Come Lover4:397You Hit the Spot4:208Masterpiece4:569Girl, Your Love's So Fine5:1610My Special Lover3:5611Unconditional Love5:53. This album featured the band's biggest hit of the 1990s, with "Masterpiece×Masterpiece8 January 1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMasterpiece (edit)4:18BBring It Back Home Again4:12" reaching No. 3 on both the pop and R&B charts in early 1992. The group toured to Japan in 1992 with yet another female vocalist at the helm, Crystal Blake, a studio vocalist for Stevie Wonder who had also sung the female lead parts on the minor hit title track for Eddie Murphy's How Could It Be album and Young MC's "Bust a Move."
Following the release of Love Crazy, Atlantic Starr's relationship with Warner Bros. Records dissolved, and in 1994, the band recorded one album for Arista: Time. That album was a commercial disappointment and the single "I'll Remember You×I'll Remember You10 June 1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1I’ll Remember You4:232Secret Lovers5:273Masterpiece4:524Let’s Just Sneak Around4:22" only made it to the fifties on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts. Time (which was David Lewis' last album with the band) found a fifth female singer, Aisha Tanner, replacing Oliver. And when 1998's and 1999's All Because of You and Legacy were distributed by SoundAsia EX, and the small independent Street Solid label respectively, Atlantic Starr unveiled yet another lineup—one that consisted of two Lewis Brothers (Wayne and Jonathan) as well as Oliver (who had returned and replaced Tanner) and a new male singer named DeWayne Woods. Although Legacy received little attention, Atlantic Starr still continues to perform today and released their 13th album, Metamorphosis×Metamorphosis22 May 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1This Is My Life4:372It's Party Time4:313My Best Friend4:324My Love Is Real3:335Should We Try Again4:326This Luv4:297The Strong Survive4:158Amy Put Me Down4:029Yr Luv Is Amazing4:3010I Want U4:0411Have Mercy On Me4:5012Thank U Baby4:4713Come And Be With Me5:1814I've Fallen In Love4:4815I'm Flying4:22 in 2017, featuring L'john Epps and Melessa Pierce.

Original members

After leaving Atlantic Starr, original drummer and founding bandmember Porter Carroll Jr. released a self-titled solo album (Porter Carroll II) in 1986. This album featured contributions from several prominent musicians, including Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, and former Starr bandmate Sharon Bryant. He has continued to do session work since that time, and is currently playing percussion in Daryl Hall's live band.
Following her exit from Atlantic Starr, singer Bryant embarked on a solo career and released an album in 1989, scoring several big hits on the R&B charts, as well as a minor Pop hit from the project.
Original saxophonist Damon Rentie went on to a solo career of his own, releasing his first solo album, Designated Hitter in 1985. His second and third solo albums followed in each successive year (1986 and 1987, respectively). He had also previously done session work with DeBarge.
Original trumpeter William Sudderth continues to follow an active schedule in the music business, performing in many diverse settings and having become one of the most sought-after horn players in the industry.
Founding member Wayne Lewis died on June 5, 2025, at the age of 68.

Cameos

In April 1992, Atlantic Starr appeared as themselves on an episode of the daytime soap opera Another World. They sang at local nightspot Sassy's during the episode.

Compilation albums

Secret Lovers: The Best of Atlantic Starr (1986, A&M)
Classics, Vol. 10 (1987, A&M)
Always - The Very Best Of (1993, Tusk Music Co. (Pty) Ltd.)
Greatest Hits (1997, Dominion)
Ultimate Collection (2000, Hip-O)
20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection - The Best of Atlantic Starr (2001, A&M)
Secret Lovers (2006, KRB Music Companies)
Newban and Newban 2 (2012 BBE Records)
The Best of Atlantic Starr (2015, MMT)