Atlantic Starr
Biography
Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fared well in the adult contemporary market as well, but their roots were '70s soul and funk. The East Coast outfit was formed in White Plains, NY, in 1976 by three brothers: lead singer/guitarist David Lewis, lead singer/keyboardist Wayne Lewis, and trombonist/percussionist Jonathan Lewis. After the Lewis Brothers hired lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth, saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was replaced by Koran Daniels in 1981), bassist Clifford Archer, drummer Porter Carroll, Jr., and percussionist/flutist Joseph Phillips, Atlantic Starr's original nine-person lineup was in place. Influenced by '70s funk/soul bands like Earth, Wind & Fire, the Commodores, New Birth, and L.T.D., Atlantic Starr started playing around the northeastern U.S. They had only been together for about two years when they signed with A&M and started working with Bobby Eli, a well-respected producer/songwriter from Philadelphia. Produced by Eli in 1978, Atlantic Starr's self-titled debut album wasn't a mega-platinum blockbuster but did reasonably well and contained the funk hit "Stand Up" (which made it to number 16 on Billboard's R&B singles chart).
Eli went on to produce the band's second album, Straight to the Point; while that 1979 release did OK, A&M knew that Atlantic Starr could be bigger. So in 1981, the band changed producers and enlisted James Carmichael for their third album, Radiance. It was a wise move; Radiance and its hit single "When Love Calls" established Atlantic Starr as a supergroup in the R&B market. It was on Radiance that the charismatic Bryant (who was featured on "When Love Calls") really blossomed as a singer and her lead vocals played a major role in the band's success. Carmichael went on to produce 1982's "Brilliance" (which contained the number two R&B single "Circles") and 1983's Yours Forever; the latter includes "Touch a Four Leaf Clover," another major hit featuring Bryant.
Although Bryant was never Atlantic Starr's only lead singer -- Wayne and David Lewis also provided their share of lead vocals -- she was a major asset. So it came as quite a disappointment when she left Atlantic Starr in 1984 to pursue a solo career. But all was not lost. The talented Barbara Weathers was hired as a replacement and 1985's As the Band Turns -- Atlantic Starr's first post-Bryant album and sixth album overall -- found the outfit unveiling a smaller lineup that consisted of Weathers, the Lewis Brothers, and Phillips. Sudderth, Daniels, Archer, and Carroll were all gone, but despite those personnel changes, Atlantic Starr was still distinctive and recognizable. As the Band Turns, which contained the major hit "Secret Lovers," turned out to be Atlantic Starr's last album for A&M; in 1987, they moved to Warner Bros. and fared well with the album All in the Name of Love and the smash hit "Always." A syrupy adult contemporary ballad, "Always" reflected the Lewis Brothers' desire to have the type of crossover success that Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie had been enjoying in the '80s; they got their wish when "Always" soared to number one on both the pop and R&B charts.
After All in the Name of Love, Weathers left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Porscha Martin, who was featured on 1988's We're Movin' Up. Martin was around for a few years before being replaced by Rachel Oliver (Atlantic Starr's fourth female vocalist) in the early '90s. Atlantic Starr's relationship with Warner Bros. ended after 1991's Love Crazy, and in 1994, the band recorded one album for Arista: Time. That album was a commercial disappointment and the single "I'll Remember You" 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 1999's Legacy was distributed by the small, independent Street Solid label, 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 very little attention, Atlantic Starr hung in there and was still performing for die-hard fans when the 21st century arrived. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
ANOTHER SINGING GROUP THAT BROUGHT ME THROUGH SOME OF LIFES TOUGH TIMES,THANK GOD FOR INSPIRATIONS . A N D INSPIRAING US 2 WRITE SUCH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
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Jus hear'n this song brings tears 2 my eyes....just broke up with my boyfriend
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The smooth, soothing and erotic ballards of this group of talented singers and musicians maintained the club scene of the 1980s. Wonderful sound.
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Does anyone know where the heck their song "I'll remember you" is? I don't see it on ANY of their albums=( My fav. song of ALL times!
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I love this song and most importantly. . . I love Atlantic Starr.....Al l their hits were real winners....g o t to see them back in the day in Tulsa OK....a shout out to Tulsa....... .
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A lovely beautiful song with heart. One of their best. Can't beat the harmony!
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really like this group esp the Sharon Bryant era - I think she's singing jazz now - I would love to see/hear her again
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Another classic song, r & b, at it's finest! Real music, singing about real life.
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I didn't know that DeWayne Woods waz in dis group. Now he a Gospel singer who won an award for "LET GOD" WOW!
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Damn! What a true phenomenon! I was only in the 1st grade, singing "Secret Lovers"! Ha! I still go crazy when I hear it...and "Always" is awesome! Wow...music really does preserve memory. I can remember the era vividly! My dad hated Reagan, even though he was popular...om g . . . d a memories...w h e r e are you guys?!
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SHARON BRYANT WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?! I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER WHEN THEY WERE ON SOUL TRAIN!
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what can you say about this music that hasn't already been said? phenomenal!
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I wish they would come together and do another album...Grea t Group!
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This music reminds me of rolling around in my brothers 4 door Delta 88. with the dirty thirites, vogue tires and third wheel on the back. Those were the times!!!!!!! ! ! !
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Too bad they couldn't stay together, cause i would love the hear them sing now. They don't make music theirs anymore..
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I walked down the aisle to "Always". The same today as 21 years ago this August.
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their sound is one of the most tonal and rhythmically pleasing of the 80's
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This group makes me wish I was old enough then to benefit at that particular time in history, where I would have had the opportunity to be with loving men, or men who took pride in havin a good woman.
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This group also had another cut about a lady who needed to be pinched to see if her relationship was real AM I DREAMING..sh e said pinch to see if it's real cause my mind can't decide...tal k i n g about a happy camper !!!
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So sweet, reminds me of when a gentalmen was talking to me and the whole time he was rubbing my small finger. Drove me crazy, now his my husband thank you Atlantic Star for all the love.
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My Po school is harassing my girlfriend. She had this dention thingy, and her dad said that she wasn't severing it because he didn't hve enough gas to pick her up, so they made her serve ISS. So she did, and now they are harassing her about serving the thing still. yesterday she cryed so that pissed me off big time!!!
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I loved this group from the begining. Sharon Bryant puts down some strong vocals.
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I dearly love billy. he makes me want to dance and sing and feel so good when I listen to him. But I wish I knew where did he go. If someone reads this do you think you could write it down here.
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I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BODY OF WORK ABOUT THIS GROUP .HOWEVER,THE SOUND IS GROUNDED IN THE 70'S, AND WORTH THE TIME ...THE "MIX" OF VOICES IS REALLY GOOD LISTENING.
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atlantic starr is so emotional and sensual, makes one feel like cuddiling with the one they love and getting their chill on
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masterpiece ia such a beautiful song. i dedicate this song to my best friend harold. rest in peace, i love you
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This group really brought out the best at parties and clubs the like. Not only could you enjoy dancing to thier music but also just sitting around listening.on e of the greats
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