TRIBUTES have been pouring in for Wayne Lewis as the music industry mourns the death of the co-founder of the legendary R&B band Atlantic Starr.
The singer and songwriter was 68 when he died last Thursday. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
The band announced his passing in a heartfelt Facebook post on 6 June, writing: “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 their privacy. #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.”
Lewis was a driving force behind the ever-popular group.
The New York-based band formed in the mid-1970s with his brothers David and Jonathan Lewis.
Their signature blend of smooth soul, R&B, and pop made them huge stars in the 1980s and won them fans the world over.
Wayne Lewis served as both lead vocalist and keyboardist, contributing to some of the band’s biggest hits, including Always, Secret Lovers, Circles, Silver Shadow, and Masterpiece.
Their 1987 ballad Always hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a wedding anthem for a generation.
And Wayne and the group were innie Kaap last September to give Cape fans a treat
One fan wrote: “A great songwriter. Atlantic Star was better once he became leader. He will be missed.
Another praised him as “a great songwriter” and “an icon of soulful love songs”.