Atlantic Starr 

Atlantic Starr: 

Atlantic Starr is a world famous R&B group based in White Plains. It was founded in 1977 by three brothers from Tarrytown: David Lewis, Wayne Lewis and Johnathan Lewis. All three brothers graduated from Woodlands High School (https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2017/06/09/greenburgh-bandatlantic-starr-honored-street-naming/383680001/). The three founding brothers also function as lead singers. In addition to being a lead singer Johnathon Lewis also plays the trombone. At the time it was founded, the band also included: Sharon Bryant, William Sudderth,(trumpet) Koran Daniels,(saxophone) Clifford Archer, Porter Carroll Jr., and Joseph Phillips. 

The band, Earth Wind & Fire was the inspiration for much of Atlantic Starr’s early music. Their first two albums were Atlantic Starr (1978) and Straight to the Point (1979). These albums did ok, the most successful song on these first two albums “Stand Up” made it to number 16 on Billboard’s R&B charts. However, it was their third album, Radiant (1981) that made them into titans of R&B music. The following year when they released their fourth album Brilliance the single “Circles” climbed to number 2 on Billboard’s R&B charts.

Starting in 1984 band members began to leave. The first to leave was a singer Sharon Bryant. Her departure was shortly followed by those of: the trumpeter William Sudderth, the bassist Clifford Archer, the saxophonist Koran Daniels and the drummer Porter Carroll Jr. in 1986. However despite these setbacks the band continued to dominate the R&B charts In fact, in 1987 they released their first two number 1 hits “Always” and “Secret Lovers” (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/atlantic-starr-mn0000509356/biography). On September 26th 2015, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, declared September 26 to be Atlantic Starr Day (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atlanticstarr-day-celebration-concert-tickets-47395836222), and on Monday June 5th 2017, part of Old Tarrytown Road was renamed Atlantic Starr Way in their honor (https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2017/06/09/greenburgh-band-atlantic-starrhonored-street-naming/383680001/). An Atlantic Starr Day Concert is scheduled for Thursday September 27th, 2018 at 7:00pm at The DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown (https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2017/06/09/greenburgh-bandatlantic-starr-honored-street-naming/383680001/). While most of Greenburgh’s contributions to the music scene have been in R&B or jazz, pop music has also left an imprint on Greenburg, thanks to Jesse McCartney.