Thursday, February 11, 2010

ATLANTIC STARR



The group was started in 1976 in White Plains, New York by trumpeter Duke Jones (who left the band prior to their first recordings), drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, percussionist and flautist Joseph Phillips, and three brothers: David Lewis (vocals and guitar), Wayne Lewis (keyboards and vocals), and Johnathan Lewis (percussion and trombone). Other members of the band were lead singer Sharon Bryant (who was later replaced by Barbara Weathers), trumpeter William Sudderth, and saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was replaced by Koran Daniels). In 1977 the band came to Westwood, California and performed on the nightclub scene under the name "Newban" which was changed on their debut hit single.

Throughout the late 70s and early 80s, Atlantic Starr scored several hits on the R&B charts. However, significant crossover success (onto the pop charts) didn't come until halfway into the 80s, with the release of their As The Band Turns album, and the single "Secret Lovers." By this time, the band had pared itself down to a quintet, consisting of the three Lewis brothers, Phillips, and Weathers. In 1987, the band solidified their pop success by scoring a #1 pop hit with "Always," a slow jam off their album All In The Name Of Love. Following this success, Weathers left for a solo career, and she was replaced by Porscha Martin for the band's next album, 1988's We're Movin' Up. The band would continue to score hits on both the R&B and Pop charts into the early 90s. Their biggest hit of the 90s was the Billboard #3 hit "Masterpiece" in 1992.

ATLANTIC STARR - DOES IT MATTER 1980

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