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Greenburgh’s Wayne Lewis, founder of Atlantic Starr, remembered at Celebration of Life service

The group's fame soared to global heights during the late 1970s and 80s.

Lauren Del Valle

Jun 29, 2025, 4:39 PM

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Family, friends and former bandmates gathered on Sunday at Wayne Lewis' alma mater, Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, to honor his legacy.

Lewis, the founder of Atlantic Starr, a popular R&B group, died earlier this month at the age of 68. The group's fame soared to global heights during the late 1970s and 80s.

During his time at Woodlands, he joined the band "Unchained Youth" alongside his brother, David, and a few friends and later began songwriting.

Soon after, the group, consisting of nine total Greenburgh residents, was signed to A&M records, and the rest was history.

"With hard work, determination, preparation, studies – you can be anybody. They went to the top and hopefully other graduates of Woodlands will also be inspired," said Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner.

"Just a real people person. Very popular, but very down to Earth," said his older sister, Toni Lewis.

On Monday, Lewis will be laid to rest at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.

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