Atlantic Starr Biography

Atlantic Starr is an R&B band formed in the mid-1970s in New York City. The founding members relocated to the West Coast, where they began performing in local nightclubs. Their efforts eventually caught the attention of a major record label, leading to the release of their self-titled debut album in 1978. Although the album achieved only moderate success initially, it laid the groundwork for future projects.

The band followed up with additional albums including "Straight to the Point" (1979), "Radiant" (1980), "Brilliance" (1982), and "Yours Forever" (1983). These releases began to draw attention to Atlantic Starr, marking the band's gradual ascent in popularity. Their major breakthrough occurred in 1985 with the release of "As the Band Turns", which generated significant crossover success and featured the iconic hit “Secret Lover.” This success propelled the band through the remainder of the decade, leading to the albums "All in the Name of Love" (1987) and "We’re Movin’ On Up" (1989), which included additional hits such as “Always” and “Masterpiece.”

In the early 1990s, Atlantic Starr continued to achieve success, particularly with the album "Love Crazy" (1991), which featured their biggest hit of the decade, “Masterpiece,” reaching No. 3 on both the pop and R&B charts in early 1992. The band's lineup saw changes during this time, with Rachel Oliver replacing previous lead singer Martin, followed by Crystal Blake as vocalist during a tour in Japan in 1992.

Following their tenure with Warner Bros. Records, the band released "Time" in 1994 under Arista Records, but the album did not replicate the commercial success of previous efforts. This record marked the last collaboration for David Lewis with Atlantic Starr, and it included Aisha Tanner as the new female vocalist. Their 1999 album, "Legacy", released through the independent Street Solid label, featured a lineup change with the return of Oliver and the inclusion of new male singer DeWayne Woods, although the album received minimal attention.

Throughout their career, original members of Atlantic Starr pursued various solo projects after leaving the band. Founding drummer Porter Carroll Jr. released a self-titled album in 1986 and has since continued session work, while original singer Sharon Bryant launched a solo career that garnered hits on the R&B charts. Similarly, original saxophonist Damon Rentie and trumpeter William Sudderth also engaged in solo endeavors and session work, contributing to the music industry in diverse capacities.

Despite the ups and downs of the music industry, Atlantic Starr remains an active performing group. They released their 14th album, "Metamorphosis", in 2017, which featured new members L'john Epps and Melessa Pierce. Additionally, the band made a cameo appearance as themselves in an episode of the daytime soap opera "Another World" in 1992, further solidifying their presence in popular culture.