Singer Wayne Lewis, Founding Member of Band Atlantic Starr, Dead at 68

Wayne Lewis — an R&B singer best known for starting up the group Atlantic Starr — has died … according to a Facebook post put up by the band.

The band shared the announcement Friday … letting fans know Wayne passed away Thursday.

They asked fans to respect his family’s privacy at this time. A cause of death was not provided. We’ve reached out to the band for more information.

Wayne founded Atlantic Starr alongside seven others — including his brothers, David and Jonathan — way back in the mid-1970s … and, they moved from New York to L.A. for a chance at stardom.

Through the 1980s, Atlantic Starr released a series of popular R&B tracks … including “Always,” “Let’s Get Closer,” “Secret Lovers,” “Am I Dreaming?” and many more recognizable hits.

The group’s 1987 album “All in the Name of Love” went platinum in the U.S. … though subsequent efforts didn’t prove as commercially successful.

Atlantic Starr has a series of performances scheduled over the next few weeks —  it’s unclear if they still plan to perform without Wayne. The current members of the band are Melessa Pierce, Shammah Carter and Wayne’s brother, Jonathan.

Lewis was 68.