R&B Trailblazer Wayne Lewis, Co-Founder of Atlantic Starr, Dies at 68

Wayne Lewis, co-founder, vocalist and keyboardist for Atlantic Starr, is shown in an undated photo shared by the band alongside the June 6 announcement of his death. He was 68. (Courtesy Atlantic Starr/Facebook)

Wayne Lewis, the smooth-voiced keyboardist, co-founder, and creative engine behind Atlantic Starr, died. He was 68.

The band announced his passing on its official Facebook page, writing, “It’s with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025. Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy.” The post also paid tribute to his legacy with a reference to his birth and death dates: “Sunrise 4/13/1957, Sunset 6/5/2025.”

A cause of death was not revealed.

Born in White Plains, New York, Lewis helped launch Atlantic Starr with his brothers David and Jonathan in 1976. The group, originally known as Newban, went on to become one of the most iconic R&B acts of the 1980s, fusing slick pop sensibilities with lush harmonies and soul-driven storytelling.

Atlantic Starr - “If Your Heart Isn’t In It”

A Quiet Storm staple with the late Wayne Lewis on lead with Barbara Weathers.

pic.twitter.com/ftE57VDRBK

— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) June 8, 2025

Wayne Lewis contributed vocals and keyboards to a string of Atlantic Starr’s biggest hits. Among them: “Secret Lovers,” “Circles,” “Touch a Four Leaf Clover,” “Am I Dreaming” and their 1987 chart-topping ballad “Always,” which spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since become a wedding playlist staple across generations.

As one of the group's core vocalists and musical arrangers, Lewis helped shape the band’s signature sound alongside heavyweight producers like James Anthony Carmichael, known for his work with Lionel Richie and the Commodores.

Atlantic Starr released their self-titled debut album in 1978 via A&M Records. Over the years, the group evolved through multiple lineup changes, but Lewis remained a constant until recent years, helping steer the band through three decades of performances and 13 studio albums.

His final contributions appeared on the group’s 2017 album "Metamorphosis."

Wayne Lewis is survived by his family, including brothers David and Jonathan, who helped him build a sound that continues to echo across quiet storm radio and slow-jam playlists worldwide.

Diana Ross Tapped to Launch Royal Caribbean’s Latest Family Cruise Ship

Diana Ross, 80, center, poses in her Met Gala gown embroidered with the names of her five children and eight grandchildren in this family portrait taken by Dennis Gocer. The 18-foot feathered shawl reportedly required six helpers—though compared to christening a 250,000-ton cruise ship, that’s light lifting. Ross was named godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which launches August 31. (Photo by Dennis Gocer/The Collective You, via dianaross.com)

Diana Ross, icon of stage, screen and sequined glamour, is trading the concert hall for the high seas this August — because 2025 wasn’t surreal enough already.

Royal Caribbean officially tapped Ross as the godmother of its new mega-cruise ship, Star of the Seas, on Thursday. Yes, godmother. Not to a child, but to a 250,800-ton floating resort with Broadway-style musicals, 40-plus places to eat and drink, and something ominously called the Category 6 waterpark. In accordance with maritime tradition, Ross will "bless" the ship and its future vacationers during a naming ceremony. Instead of breaking hearts, she’ll break a bottle of champagne against the hull — same drama, fewer costume changes.

Ross — already mother to five and unofficial godmother to most of the Motown diaspora — seems like a natural pick. Who better to bestow safe passage on a floating palace of excess than the woman who turned a sequined gown into a personality trait? "Love Hangover" may be about heartbreak, but let’s be honest: it could easily be the ship’s signature cocktail by August.

"I am truly honored to join the Royal Caribbean family," Ross said in a statement that reads smoother than a poolside piña colada. "Having spent years creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey."

That journey now includes presiding over what’s being marketed as the world’s best family vacation — a ship so big it has its own neighborhoods, including the AquaDome, a sort of glass-encased wonderland featuring ocean views and Cirque-du-Soleil-style performances. Also onboard? A stage adaptation of "Back to the Future," because apparently, time travel and cruise buffets do mix.

Ross will be on hand when Star of the Seas launches from Port Canaveral in Florida, on August 31, setting sail on 7-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean with guaranteed stops at Royal Caribbean’s overachieving private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Yes, that’s the real name. No, you’re not dreaming.

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley called Ross a perfect fit for the ship’s vibe of joy and multigenerational magic. "We couldn’t imagine a more fitting godmother," he said. "Diana Ross is a true icon known for creating music that transcends generations while celebrating life and bringing people together." Basically, she's the human version of the ship’s mood board.

Ross’s duties are symbolic — think vibes, not lifeboat drills. But the role still comes with weight: it’s a blessing of good fortune, smooth seas, and zero karaoke mishaps for the thousands of passengers expected to come aboard.

So, if you’ve been longing for a vacation blessed by a disco legend, curated by a cruise line that thinks bigger is always better, your ship quite literally comes in this August. Diana Ross, diva of the deep, is ready to rule the waves — and this time, you can follow her lead in flip-flops.

‘Chicago Mike,’ Who Helped Define Kool & the Gang’s Stage Energy, Killed in Georgia Crash

Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, longtime wardrobe stylist and hype man for Kool & the Gang, is shown in an undated photo. Sumler, who worked with the band for decades and was known for energizing crowds with his signature style and dance moves, died May 25 in a car crash in suburban Atlanta. (Facebook)

Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, a longtime stylist, hype man, and performer with Kool & the Gang, died
in a car crash in Cobb County, Georgia, on May 25. He was 71.

According to Cobb County police, the crash occurred around 11:35 p.m. on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road in Mableton. Sumler’s Nissan was struck head-on by a Kia entering the intersection. Sumler was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office. The other driver was not injured.

  

Sumler, a Chicago native, began working with Kool & the Gang in the mid-1980s after meeting a member of the band's security team at a local show. He initially joined as a wardrobe stylist and later became known for energizing crowds as a hype man, often dancing across the stage with a boombox or Walkman. He also contributed as a backup singer and tambourine player.

In a 2018 interview on the "Kelly Talk Show," Sumler recounted his introduction to the band and his evolving role over the years. He worked with Kool & the Gang from 2000 to 2015, ensuring the band looked their best on stage and engaging audiences with his dynamic presence.

Kool & the Gang paid tribute to Sumler on social media, stating, “We’re deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler. Mike worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000–2015, making sure the guys looked their best on stage every night. He also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the top of the show.”

Sumler was born on Nov. 1, 1953, in Chicago to John and Dorothy Sumler. He grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood and attended Bond Elementary School and Harper High School. His mother, Dorothy Sumler, described him as “a good guy, my only son, the oldest of my three children, and he’d do anything he could for you.”

He is survived by his daughters, Monica Ford and Elisia White; his son, Alexander Jenkins; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 9 at Emanuel’s Chapel Funeral Home, 5112 S. Western Ave. A wake is scheduled for 11 a.m. on June 10 at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 4600 S. King Dr., followed by a funeral service at noon.