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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. Getty

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. Getty

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

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