39 Years Ago: Atlantic Starr's 'Always' Blended R&B and Country to Hit No. 1

During the 1980s, music genres were almost always siloed into their own categories, with purists often openly policing artists to ensure they stayed true. Despite that, 'Always,' the 1987 Atlantic Starr track that hit No. 1 39 years ago today, was an R&B ballad that had a "country-western edge."

Atlantic Starr's ‘Always' Conquered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 13, 1987

Originally released as a single in March 1987, Atlantic Starr's "Always" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 13, 1987. The track had been building steadily after holding the No. 2 slot on the same chart the week before. "Always" also reached No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on May 16, 1987, and stayed there for two weeks. However, that ranking was known as the Hot Black Singles chart at that time.

"Always" was sung as a duet by Wayne Lewis and Barbara Weathers, who were both members of the R&B group Atlantic Starr. A staple of weddings for years after it became a massive hit, the song's simple message of lasting love has given it longevity. Additionally, the feeling that "Always" brings together some of the best elements of two beloved music genres has helped it stand the test of time.

A February 2021 Stereogum article about "Always" quoted from Fred Bronson'sBillboard Book Of Number 1 Hits, which quoted singer Wayne Lewis talking about the track. While discussing the song, he described it as having a chord progression that was "kind of hymnal, but with a country-western edge, and also an R&B edge." Barbara Weathers and Wayne Lewis's "Always" vocal performance also feels like it follows in the footsteps of classic country and R&B duets due to their sincerity.

5 Years in the Can: How a Rejected 1982 Demo Became a 1987 Masterpiece

As the same Stereogum article noted, Atlantic Starr's "Always" was originally written five years before it took the world by storm. While speaking to Bronson for his book, Wayne Lewis stated that record producer James Anthony Carmichael pushed Atlantic Starr to shelve the track. He explained that Carmichael argued that it was "too early" in the group's career to release a song like "Always."

That led to the song lying dormant for years as Atlantic Starr went through incredible turmoil, with five of its nine members departing in 1982. After the remaining members added Barbara Weathers to the group, they moved to a different record label, eventually revived "Always," and the rest is history.

Next: 51 Years Ago Today, a 1975 Country ‘Anthem for Hard-Working, Small-Town Folks Everywhere' Hit No. 1

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 6:00 AM.