After a hiatus in 1961, the band resumed functioning in 1962 at the intersection of Damian and Hunter Streets with some of the following panmen: Gaston "Baby" Pierre, Ronald Emrit, Harold "Bip" Phillips, Joseph Pierre, Errol Brown, "JohnO" Brown, Rhonda Wellington, David Stoddart, Daryl King, and Emile Charles. In 1963, there was an exodus of many panmen from the Invaders Steelband who joined Starlift, among them, Ray Holman, David "Splav" Waddell, Roland "Dinners" Inniss, Michael Phillips, Errol Zephyrine, Winston "Mouther Bee" Phillips, Percival Pitt, Wilfred and Selwyn Sharpe, Merrill Maund, Kelvin Barclay, Irwin "Fatman" Ross, and Errol Prout.

In 1963, the band was relocated to Hunter Street, between Pole-Carew and Damian Streets, and had an immediate impact with arranger Ray Holman whose musical arrangements won the band two Panorama victories in 1969 and 1971; a third Panorama title was achieved in 1978 with Herschel Puckerin as arranger. Beginning in 1964, the band has had five sponsors: Angostura Limited (1964-1969); Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (1969-1977); Trinidad Tesoro (1977-1983); Trintopec (1983-1992); and PCS Nitrogen Trinidad Limited (1997-2006). In 1966, Starlift functioned on Ranjit Kumar Street, St. James, at the home of member Daryl King. In 1966, Albert "Philo" James relocated to Canada and turned over the captaincy to David "Splav" Waddell. With the passage of time, Starlift was captained by Michael Phillips and later Roland "Dinners" Inniss. In 1968, the band held practice next to the Woodbrook Youth Center. In 1970, it functioned at the corner of Warren and Gallus Streets, and later moved to Alfredo Street, between Ariapita Avenue and Wrightson Road. In the 1980s, it was relocated to Starlift Drive, behind the old Roxy Theatre. On June 5, 2004, the band formally opened its headquarters at the House of Music on Mucurapo Road. Following its musical success, Starlift has appeared in Canada, Costa Rica, USA, and Venezuela.