Latest news with #D'WayneWiggins
New York Times
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
D'Wayne Wiggins, One Third of the R&B Group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Dies at 64
D'Wayne Wiggins, who brought his smooth baritone to millions of fans as a founding member and the lead singer of the R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, which had three platinum albums and a slew of hits in the 1980s and '90s including 'Feels Good' and 'The Blues,' died on Friday at his home in Oakland, Calif. He was 64. His family said in a statement on social media that the cause was bladder cancer. Mr. Wiggins was born and raised in Oakland and lived there most of his life, absorbing and blending the blues, funk and hip-hop sounds that he encountered on the city's streets and in its clubs, where his father, a blues guitarist, was a regular performer. He formed Tony! Toni! Toné! in 1986 with his half brother, Charles Ray Wiggins (later known as Raphael Saadiq), who sang and played bass, and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley, who played drums. The trio first found success performing around the San Francisco Bay Area, but they did not release their first album, 'Who?,' until 1988. It was an immediate hit: Their debut single, 'Little Walter,' reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart; three more singles from the album reached the Top 10; and the album was certified gold. 'Who?' leaned into the traditional blues sound that the trio had grown up with, but their next three albums ventured into new territory, incorporating hip-hop, upbeat soul and dance-pop — a blend that came to be known as New Jack Swing. Their sophomore effort, 'The Revival' (1990), included their best-known hit, the radio-friendly 'Feels Good,' which topped the Billboard R&B chart and reached No. 9 on the Hot 100. Though Mr. Wiggins bristled at the suggestion, critics often labeled the trio 'traditional' because of their use of guitars and organs and their deployment of blues and soul arrangements. As he pointed out, they also incorporated turntables, flashy clothes and ecstatic onstage dancing — even, in their spry youth, cartwheels and splits. 'A lot of writers and very seasoned musicians stay stuck in their zone and don't want to branch out and don't want to accept when it's new,' Mr. Wiggins said in a 2017 interview with The Chicago Tribune. 'I like pulling it into the fold.' Dwayne Patrice Wiggins was born on Feb. 14, 1961, in Oakland to Charlie and Mary (Brown) Wiggins. It was, he later recalled, an excellent place for a budding musician to grow up. 'I grew up across the street from DeFremery Park, where Sly Stone used to play and the Black Panthers would hold rallies,' he told The Las Cruces Sun-News in 2016. 'Today, you have 20 million rappers in one city; back then you had 20 million musicians, bands all over the place.' He, his brother and his cousin were prodigious musicians. They played in their high school band, which performed in Europe and Hawaii, and all three went professional after graduating. Mr. Wiggins joined a number of bands around Oakland and eventually went on tour with the gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins. His brother and Mr. Riley worked with the Scottish singer Sheena Easton and joined her on a world tour with Prince. When the three returned to Oakland, in the mid-1980s, they decided to form their own band. The name Tony! Toni! Toné! came from a private joke about a mutual friend's name. 'When we came off the road, by that time we realized what we had — and that we could be making a lot of money and music as our own band,' Mr. Wiggins told The Los Angeles Times in 1997. Along with 'Who?' and 'The Revival,' the band's albums included 'Sons of Soul' (1993), which went double platinum, and 'House of Music' (1996), which went platinum and is widely considered their best work. The band broke up soon after 'House of Music' was released but reunited in 1998, without Mr. Saadiq, who went on to a successful career as a producer; Amar Khalil performed in his place. They did not release any new albums. The original lineup of Tony! Toni! Toné! reunited in 2019 for a one-time concert, then again in 2023 for a short tour. Along with his brother, Mr. Wiggins's survivors include a son, Dylan. In 1995 Mr. Wiggins founded the company Grass Roots Entertainment and opened a studio, House of Music, in his home. It quickly became an incubator for new talent: Destiny's Child, Keyshia Cole and all recorded there, and they all spoke often of Mr. Wiggins as an important mentor in their early careers. 'I love working with artists that I'm inspired by,' he told The Sun-News. 'I really like when I can be a fan of an artist and do production, because it's all about artists coming together and speaking, and seeing what magic they can create.'
Express Tribune
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
D'Wayne Wiggins, Tony! Toni! Toné! co-founder, dead at 64
D'Wayne Wiggins, the singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the influential R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at the age of 64 after battling bladder cancer. His passing was confirmed through official social media accounts, with his family honoring his legacy in a heartfelt statement. 'D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,' his family said. 'He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, and mentor, deeply passionate about artist development.' Wiggins co-founded Tony! Toni! Toné! in the 1980s alongside his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley. The group played a key role in shaping new jack swing, blending R&B, hip-hop, pop, and jazz. Their debut album, Who? (1988), achieved gold certification, while The Revival (1990) went platinum with hits like Feels Good. Their 1993 album Sons of Soul brought further success with the hit If I Had No Loot and earned a Grammy nomination. The group performed at the 1994 Grammy Awards in a tribute to Curtis Mayfield. After their last album, House of Music (1996), the trio took a hiatus before reuniting in 2023 for the Just Me and You Tour. Beyond his work with the band, Wiggins was a prolific producer and songwriter, collaborating with Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Nivea. His contributions to R&B and his mentorship of young artists leave a lasting legacy.
Chicago Tribune
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
D'Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone!, has died at 64
LOS ANGELES — D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the classic 1990s jams 'Anniversary,' 'It Never Rains (In Southern California)' and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow,' has died. He was 64. Wiggins died Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over the past year, according to a statement released by his family on social media. 'D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,' his family said in a statement. 'He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.' His family added: 'Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.' Wiggins was a vocalist and bass guitarist of the beloved R&B group, which included his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian Riley. The group became mainstays of the New Jack Swing movement, blending R&B, jazz and traces of gospel melodies. The Oakland, California, natives burst onto the music scene with their 1988 debut album, 'Who?' with songs like 'Baby Doll' and 'Little Walter.' But it was their 1990 New Jack Swing-infused 'Feels Good' record that gave the group mainstream success, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. They released two more studio projects together, with party hits like 'Let's Get Down,' featuring DJ Quik, and timeless slow jams including 'Whatever You Want,' 'It Never Rains (In Southern California),' '(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow' and 'Anniversary,' a standard in the Black music romance canon. Their 'It Never Rains' version was a cover of the 1972 hit by British singer-songwriter Albert Hammond. The blood relatives also couldn't predict how their success would affect their relationship. The Tonyies went their separate ways after their fourth album, 1996's platinum-selling 'House of Music.' Fame. Finances, miscommunication and creative differences were unsustainable for the group. Wiggins and Riley toured under the group's name between 1998 and 2018, with Amar Khalil taking over lead singing duties. Wiggins also produced and helped grow young artists who would become some of today's brightest young stars, including Zendaya, H.E.R., Kehlani and even Destiny's Child. Ultimately, through Saadiq's efforts, the group made amends and reunited for a tour in 2023. It was the first road trip featuring the three original members in nearly 30 years. The family members vowed not to let outside influences like managers, record executives and the entertainment business as a whole drive them apart again, realizing that time — at least in the professional sense — is no longer a luxury. In a 2023 interview with The AP, The Tonyies had planned on a new project. 'We got a lot of material, and now we just want to make sure that we put out the right energy through our music,' Wiggins said.
CNN
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! dead at 64
D'Wayne Wiggins, singer and guitarist for the popular R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! has died after a battle with cancer, his family announced on the group's verified social media Friday. He was 64. 'With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D'Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,' their statement read. 'Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.' CNN has reached out to representatives for Wiggins and Tony! Toni! Toné! for comment. Wiggins was one of the co-founders of the group, which included his half-brother, Raphael Saadiq, on bass and vocals and cousin, Timothy Christian Riley, on drums/keyboards. Tony! Toni! Toné! formed in their native Oakland, California, in 1986. They released their debut single, 'One Night Stand,' the following year. Their album 'Who?' and their hit single 'Little Walter' debuted in 1988. They became some of the stars of the New Jack Swing music movement of the '80s and '90s. Their hits, including 'Feels Good,' 'Whatever You Want,' 'Anniversary,''It Never Rains (in Southern California)' and 'Just Me and You' are now classics. The three singers eventually broke off to pursue solo projects, but managed to stay close in ways that have escaped many other groups like them. 'There's nothing like being at home and being on stage together is like being at home in our living room,' Wiggins told CNN in 2023, when the group came back together to tour after 25 years. 'Timing is everything.' He told CNN they learned from artists like Earth Wind and Fire to hone their craft with time. 'It's about building a brand,' Wiggins said at the time. 'Not many R&B or even in hip-hop artists understand that, but we do.' His family reflected on his accomplishments in their statement. 'D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,' they wrote. 'He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.' The note ended with the Wiggins family requesting privacy. 'We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support,' they added. The announcement of his death came days after a post which stated that Wiggins was 'experiencing medical complications.'
CBS News
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
D'Wayne Wiggins, founding member of soul/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, dies at 64
D'Wayne Wiggins, Oakland native and a founding member of the soul/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! died Friday morning at age 64, the group announced on its Instagram page. "With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D'Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones," the post's caption read. "Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community." The Instagram account had posted on Wednesday before that Wiggins had been "experiencing medical complications" and was "working through it one day at a time." View this post on Instagram A post shared by TONY! TONI! TONÉ! (@tonytonitoneofficial) Wiggins was raised in East Oakland and attended Castlemont High School. Aside from his work with Tony! Toni! Toné!, Wiggins established his own recording studio in West Oakland called "House of Music." and is credited with discovering Destiny's Child, who would become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and launch the career of Beyoncé. Wiggins also worked with other major best-selling artists such as Carlos Santana, Too Short, and Alicia Keys. The popularity of Tony! Toni! Toné! peaked in the late 1980s to the mid-90s with the group originally composed of Wiggins, his brother Raphael Saadiq—born Charles Ray Wiggins—and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley. The group rode the New Jack Swing wave of the era, which combined R&B, hip hop and jazz, melding in other styles including soul, funk, and gospel. The band's list of hits includes three on the Top 10 pop charts: "Feels Good" in 1990 and "Anniversary" and "If I Had No Loot" in 1993.
