Latest news with #Saadiq
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Musician Raphael Saadiq talks unique gigs on heels of 'Cowboy Carter' success
AI-assisted summary Musician Raphael Saadiq is launching a one-man show called "No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits" starting May 31 in New York. Saadiq rose to fame as a vocalist in the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! and is known for his work with artists like Beyoncé and Lucy Pearl, earning him three Grammys and numerous other accolades. The "No Bandwidth" show will feature Saadiq performing music, sharing stories and connecting with the audience in a personal setting. Saadiq also recently celebrated success with Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter," for which he co-wrote and produced several songs. Raphael Saadiq, who has cemented his mark in the music industry over the past three decades, has a special year planned for his fans with the release of exclusive content and a new one-man show. "No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits" will run for only four nights, kicking off May 31 in New York before heading to Los Angeles on June 6 and his hometown of Oakland, California, on June 7 and June 8. "It'll be me singing sometimes, me playing some instruments, me talking, telling stories, talking about the past and talking about the present," Saadiq says. "We're just going to be in one place all together. It's going to be no phones. We're really going to be close and personal." Saadiq rose to fame in the '80s and '90s as the lead vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! In 1999, he formed another R&B group, Lucy Pearl, and released music with its members before eventually releasing five solo albums. The versatile music mogul has earned three Grammy Awards, received 20 additional nominations, and had his work recognized by both the Oscars and Golden Globes. This year he won a Grammy for album of the year for his work on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," on which he helped produce and write a number of songs. He also kicked off the year by performing at the NBA All-Star Game in Oakland and announcing the launch of his vinyl club. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "The (past) year has been really successful. I have worked with some amazing people," Saadiq says. "Though maybe different than some, I've had a lot of years like this." 'No Bandwidth' shows significant in more ways than one As a producer, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, he has written and produced for music legends while becoming one himself. Some of those artists include Beyoncé, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles, D'Angelo and John Legend. His first one-man show will be held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem — an intentional choice. "There's so much seasoning left on the floor at the Apollo. When you walk on that floor, you have to understand the people who worked so hard — blood, sweat and tears — and the ancestors that touched that stage," Saadiq says. "I wanted to take some of that energy and then just bring it out. Every time I go to the Apollo, I feel that way. But to go back by myself, and as a one-man show, is monumental for me." Fans can expect his performance include his work from throughout the years. "It's not about the talent that I have and have been blessed with," Saadiq says. "I've been blessed to work with so many good people. So I'm taking little pieces of everybody as I can remember, and then sort of bring it to to the stage." Through his vinyl club, Saadiq is offering fans a rare glimpse into his back catalog. Those with a membership receive exclusive quarterly releases, including his most celebrated albums, new releases and more. "It's really giving me that outlet to talk to people who really love and enjoy music," he says. 'Cowboy Carter' and Saadiq's continuous collaboration with Beyoncé While he's no stranger to collaborative and solo success, Saadiq recognizes the uniqueness of his recent endeavors, including his collaboration with Beyoncé. In addition to being a songwriter on Beyoncé's Grammy-winning hit "Cuff It" from her 2022 album "Renaissance," he co-wrote and produced a number of songs from her eighth studio album, including "Texas Hold 'Em," "16 Carriages," "Bodyguard" and "Ameriican Requiem." He also played the instruments for multiple songs, including "Ya Ya" and "Just For Fun." "I think 'Cowboy Carter' just brought the perspective that Black people sang country music first. And (Beyoncé) brought a lot of people from the past and (present)... like Shaboozey, who's been already singing country music," Saadiq says. "It sort of gave them an outlet to get out to a bigger audience." Tickets are now available for Saadiq's upcoming shows on Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Musician Raphael Saadiq talks unique gigs on heels of 'Cowboy Carter' success
Raphael Saadiq, who has cemented his mark in the music industry over the past three decades, has a special year planned for his fans with the release of exclusive content and a new one-man show. "No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits" will run for only four nights, kicking off May 31 in New York before heading to Los Angeles on June 6 and his hometown of Oakland, California, on June 7 and June 8. "It'll be me singing sometimes, me playing some instruments, me talking, telling stories, talking about the past and talking about the present," Saadiq says. "We're just going to be in one place all together. It's going to be no phones. We're really going to be close and personal." Saadiq rose to fame in the '80s and '90s as the lead vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! In 1999, he formed another R&B group, Lucy Pearl, and released music with its members before eventually releasing five solo albums. The versatile music mogul has earned three Grammy Awards, received 20 additional nominations, and had his work recognized by both the Oscars and Golden Globes. This year he won a Grammy for album of the year for his work on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," on which he helped produce and write a number of songs. He also kicked off the year by performing at the NBA All-Star Game in Oakland and announcing the launch of his vinyl club. "The (past) year has been really successful. I have worked with some amazing people," Saadiq says. "Though maybe different than some, I've had a lot of years like this." View this post on Instagram A post shared by TONY! TONI! TONÉ! (@tonytonitoneofficial) As a producer, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, he has written and produced for music legends while becoming one himself. Some of those artists include Beyoncé, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles, D'Angelo and John Legend. His first one-man show will be held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem — an intentional choice. "There's so much seasoning left on the floor at the Apollo. When you walk on that floor, you have to understand the people who worked so hard — blood, sweat and tears — and the ancestors that touched that stage," Saadiq says. "I wanted to take some of that energy and then just bring it out. Every time I go to the Apollo, I feel that way. But to go back by myself, and as a one-man show, is monumental for me." Fans can expect his performance include his work from throughout the years. "It's not about the talent that I have and have been blessed with," Saadiq says. "I've been blessed to work with so many good people. So I'm taking little pieces of everybody as I can remember, and then sort of bring it to to the stage." Through his vinyl club, Saadiq is offering fans a rare glimpse into his back catalog. Those with a membership receive exclusive quarterly releases, including his most celebrated albums, new releases and more. "It's really giving me that outlet to talk to people who really love and enjoy music," he says. While he's no stranger to collaborative and solo success, Saadiq recognizes the uniqueness of his recent endeavors, including his collaboration with Beyoncé. In addition to being a songwriter on Beyoncé's Grammy-winning hit "Cuff It" from her 2022 album "Renaissance," he co-wrote and produced a number of songs from her eighth studio album, including "Texas Hold 'Em," "16 Carriages," "Bodyguard" and "Ameriican Requiem." He also played the instruments for multiple songs, including "Ya Ya" and "Just For Fun." "I think 'Cowboy Carter' just brought the perspective that Black people sang country music first. And (Beyoncé) brought a lot of people from the past and (present)... like Shaboozey, who's been already singing country music," Saadiq says. "It sort of gave them an outlet to get out to a bigger audience." Tickets are now available for Saadiq's upcoming shows on Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Raphael Saadiq talks about explosive year on heels of 'Cowboy Carter'
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tony! Toni! Toné! singer D'Wayne Wiggins dies at 64 after bladder cancer battle
Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the seminal R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died, the group announced Friday on social media. 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" Wiggins' family wrote in a statement shared on the group's social media channels Friday. "Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer," the statement said. "Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community." The announcement came two days after the Wiggins family shared the singer was experiencing "medical complications." Friday's statement continued: "D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California. 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." Remembering those we lost: Celebrity Deaths 2025 A representative for Wiggins confirmed the musician's death to USA TODAY with a news release that shared a memorial services are in the works. "We will share more details as they are available. For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support," the announcement states. The group — comprising Wiggins, brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Timonthy Christian Riley — had a performance in Northern California later this month that was canceled "due to illness." The Tonyies were working on new music amid their 2023 reunion tour In 2023, the Oakland-born group which formed in the late 1980s and released hits 'Little Walter," "Feels Good" and "Anniversary," embarked on their first headlining tour in more than two decades with the original founding members. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, the three family members who call themselves the Tonyies credited Saadiq with getting the band back together. "I didn't tell any of the managers or team or anybody because I just wanted it to be us," Saadiq said. "I wanted to be in a room where the only power structure was one, two and three. ... We have to be us first before we could talk to anybody because that's what happened the last time." He also teased new music the trio was working on at the time, declaring, "There's going to be another album." But he wanted to ensure they were in the right headspace for creating their first record since 1996's "House of Music." "I thought we need to really hone in on what we're doing for touring and then go home and then take like two days off, and then start on the album,' Saadiq said. "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 added. Aside from Tony! Toni! Toné! and his solo career, which resulted in the 2000 album 'Eyes Never Lie," Wiggins also worked as a producer for the likes of Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys and Keyshia Cole early in their careers.
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tony! Toni! Toné! singer D'Wayne Wiggins dies at 64 after bladder cancer battle
Tony! Toni! Toné! singer D'Wayne Wiggins dies at 64 after bladder cancer battle Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the seminal R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died, the group announced Friday on social media. 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" Wiggins' family wrote in a statement shared on the group's social media channels Friday. "Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer," the statement said. "Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community." The announcement came two days after the Wiggins family shared the singer was experiencing "medical complications." Friday's statement continued: "D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California. 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." A representative for Wiggins confirmed the musician's death to USA TODAY with a news release that shared a memorial services are in the works. "We will share more details as they are available. For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support," the announcement states. The group — comprising Wiggins, brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Timonthy Christian Riley — had a performance in Northern California later this month that was canceled "due to illness." The Tonyies were working on new music amid their 2023 reunion tour In 2023, the Oakland-born group which formed in the late 1980s and released hits 'Little Walter," "Feels Good" and "Anniversary," embarked on their first headlining tour in more than two decades with the original founding members. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, the three family members who call themselves the Tonyies credited Saadiq with getting the band back together. "I didn't tell any of the managers or team or anybody because I just wanted it to be us," Saadiq said. "I wanted to be in a room where the only power structure was one, two and three. ... We have to be us first before we could talk to anybody because that's what happened the last time." He also teased new music the trio was working on at the time, declaring, "There's going to be another album." But he wanted to ensure they were in the right headspace for creating their first record since 1996's "House of Music." "I thought we need to really hone in on what we're doing for touring and then go home and then take like two days off, and then start on the album,' Saadiq said. "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 added. Aside from Tony! Toni! Toné! and his solo career, which resulted in the 2000 album 'Eyes Never Lie," Wiggins also worked as a producer for the likes of Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys and Keyshia Cole early in their careers.
Los Angeles Times
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
D'Wayne Wiggins, founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné!, dies after private cancer battle
D'Wayne Wiggins, a singer-songwriter and a guitarist who was a founding member of the soul and R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 64. Wiggins died Friday morning 'surrounded by family and loved ones,' his family announced in a statement shared on both the musician's and the band's Instagram pages. Amid his cancer battle over the past year, Wiggins 'remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.' Wiggins died after his family and Tony! Toni! Toné! shed light publicly on his health Wednesday. The group and Wiggins' loved ones had said in a previous Instagram post that the singer was 'experiencing medical complications' but did not disclose additional details. The family said at the time Wiggins was 'working through it one day at a time.' Tony! Toni! Toné! was set to perform March 22 at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, Calif., but the venue announced Wednesday that the group canceled the event 'due to illness.' Wiggins, born Feb. 14, 1961, was an Oakland native who co-founded Tony! Toni! Toné! The group was known for smooth R&B hits 'Anniversary' and 'It Never Rains (in Southern California).' He formed the group in 1986 with half brother Raphael Saadiq (born Charles Ray Wiggins) and cousin Timothy Christian Riley. Though the group, which can trace its roots to casual jam sessions, was most famous in the late '80s to mid-1990s, its sound can be found in the works of modern R&B and hip-hop stars, including Alicia Keys, Freddie Gibbs and Tinashe. 'D'wayne was my childhood idol,' Saadiq told The Times in 1997. 'He was everything. In Oakland, he was one of the baddest guitar players in the baddest band on the scene. He was the man.' Before Tony! Toni! Toné!, Wiggins and Saadiq's childhood days were filled with soul and gospel music, and the sounds the Bay Area had to offer. 'The way every block now has 10 rappers, there were 10 bands on every block back then,' Wiggins told The Times in 1997. In addition to talent shows and various band battles, the trio of relatives got their start playing music at church and touring with Oakland's Castlemont High School's acclaimed musical group, the Castleers. Tony! Toni! Toné! was born in 1986 when its to-be co-founders realized they could find success as their own entity. So, why Tony! Toni! Toné!? The name was an inside joke for a stylish person and somewhat inspired by actor Andy Garcia's turn in 'Untouchables.' The trio released its debut album 'Who?' in 1988, which counted singles 'Little Walter' and 'Born Not to Know' among its nine tracks. In the following years Tony! Toni! Toné! released four albums including its sophomore release 'The Revival,' which featured hits 'Feels Good' and 'It Never Rains (In Southern California).' The group's junior release 'Sons of Soul' landed in 1993 and its penultimate track, 'Anniversary' would earn Tony! Toni! Toné! its first Grammy nomination and cement the group's place in the modern R&B lexicon. The 1996 album 'House of Music' marked the final release of the trio's original run. The group disbanded as its members pursued solo careers. Wiggins founded Grass Roots Entertainment in West Oakland, which at one point signed girl group Destiny's Child. Wiggins, through his Oakland studio, also helped foster the careers of Keys, Keyshia Cole and Jamie Foxx. Tony! Toni! Toné! collaborated with Keys for her 2003 album, 'The Diary of Alicia Keys.' The group earned a nomination for Key's song 'Diary' at the 47th Grammy Awards. Decades after going their separate ways, the members of Tony! Toni! Toné! announced in 2023 that they would reunite for their first tour in 25 years. In a 2023 interview with Billboard, Wiggins said the music of Tony! Toni! Toné! was 'the soundtrack to a lot of people's lives.' That much could be said for Wiggins and his relatives-turned-collaborators. 'You can have problems in the business and even problems in the family,' he told The Times in 1997, 'but when we're jamming, the energy is just there.' Wiggins' family said Friday that the musician was also a 'producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor' who was passionate about supporting and amplifying young artists. 'For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy,' the family added. 'We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support.'
