Latest news with #Tony!Toni!Tone!
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.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public safety, perception fueling Oakland's economic woes, report says
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Ahead of next week's economic development summit in Oakland city leaders on Friday were presented a snapshot of a key report that will help drive the city's economic policies. The Oakland City Council requested the talk as it manages through a $129 million budget deficit. Economist Adam Fowler said that when it comes to bolstering the economy in Oakland,the city's immediate focus should be on public safety and perception, increasing retail foot traffic, and keeping big and small businesses in the town. Tony! Toni! Tone! guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins dies 'You had a Target downtown, right? Is it there? It's not there anymore,' said Fowler. 'Like, I would, to the extent you could talk to somebody there, be like, that's why. Like, Target is a good sales tax driver.' Crime and the common view that Oakland's streets are not safe is driving companies away, according to Fowler, who also said the city's transient occupancy, sales and business tax revenues have significantly decreased since 2019. 'What used to be kind of an active city center, a brand, a creative brand, is still very much sucking wind when we look at the metrics from the macroeconomic standpoint,' Fowler continued. Fowler spoke at the Oakland Chamber of Commerce's Economic Institute. On Friday, during a special meeting with the city council, he shared findings of the annual economic indicators report that will be presented at next week's economic development summit. 'You're very unique in terms of the largest cities in the state, you have the lowest taxable sales activity,' Fowler said. Fowler said fewer people are flying in and out of Oakland Airport and fewer are staying in the hotels that have chosen to keep their operations in Oakland. 'I heard just their safety, safety, safety. That's what I heard through everything you said. And, messaging. Perception turns into reality,' said Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston. Right now, the perception is Oakland is not safe to visit, shop or raise a family. The economic indicators report says that needs to change in order for Oakland to balance the budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Suspects sought in Marrero fatal shooting
MARRERO, La. (WGNO) — Two suspects are being sought after a man died on Feb. 28 as the result of a Marrero shooting that took place on Jan. 5, over a month earlier. According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the shooting happened around 12:25 a.m. in the 500 block of Ames Boulevard, and involved two unknown shooters who were firing at an unknown man outside of a bar. Covington man arrested in traffic stop turned drug bust Two uninvolved people, identified as the now deceased Curtis Lawrence, as well as a female victim, were injured by the gunfire, though the female didn't suffer life-threatening injury. Detectives say they're looking for any information that can help in the case, which the public can share by calling the JPSO's Homicide Section at 504-364-5300 or Crimestoppers at Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus. But what is it? Texas measles outbreak grows to nearly 200 cases; neighboring state reports dozens of illnesses Tony! Toni! Tone! guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins dies ICE deports Mexican national wanted in disappearance of 43 Mexican students Tariffs caught many maquiladoras in Tijuana by surprise Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barack Obama reportedly spotted in North Beach Thursday night
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Former President Barack Obama was spotted in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood Thursday night. The former commander in chief was on the West Coast this week. On Wednesday, he made an appearance at Inglewood's Intuit Dome where he took in the Los Angeles Clippers vs Detroit Pistons game in the company of Clippers owner, Steve Balmer. The 44th president's West Coast jaunt also apparently included a stopover in the City by the Bay. According to users on Reddit, Obama was seen near North Beach mainstay, Vesuvio. Tony! Toni! Tone! guitarist D'Wayne Wiggins dies 'There was a crowd gathered around Vesuvio as I approached it last night, lots of cops blocking traffic,' a user posted. 'I thought maybe there was some sort of violent crime or something happening, but as I approached the crowd of onlookers, I heard what everyone was muttering about. Apparently Barack Obama was there, flanked by Secret Service and everything. Was anybody else there? Can anyone confirm it?' 'Can confirm we saw him,' another user posted. 'We noticed heavy security way beyond what even Pelosi rolls with, so we stopped to watch and he quickly ducked out of an adjacent doorway into a black SUV and they sped off.' So was the former president grabbing a beer at Vesuvio, the decades-old North Beach bar, famous as a hangout for Jack Kerouac and the beatniks? It doesn't seem like it. Apparently, there is a private dining space located above the bar called Officina, owned by the Quince & Co. restaurant group. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, former President Obama was dining there on Thursday. Users on Reddit corroborated the Chronicle's report. 'There is a low key dinner spot upstairs that does private service for high profile people,' a user posted. 'If he stopped into Vesuvio, it's probably because he was having dinner upstairs.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
