Latest news with #Tony!Toni!Toné!
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland '90s R&B group teases future biopic
En Vogue may be the next music legends to get the biopic treatment. The Oakland R&B group — currently made up of members Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones and Rhona Bennett — celebrated the 35th anniversary of its first album during an appearance on 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' last week and hinted at the possibility of a film adaptation of its career journey. 'Do you think there's a world where there would be an En Vogue biopic?' Hudson asked the singers during a rapid fire question segment of the episode, which aired Thursday, May 15. 'Yes,' Herron immediately responded, prompting the studio audience to erupt into cheers. 'That's a good question,' Ellis said with a laugh as the other members of the group flashed knowing smiles. Hudson then asked if there would be a role for her to act in the hypothetical film, to which Jones replied, 'Yes,' while her bandmates continued to giggle. En Vogue was formed in 1989 by songwriters Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy. Ellis, Herron and Jones were founding members, and Bennett joined in 2003, replacing Dawn Robinson. Robinson departed the quartet in 1997, later joining the supergroup Lucy Pearl, led by Tony! Toni! Toné! frontman Raphael Saadiq, who also grew up in Oakland. She eventually launched a short-lived solo career. En Vogue rose to widespread fame in the 1990s with hit singles such as 'Free Your Mind,' 'My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)' and 'Hold On,' which the group performed on the show. After gathering around a piano for an acoustic rendition of 'Hold On,' which was En Vogue's first-ever single, Herron revealed that the song almost didn't get a release by Atlantic Records. 'The label didn't love it. They didn't think it was a radio song, but our producers fought for it to get released as a single. So the label decided to service radio without the a cappella,' she told Hudson, referring to the soulful intro of the song. Herron went on to explain that radio hosts somehow discovered the version with the a cappella intro portion that most fans know and love today, and it skyrocketed to success. Before the '90s R&B group sat down with Hudson, the four singers did a on-camera strut down the Spirit Tunnel as part of the talk show's pre-interview hallway tradition. These filmed hallway dances, shared to the show's social media accounts, are a signature feature where all guests make their entrance, greeted by staff members who line the walls and serenade them with various songs. This time, 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' team chose to sing 'En Vogue is here in the Spirit Tunnel' to the tune of the group's 1992 hit 'My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It).' The clip has since gone viral. All four members began grooving down the hallway, each in lightly colored pantsuits, before stunning the team by whipping out silver fans and striking a pose. They were met with cheers as they continued to shimmy along, waving their fans. In February, En Vogue was back in the national spotlight during the NBA All-Star Game, hosted at San Francisco's Chase Center. The singers performed alongside rappers E-40, Too Short and Saweetie as part of a tribute to the Bay Area. Saadiq was also in attendance, and delivered a pregame performance.
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'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! dies at 64 days after family announced illness
D'Wayne Wiggins, best known as a founding member of the influential R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at 64. Wiggins' death was announced by both his family and Tony! Toni! Toné! in a statement shared on Instagram. "With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D'Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,' the 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," the statement added. News of Wiggins' death comes just two days after Wiggins' family announced that Wiggins, who sang and played guitar in Tony! Toni! Toné!, had been struggling with his health. 'We wanted to share that D'Wayne Wiggins is experiencing medical complications. He is working through it one day at a time,' the family wrote March 5 on Instagram in a statement also shared by Tony! Toni! Toné! Tony! Toni! Toné! formed in Oakland, California, in 1986 and is best known for the 1990s hits 'If I Had No Loot' and 'Feels Good.' The trio included Wiggins' half-brother Raphael Saadiq on bass and vocals and his cousin Timothy Christian Riley on drums and keyboards. Wiggins and Riley reunited in 2003 to appear on Alicia Keys' track 'Diary,' which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. All three original members later reunited for a 2023 tour. Wiggins also released a solo album, "Eyes Never Lie," in 2000. From 2005 until 2006, he was the bandleader for "Weekends at the D.L." comedian D. L. Hughley's short-lived talk show on Comedy Central. Wiggins' musical peers honored him after his death was announced on social media. "Peaceful Journey DWayne," Salt-N-Pepa deejay Spinderella wrote on Instagram. 'Nooooooo, this is sad news! Sleep in Peace D'Wayne! Praying for you guys!' wrote the vocal group En Vogue. Legendary percussionist Sheila E. expressed herself with a row of emoji including broken hearts and and a white dove. Wiggins' family and fellow musicians announced his death in a statement shared on social media. The statement revealed that Wiggins died of bladder cancer, a common type of cancer that typically begins in the cells that line the bladder, according to the Mayo Clinic. The same kinds of cells, called urothelial cells, are also found the kidneys and ureters. Symptoms of bladder cancer include: Blood in urine Frequent urination Painful urination Back pain If detected early, bladder cancer is highly treatable, however the cancer can return after treatment. Risks of bladder cancer increases for those who smoke or are older or male. Exposure to certain chemicals also increases the risks for bladder cancer, as does chronic bladder inflammation, a previous cancer diagnosis or a family history of article was originally published on
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.
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.'
