D’Wayne Wiggins: A Legacy in Music and Mentorship

D’Wayne Wiggins, a pivotal force behind the R&B sensation Tony! Toni! Toné!, passed away at age 64. His family shared on social media that he passed away peacefully this morning, with loved ones by his side. For the past year, Wiggins courageously battled bladder cancer, and earlier this week, concerns about his health were addressed by Tony! Toni! Toné! “D’Wayne’s life was nothing short of extraordinary, touching the lives of millions near and far, especially in his hometown of Oakland, California,” his family expressed. “As a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, and mentor, and a founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné!, he was deeply devoted to cultivating young musical talent, greatly influencing the nascent careers of numerous artists.” Wiggins’s musical journey began at age 11 in Oakland, CA, when he first discovered his passion for guitar.

In 1986, Wiggins, alongside his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Christian Riley, birthed Tony! Toni! Toné!, with Wiggins handling lead vocals and guitar. Their debut album “Who?” hit the shelves in 1988, but the band truly captivated mainstream audiences in 1993 with “Sons of Soul,” an album that yielded classics like “Anniversary” and “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.” Before their 1996 split, Tony! Toni! Toné! became synonymous with the New Jack Swing movement, securing five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Wiggins ventured into a solo career with his 2000 debut album “Eyes Never Lie,” featuring collaborations with legends like Carlos Santana and Darius Rucker. He established Grass Roots Entertainment, a springboard for budding stars like Destiny’s Child and Keyshia Cole, and contributed to Alicia Keys’ Grammy-nominated 2003 album “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” co-producing “If I Was Your Woman”/”Walk on By.” On the same album, Tony! Toni! Toné! reunited for the track “Diary” sans Saadiq. As a visionary figure in the Bay Area’s hyphy movement—a hip-hop subgenre marked by its vibrant beats—Wiggins worked with the likes of Too Short, the Team, Mac Mall, Spice 1, and Casual. Tony! Toni! Toné! recently reconnected for their 2023 “Just Me and You” reunion tour.