Rest in peace D’Wayne Wiggins, one of the founding members of the group Tony! Toni! Toné!, who has passed away at the age of 64. His family announced the news on March 7, noting that he succumbed to bladder cancer after wrestling with the illness for the past year.

In a statement, the Wiggins family said:

“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! Toné! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.”

Tony! Toni! Toné!, established in 1986 alongside his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley, is noted for its blend of soul, funk, and new jack swing. The group released their first album, Who?, in 1988, then gained considerable traction with their third album, Sons Of Soul, which popular tracks like “Anniversary” and “(Lay Your Head On My) Pillow.” Over their active years, they garnered five Number One singles on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart before their disbandment in 1996.

Following the group’s split, Wiggins went on a solo run, releasing Eyes Never Lie in 2000. He also started Grass Roots Entertainment, which aided in the careers of various artists, including Destiny’s Child and Keyshia Cole. He also played on Alicia Keys' The Diary Of Alicia Keys on “Diary” and handled production work on “If I Was Your Woman/Walk On By.”

Wiggins maintained his role in the Bay Area music scene for many years, working with figures from the hyphy movement, such as Too $hort and Mac Mall. In 2023, Tony! Toni! Toné! announced a tour after nearly 25 years, with Saadiq indicating plans for a documentary that will feature recordings from their performances.

Saadiq commented on the loss:

“I’ve always wanted to put my family back together. Playing with the Tonys again is a thank you to the fans, the Super Tonians, for supporting all my musical efforts. Without those who were with us from Day One, where would I be? But the main reason is that my father, Charlie Wiggins, would’ve wanted it this way–to see me, D’Wayne, and Tim playing together again.”