D'Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone!, has
died at 64
[March 08, 2025]
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the
Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the classic 1990s jams
“Anniversary,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California)” and (Lay Your
Head on My) Pillow," has died. He was 64.
Wiggins died Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over the
past year, according to a statement released by his family on social
media.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted
millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland,
California,” his family said in a statement. “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."
His family added: “Through this fight, he remained committed and present
for his family, his music, his fans and his community.”
Wiggins was a vocalist and bass guitarist of the beloved R&B group,
which included his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian
Riley. The group became mainstays of the New Jack Swing movement,
blending R&B, jazz and traces of gospel melodies.
The Oakland, California, natives burst onto the music scene with their
1988 debut album, “Who?” with songs like “Baby Doll” and “Little
Walter.” But it was their 1990 New Jack Swing-infused “Feels Good”
record that gave the group mainstream success, peaking at No. 9 on
Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
They released two more studio projects together, with party hits like
“Let’s Get Down,” featuring DJ Quik, and timeless slow jams including
“Whatever You Want,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “(Lay
Your Head on My) Pillow” and “Anniversary,” a standard in the Black
music romance canon. Their “It Never Rains” version was a cover of the
1972 hit by British singer-songwriter Albert Hammond.
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D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone! poses for a portrait in New
York on Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton, File)
 The blood relatives also couldn’t
predict how their success would affect their relationship. The
Tonyies went their separate ways after their fourth album, 1996’s
platinum-selling “House of Music.” Fame. Finances, miscommunication
and creative differences were unsustainable for the group.
Wiggins and Riley toured under the group’s name between 1998 and
2018, with Amar Khalil taking over lead singing duties. Wiggins also
produced and helped grow young artists who would become some of
today’s brightest young stars, including Zendaya, H.E.R., Kehlani
and even Destiny’s Child.
Ultimately, through Saadiq's efforts, the group made amends and
reunited for a tour in 2023. It was the first road trip featuring
the three original members in nearly 30 years.
The family members vowed not to let outside influences like
managers, record executives and the entertainment business as a
whole drive them apart again, realizing that time — at least in the
professional sense — is no longer a luxury.
In a 2023 interview with The AP, The Tonyies had planned on a new
project.
“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 said.
___
Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this
report.
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