D’Wayne Wiggins death: Tony! Toni! Toné! singer and guitarist dies aged 64

Wiggins founded the hit R&B group with his brother, Raphael Saadiq

D’Wayne Wiggins, who was a founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died. He was 64.

Wiggins sang and played guitar in the band, which he formed in Oakland, California, in 1986 with his brother Raphael Saadiq (born Charles Ray Wiggins) and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley.

In a statement posted on social media, the Wiggins family said: “With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones.

“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 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.”

It concluded: “For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support.”

D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone! performing in Nashville, Tennessee in 2014 (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for IEBA)

Wiggins was born on February 14, 1961. He was born in West Oakland and raised in East Oakland, attending Castlemont High School.

At the age of 25, he founded Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother, who also sang and played bass, and his cousin on drums.

They released their debut album, Who?, in 1988, featuring the single “Little Walter,” which topped the soul charts. 1990 follow-up The Revival included the new jack swing hit “Feels Good”.

The group enjoyed their biggest commercial success with 1993’s Sons of Soul, which went double platinum. They released their fourth and final album, House of Music, in 1996 before splitting.

In 2000, Wiggins released his solo album, Eyes Never Lie, which featured collaborations with Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jamie Foxx and Carlos Santana and is credited as influencing the development of the neo soul genre.

In 2003, Wiggins appeared on the track “Diary” from Alicia Keys’s album The Diary of Alicia Keys. The song was nominated for a Grammy.

In 2023, Tony! Toni! Toné! reunited for the “Just Me and You Tour” of the US to mark the thirtieth anniversary of Sons of Soul. It was the group’s first tour in twenty-five years.