D’Wayne Wiggins, Founding Member Of Tony! Toni! Toné!, Dead At 64
D’Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the unparalleled trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at the age of 64.
The tragic news was confirmed by the band via Instagram on Friday (Mar. 7). “With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones.”
Per the statement, Wiggins had been “privately and courageously battling bladder cancer” over the past year. The family shared, “Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.”
They described his life as “incomparable,” noting that his “music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California.” His death comes just one day after the group revealed that he was “experiencing medical complications [and] working through it one day at a time.”
Wiggins was born on Feb. 14, 1961 in Oakland. After having grown up in a musical family, he, his brother Raphael Saadiq (né Charles Ray Wiggins), and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley, created Tony! Toni! Toné! in the summer of 1986. Collectively, they blessed fans with timeless No. 1 hits including “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “Feels Good,” and “Whatever You Want.”
(L-R): Dayne Wiggins, Raphael Saadiq, and Timothy Christian Riley of “Tony! Toni! Toné!” in Sept. 2023
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Outside of the group, Wiggins established Grass Roots Entertainment in his West Oakland recording studio, “House of Music.” He worked with Destiny’s Child and mentored Keyshia Cole for several years before she signed to A&M Records. He released his solo debut, Eyes Never Lie, in 2000 in partnership with Motown.
Wiggins also worked with the pioneers of Oakland’s “Hyphy” wave including Too $hort and The Coup, as well as Alicia Keys for “Diary” and “If I Was Your Woman.”
Tony! Toni! Toné! sold over six million records together and had just reunited in 2023 for their Just Me & You tour. The family requested, “For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support.”
VIBE sends our deepest condolences to all those affected by this loss.
