D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of new jack swing group Tony! Toni! Toné, has died at the age of 64. The artist had been living with bladder cancer—his family confirmed the news via 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,” the Wiggins family shared 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.”
Wiggins co-founded the trio with his brother Raphael Saadiq and Timothy Christian Riley in Oakland in the 1980s. The group became key figures of the new jack swing movement, blending R&B, jazz, hip-hop, pop and dance into a fresh sound that has gone on to inspire artists from Bruno Mars to NewJeans. They released their debut album, Who?, on Wing Records in 1988—featuring popular singles like “Little Water” and “Baby Doll,” the record was RIAA-gold certified.
Their 1990 follow up, The Revival, upped the ante, earning a platinum certification. Later albums included 1993’s Sons of Soul, which earned the group their first Grammy nomination, a nod for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal; and 1996’s House of Music. They reunited briefly in 2005 for the Just Me and You Tour, and again just two years ago, in 2023.
“There’s nothing like being at home and being on stage together is like being at home in our living room,” Wiggins told CNN at the time.
Although Wiggins released just one solo record—the 13-track, self-produced 2000 album Eyes Never Lie—he contributed to countless other artists’ records as a songwriter and producer. Among the hits he worked on are the Destiny’s Child tracks “Fancy,” “Killing Time,” and “My Song”; Christina Aguilera’s “Impossible”; and Alicia Keys’ “Diary.”
