D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the traditional Nineties 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 most cancers for over the previous yr, based on an announcement launched by his household 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 household mentioned in an announcement. “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 household 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 grew to become mainstays of the New Jack Swing motion, mixing 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.”
However it was their 1990 New Jack Swing-infused “Feels Good” report that gave the group mainstream success, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard’s Scorching 100 chart.
They launched two extra studio tasks collectively, with social gathering hits like “Let’s Get Down,” that includes DJ Quik, and timeless gradual jams together with “Whatever You Want,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow” and “Anniversary,” an ordinary within the Black music romance canon. Their “It Never Rains” model was a canopy of the 1972 hit by British singer-songwriter Albert Hammond.
The blood family additionally couldn’t predict how their success would have an effect on their relationship. The Tonyies went their separate methods after their fourth album, 1996’s platinum-selling “House of Music.” Fame. Funds, miscommunication and inventive variations have been unsustainable for the group.
Wiggins and Riley toured below the group’s identify between 1998 and 2018, with Amar Khalil taking on lead singing duties. Wiggins additionally produced and helped develop younger artists who would develop into a few of right now’s brightest younger stars, together with Zendaya, H.E.R., Kehlani and even Future’s Baby.
Finally, by way of Saadiq’s efforts, the group made amends and reunited for a tour in 2023. It was the primary highway journey that includes the three authentic members in practically 30 years.
The relations vowed to not let outdoors influences like managers, report executives and the leisure enterprise as an entire drive them aside once more, realizing that point — no less than within the skilled sense — is now not a luxurious.
In a 2023 interview with The AP, The Tonyies had deliberate on a brand new venture.
“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 mentioned.
