D’Wayne Wiggins, the co-founder of beloved R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has passed away at the age of 64 after a battle with bladder cancer. Wiggins’ family shared the sad news on social media on Friday (March 7). “With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,” the family wrote. “D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world.” In 1986, Wiggins formed Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian Riley, achieving mainstream success with hits like “Anniversary” and “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow,” earning five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart before the group disbanded in 1996. The Oakland native went on to have a successful solo career, collaborating with artists like Alicia Keys, and launching Grass Roots Entertainment, which nurtured the early careers of Destiny’s Child and Keyshia Cole. Tony! Toni! Toné! recently reunited for the Just Me and You Tour in 2023, with Saadiq revealing that footage from those shows will be used in an upcoming documentary about his career. (Variety)
