90s R&B left a mark on the genre, often seen as one of the golden eras in which the world was introduced to artists such as Mary J. Blige, K-Ci and JoJo, Blackstreet and other notable musical acts. A trio of sultry crooners, Tony! Toni! Tone!, lost a founding member D’Wayne Wiggins, 64.
Wiggins succumbed to a battle with bladder cancer on Friday morning. According to a statement released by his family on social media, the singer has struggled with the illness over the past year. Other members of the group included Wiggins’ brother, Raphael Saadiq and cousin Christian Riley.
“D’Wayne’s life is incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” the statement said.
“He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, and mentor … he was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.”
His family asked for fans and the public to respect their privacy as they mourn, while also thanking D’Wanye for his support and love of them.
The family of the late singer added: “Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.” Wiggins was not only a vocalist within the trio, he was also a bass guitarist. The group was formed in Oakland, Calif. In 1986, releasing their first album in 1998, “Who?” that spawned notable records such as “Baby Doll” and “Little Walter.” Their 1990 sophomore album, “The Revival” put the flavorful group on the map with the boisterous New Jack Swing-inspired Billboard number nine chart topper, “Feels Good” and “It Never Rains.” The group saw more success with their third studio album, “Sons of Soul” released in 1993 with “Anniversary” and “(Lay Your head on My) Pillow” as lead singles and fan favorites. The group disbanded after their last album “House of Music”, released in 1996 and is often deemed by fans as their best album.
Tony! Toni! Tone! faced a lot of difficulties as members often fought over finances, popularity, and other various differences such as creativity which sparked scrutiny into the members personal lives. Despite being related, their differences also contributed to the group breaking up.
Singer Amar Khalil joined the group to sing lead in 1998 as Rafael Saadiq distanced himself, focusing on his own singing and producing efforts. Wiggins, Khalil and Riley toured from 1998 to 2018 as Wiggins developed a fruitful production career with artists such as Destiny’s Child, H.E.R and Kehlani.
Saadiq encouraged the group to resolve their conflict and become a united front, the results of which launched a 27 city reunion tour in 2023.
The musical group had classic and cultural hit records that shifted the conversation of who were the movers and shakers of R&B/Soul in the 90s, solidifying their presence among elite R&B musical circles.