Bay Area Music Icon D'Wayne Wiggins Dies at 64 After Cancer Battle

Oakland music legend D’Wayne Wiggins, known as a founding member of the well-loved Bay Area R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, passed away on March 7, 2023, at the age of 64 following a long struggle with cancer.

The announcement of his death was made on social media by Tony! Toni! Toné!. On March 7, a post, attributed to "the Wiggins Family," expressed their sorrow saying, "With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones. Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Throughout this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans, and his community."

D’Wayne Wiggins rose to fame in the late 1980s as part of Tony! Toni! Toné!, alongside his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Riley. The group enjoyed immediate success after signing with Wing Records, a Mercury Records subsidiary. Their first single, "Little Walter," topped the R&B charts, and subsequent hits such as "Born Not to Know," "Baby Doll," and "For the Love of You" also made it into the Top 10.

Throughout their career, Tony! Toni! Toné! released four successful albums: 1988’s "Who?", 1990’s "The Revival", 1993’s "Sons of Soul", and 1996’s "House of Music" — all of which achieved gold or platinum sales status.

Beyond his work with Tony! Toni! Toné!, Wiggins contributed to the success of several other artists. Notably, he assisted in developing the early career of the group Destiny’s Child, which included future superstar Beyoncé. Wiggins produced tracks for their debut album in 1998 and continued to work with them on subsequent albums, including the much-acclaimed "The Writing’s on the Wall" and "Survivor."

Wiggins also collaborated with various other artists, including Oakland's Keyshia Cole, Too $hort, Alicia Keys, and guitar legend Carlos Santana. He managed to record solo music as well, further showcasing his musical talent.

The Wiggins family statement emphasized Wiggins’ significant contributions, stating, "D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California. He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor, and a founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many."

The family's post concluded with a message wishing for Wiggins to "rest in power" and urged those grieving his loss to "party don’t cry."

Plans for services to honor Wiggins and his pioneering legacy are currently in progress. More details will be shared as they become available. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time while expressing gratitude for the outpouring of love and support.

music, cancer, death