Founding Member of Tony! Toni! Tone! D'Wayne Wiggins Passes Away at 64

D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone!, has passed away at the age of 64. He died on Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over a year.

"D'Wayne's life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California," his family said 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 was a vocalist and bass guitarist for the group, which included his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian Riley. The group became mainstays of the New Jack Swing movement, blending R&B, jazz, and traces of gospel melodies.

The Oakland natives burst onto the music scene with their 1988 debut album "Who?" and gained mainstream success with their 1990 New Jack Swing-infused record "Feels Good," which peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

They released two more studio projects together, including party hits like "Let's Get Down" and timeless slow jams like "(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow" and "Anniversary."

The group went their separate ways after their fourth album in 1996, but Wiggins continued to tour and produce music. He also helped grow young artists who would become some of today's brightest young stars, including Zendaya, H.E.R., Kehlani, and Destiny's Child.

In a 2023 interview with The AP, the group had planned on releasing a new project.

"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 said.