D’Wayne Wiggins, a mentor to superstar Beyonce and founding member of band Tony! Toni! Tone!, has died aged 64.
Wiggins sadly passed on Friday morning after a private bladder cancer battle which he had fought for the past year.
In a statement, his family said: “D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California.”
Wiggins was a singer and bass guitarist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone! which sold over 4million records.
They were best know for the classic 1990s hits Anniversary, It Never Rains (In Southern California) and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.
But it could be for his 1995 work developing Destiny’s Child and Beyonce into the global pop phenomenon that he could be best remembered.
His family added: “Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.
“He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.”
Tony! Toni! Tone! were mainstays of the New York swing movement, but Wiggins and his brother Raphael Saadiq, another band member, were from Oakland, California.
They burst onto the music scene with their 1988 debut album, Who? with songs like Baby Doll and Little Walter.
But it was their 1990 New Jack Swing-infused Feels Good record that gave the group mainstream success, peaking at nine on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.
The Tonyies went their separate ways after their fourth album, 1996’s platinum-selling House of Music. Fame.
Finances, miscommunication and creative differences were unsustainable for the brothers.
Wiggins then turned to production and produced and helped grow young artists who would become some of today’s brightest young stars, including Zendaya, H.E.R., and Kehlani.
In 2000, Wiggins released his solo album, Eyes Never Lie.
That featured collaborations with Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jamie Foxx and Carlos Santana.
In 2003, Wiggins appeared on Alicia Keys’ track Diary which was nominated for a Grammy.
The Tonies reunited in 2023 and planned new material.
Wiggins said: “We got a lot of material, and now we just want to make sure that we put out the right energy through our music.”
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/13726496/dwayne-wiggins-dead-beyonce-mentor/
