D’Wayne Wiggins, Co-Founder of Tony! Toni! Toné!, Dies at 64

The influential musician and mentor passed away after a private battle with bladder cancer, leaving a legacy of timeless R&B hits and community impact.

D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné!, died on March 7, 2025, at the age of 64 following a year-long battle with bladder cancer.
Wiggins co-founded the Grammy-nominated group with his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley in Oakland in 1986.
The trio rose to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s with hits like “Anniversary,” “Feels Good,” and “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” blending R&B, soul, and New Jack Swing.
Beyond music, Wiggins was a producer, mentor, and philanthropist who helped shape the careers of artists such as Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, and Zendaya.
In 2023, the original members of Tony! Toni! Toné! reunited for their first tour in nearly 30 years, celebrating their influential contributions to R&B music.