D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member and guitarist of the renowned R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, has passed away. The group announced his death following a battle with bladder cancer.
The Wiggins family shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram, expressing their grief over the loss of D’Wayne, who died surrounded by loved ones. Over the past year, he had been privately fighting his illness while remaining dedicated to his family, music, fans, and community.
The statement highlighted D’Wayne’s significant impact through his music and community service, particularly in Oakland, California, his hometown. As a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, and mentor, he was committed to nurturing young musicians and played a key role in developing many emerging talents.
The family requested privacy during their time of mourning and expressed gratitude for the support and love they have received.
Tony! Toni! Toné!, which includes members Timothy Christian Riley and Raphael Saadiq, had planned a performance at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, California. However, the band recently announced that Wiggins was dealing with medical issues, now known to be related to his cancer.
The band, which emerged from the Oakland music scene in the mid-1980s, achieved significant success with several platinum albums and hits like “Feels Good,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “Anniversary,” and “Let’s Get Down” featuring DJ Quik.
D’Wayne Wiggins was 64 years old.