D’Wayne Wiggins, Legendary Oakland Musician and Mentor, Dies at 64

D’Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the legendary R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, died Friday morning. He was 64.

The cause of death was complications from bladder cancer, which he had been battling for the past year, according to an Instagram post from the Wiggins family.

“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” the family wrote.

With his brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley, Wiggins formed Tony! Toni! Toné! in 1986 and enjoyed huge success on the R&B charts. But it was his mentorship of younger artists and community work in his hometown of Oakland that made him especially beloved locally.

After founding his West Oakland recording studio House of Music, Wiggins worked with young artists like Beyoncé, Keyshia Cole, Kehlani and Zendaya, giving each much-needed support either in the studio or in management at early stages of their careers.

“So very sad to hear this news,” Tina Knowles wrote on Instagram, reporting that she and her daughter Beyoncé had just reminisced at length about Wiggins securing a record deal for Destiny’s Child when the members were just 15 and 16. Wiggins also recorded and produced the group’s first album.

“He was so kind. So patient, so multi-talented and generous. Beyoncé said that he influenced and taught her so much,” she wrote.

As an award-winning guitarist, songwriter and producer, Wiggins’ list of hits includes “Anniversary,” “Whatever You Want” and “Feels Good.” With Tony! Toni! Toné!, he released four albums that went either Gold, Platinum, or Double Platinum.

“The music is the score to our lives, you know,” Wiggins told KQED in 2023. “It helped us stay focused.”

Wiggins also produced films, including Life Is, a documentary of Oakland rapper Too Short, and produced songs for Bay Area rap artists like San Quinn, The Coup and Messy Marv.

After the 1998 release of the group’s final album House of Music, Wiggins continued Tony! Toni! Toné! as a touring act with other members.

“We walked away from the industry. It wasn’t like we weren’t selling [records]. We just had other goals that we wanted to pursue,” Wiggins told KQED.

In 2023, original members Wiggins, Saadiq and Riley reunited for a Tony! Toni! Toné! tour, including two sold-out shows at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre.

An active member of his Oakland community, Wiggins worked with East Oakland’s Youth Uprising, a community center adjacent to Wiggins’ alma mater Castlemont High School. He started MindSeed Studios, which provided after school programming to children and youth in East Oakland. He also launched social spaces like the cafe Jahva House, near downtown Oakland.

“I didn’t wanna do any clubs. I saw the noise that came with clubs,” Wiggins told KQED about Jahva House. “And my daughter, I wanted her to see family business. So that was a life-changer for me. I learned so much … It was very reciprocal for the Town.”

Wiggins also was known for quiet acts of assistance to those in need. As just one example, Kimmie Fresh, one of the Bay Area’s first female rappers, told KQED that during a time when she was couch-surfing, Wiggins built her a cafe in his studio so she could start her own business and get on her feet again.

Wiggins was surrounded by friends and family Friday morning, the family wrote. Services have not yet been announced.