D’Wayne Wiggins, Tony! Toni! Toné! co-founder, guitarist was 64

D’Wayne Wiggins, one of founders of R&B sensation Tony! Toni! Toné!, whose songs included ’90s hits “If I Had No Loot” and “Feels Good,” has died of bladder cancer on March 7, his family announced Friday. He was 64.

“With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,” the Wiggins family said in a statement on the band’s official social media accounts. “Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.”

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

The family asked for privacy and thanked fans for their support.

Along with his half-brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley, Wiggins started Tony! Toni! Toné! in Oakland, Calif., in 1986. By 1988, the group, known for its new jack swing style, released its debut album, Who?. They scored a dozen singles top 10 singles on Billboard’s R&B chart between 1988 and 1996, including “It Never Rains (in Southern California),” (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow,” and “Anniversary.” They recorded three more albums together: 1990’s The Revival, 1993’s Sons of Soul, and House of Music in 1996. Nearly a decade later, the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for the song “Diary,” a collaboration with Alicia Keys.

The artists worked on their own endeavors after the group disbanded in the late 1990s, which the AP attributed to creative differences, as well as miscommunication, finances, and the pressures of fame. For Wiggins, who also continued to tour with Riley, that meant developing younger artists. He produced and recorded a pre-fame Destiny’s Child, Zendaya, and H.E.R., according to the outlet.

The three original members of Tony! Toni! Toné! reunited for a tour in 2023. While promoting it, Saadiq told Vulture that fans could expect more music from them soon.

“We definitely gonna do an album after this tour,” he said. “We’re working on it as we speak, in all these rooms.”