D’Wayne Wiggins was a singer and producer best known as the co-founder of R&B hitmakers Tony! Toni! Toné!, who repeatedly hit the charts in the 1980s and ‘90s with songs like “Feels Good,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “Anniversary,” and “If I Had No Loot.”
- Died: March 7, 2025 (Who else died on March 7?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Oakland, California of bladder cancer at the age of 64.
- We invite you to share condolences for D’Wayne Wiggins in our Guest Book.
D’Wayne Wiggins’ legacy
When Wiggins would jam with his half-brother Raphael and cousin Timothy Christian Riley, Tony! Toni! Toné! did not yet exist, at least not in name. But as they started to have success in the Bay Area of California, both individually and as a group, they released an independent single (“One Night Stand”). The track was successful enough to land them a record deal. When their debut album, “Who?,” came out in 1988, it spawned four R&B Top 10 hits, including “Little Walter.”
Wiggins and the band took a strong hand in writing their follow-up, mixing elements of jazz and vintage soul with modern R&B. “The Reunion” was the result, and it became a mainstay album of the era. The record boasted four No. 1 hits on the Billboard R&B charts, including the smash hit “Feels Good,” co-written by Wiggins. Their equally big follow-up, “Sons of Soul,” included “Anniversary” and “If I Had No Loot.” All told, nine of their first 12 charting singles made the R&B Top 10.
When Wiggins wasn’t making hits with Tony! Toni! Toné!, he was helping create other stars. He was responsible for helping develop and sign Destiny’s Child, who went on to become one of the biggest female singing groups of all time and launched the career of Beyoncé Knowles, one of the most successful music artists in history.
Wiggins also worked with artists like Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, Keyshia Cole, Too Short, Darius Rucker, Jamie Foxx and others. He was a film producer (“Me & Mrs. Jones”), and he launched his solo music career with the 2000 album, “Eyes Never Lie.”
Tributes to D’Wayne Wiggins
Full obituary: Variety
