Legendary Oakland musician D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the iconic R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! and a Grammy Award-winning artist who collaborated with multiple platinum-selling musicians, passed away on March 7 at the age of 64.
Wiggins’s family announced his passing on social media, revealing that he had been “privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Through his fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans, and his community.”
In recognition of his contributions, Wiggins was honored by Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan at Friday’s council meeting.
“He was a dedicated community advocate who worked with kids and uplifted the people around him,” Kaplan stated.
Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins also paid tribute to Wiggins’s legacy.
“Today, Oakland mourns the loss of one of our own. D’Wayne Wiggins, a visionary musician, producer, and mentor, has left us, but his impact on our city and the world will live forever,” Jenkins said in a statement.
Born in West Oakland and raised in deep East Oakland, Wiggins attended Castlemont High School. He later founded Grass Roots Entertainment and operated the House of Music recording studio in West Oakland. Notably, he played a crucial role in the early success of Destiny’s Child, signing them to his label and contributing to their first three platinum-selling albums.
In 1999, Wiggins was involved in a widely publicized altercation with rookie officer Matt Hornung, a member of the notorious “Riders” unit within the Oakland Police Department. According to a complaint, Hornung choked Wiggins outside Dorsey’s Locker nightclub, mistakenly believing he was attempting to swallow illicit drugs. The City of Oakland later settled the case for $25,000, with $10,000 allocated toward a scholarship for students interested in law enforcement and a series of police awareness workshops.
Beyond his work with Tony! Toni! Toné!, Wiggins significantly influenced the Hyphy Movement, collaborating with artists like Too $hort, The Coup, and Messy Marv. His production credits include Alicia Keys’s 2003 sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, which won four Grammys and sold over five million copies in the U.S. alone.
Despite his cancer battle, Wiggins remained active in the community. In June 2023, he participated in the Urban Peace Movement’s town hall discussion, That’s Oakland, Baby! alongside rapper Too $hort and author Danyel Smith, where they reflected on Oakland’s cultural legacy and its impact on music and social justice.
“We were always about having our own style, our own sound, being unique … We’re blues from The Town,” Wiggins said at the event, emphasizing how Tony! Toni! Toné! stood apart from other R&B groups of the ’90s.
Wiggins also shared his personal story on the Life in Seven Songs podcast, recalling how Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone evoked childhood memories of Oakland’s vibrant community spirit.
“When you hear that piano, I just remember the barbecues in the front yard, the cookouts. I remember us having dance battles. It was straight community,” he told host Sophie Bearman.
Last December, Wiggins, his brother Raphael Saadiq, and cousin Timothy Christian performed eight sold-out reunion shows at Yoshi’s, bringing their timeless sound back to fans one last time.
Wiggins’s family has requested privacy as they grieve his loss.
“We mourn with you and are deeply grateful for your love and support,” they shared in their announcement.
