LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� D鈥橶ayne Wiggins, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Tone! behind the classic 1990s jams 鈥淎nniversary,鈥� 鈥淚t Never Rains (In Southern California)鈥� and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow," has died. He was 64.
Wiggins died Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over the past year, according to a statement released by his family on .
鈥淒鈥橶ayne鈥檚 life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,鈥� his family said in a statement. 鈥淗e 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."
His family added: 鈥淭hrough this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.鈥�
Wiggins was a vocalist and bass guitarist of the beloved R&B group, which included his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian Riley. The group became mainstays of the New Jack Swing movement, blending R&B, jazz and traces of gospel melodies.
The Oakland, California, natives burst onto the music scene with their 1988 debut album, 鈥淲ho?鈥� with songs like 鈥淏aby Doll鈥� and 鈥淟ittle Walter.鈥� But it was their 1990 鈥淔eels Good鈥� record that gave the group mainstream success, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100 chart.
They released two more studio projects together, with party hits like 鈥淟et鈥檚 Get Down,鈥� featuring DJ Quik, and timeless slow jams including 鈥淲hatever You Want,鈥� 鈥淚t Never Rains (In Southern California),鈥� 鈥�(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow鈥� and 鈥淎nniversary,鈥� a standard in the Black music romance canon. Their 鈥淚t Never Rains鈥� version was a cover of the 1972 hit by British singer-songwriter Albert Hammond.
The blood relatives also couldn鈥檛 predict how their success would affect their relationship. The Tonyies went their separate ways after their fourth album, 1996鈥檚 platinum-selling 鈥淗ouse of Music.鈥� Fame. Finances, miscommunication and creative differences were unsustainable for the group.
Wiggins and Riley toured under the group鈥檚 name between 1998 and 2018, with Amar Khalil taking over lead singing duties. Wiggins also produced and helped grow young artists who would become some of today鈥檚 brightest young stars, including , , and even
Ultimately, through Saadiq's efforts, the group made amends and . It was the first road trip featuring the three original members in nearly 30 years.
The family members vowed not to let outside influences like managers, record executives and the entertainment business as a whole drive them apart again, realizing that time 鈥� at least in the professional sense 鈥� is no longer a luxury.
In a 2023 interview with The AP, The Tonyies had planned on a new project.
鈥淲e got a lot of material, and now we just want to make sure that we put out the right energy through our music,鈥� Wiggins said.
___
Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report.
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
