Tony! Toni! Toné! fans are heartbroken to learn that founding member D’Wayne Wiggins has passed away after battling bladder cancer for a year. He was 64 years old.
The group’s official Instagram page broke the news on March 7.
“With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,” the group said in a statement. “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.”
Just days ago, rumors of the musician being in hospice care began to circulate online on March 3. It was later confirmed he was in critical condition.
In a rare Facebook Live on March 2, former bandmate Antron Haile shared that Wiggins had not been doing well for some time. “It looks really bad, ok, but I’m not going to count him out,” he said. Further into the 14-minute video, he said, “We had been known that D’Wayne was sick. We was just not saying it.”
On March 5, Wiggins’ family released a statement to fans via the official Tony! Toni! Toné! Instagram page.
“We wanted to share that D’Wayne Wiggins is experiencing medical complications. He is working through it one day at a time,” the statement read. “We know how beloved he is by so many, and we are grateful for your prayers and concern. We also request that you respect the family’s privacy during this time.”
“Love Under New Management” singer Miki Howard also shared an emotional post dedicated to the Bay Area icon. In the caption, she wrote, “Oh Man!!! The Sweetest man Dwayne Wiggins we are holding you up in prayer.”
One reaction to the unsettling announcement, read, “My Lawd! I can’t take no more bad news!” “Oh, lawd Please, we just lost Angie Stone,” wrote another fan still reeling from the sudden death of Angie Stone on March 1.
The Neo-Soul songstress perished in a car accident after a performance in Alabama. Scores of social media users simply shared prayers of healing.
Famed R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! was founded by Wiggins, his brother Raphael Saadiq, and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley in 1986. The band is behind massive hits such as “Anniversary,” “Feels Good,” and “It Never Rains (In Southern California).”
For the first time in 25 years, Tony! Toni! Toné! embarked upon a reunion tour in 2023.
According to some concertgoers, it was evident that Wiggins was not in the best condition during those shows. On X, someone tweeted, “We knew something was off when we saw them two years ago now when they were on tour.”
An “industry insider” who goes by the name Artemus Gordon wrote in an Instagram Story post, “I’ve been holding on to this for some years now. Mr. Wiggins has been very sick for quite some time now. Hence why Saadiq agreed to do the one off tour. (Also why you haven’t seen a DVD of the shows either.) Lets all keep him in our prayers as he needs ALL of the positive energy thrown his way he can get.”
He was also noticeably absent from the NBA All-Star Weekend, where the band performed a medley of songs as the players made their way onto the court.
Wiggins’ last Instagram upload was in November when he celebrated the 28-year anniversary of the group’s 1996 album, “House of Music.” Our condolences are with his fans and loved ones.
(This article was updated after official news of D’Wayne Wiggins’ passing.)
