The Brief
- Oakland native D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the group Tony! Toni! Tone!, died after a private battle with bladder cancer.
- Wiggins helped develop the early careers of some of today’s brightest stars, including H.E.R., Zendaya, and Destiny’s Child.
- Wiggins influence stretched beyond the Bay Area.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland lost a musical giant with the passing of D’Wayne Wiggins. While his legacy is stamped in the city’s history of greats, the guitarist’s influence fanned far beyond the Bay Area.
Classic jams
What we know:
Wiggins, a founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné! — known for classic 1990s jams such as Anniversary, It Never Rains (In Southern California) and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow—worked with artists who would go on to become some of today’s brightest stars.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” the Wiggins family wrote. ” He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many, including Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Zendaya, Kehlani, H.E.R, Keyshia Cole and Alicia Keys. He created musical sanctuaries for established and emerging artists to cultivate their talents in studio and stage spaces where all night jam sessions were legendary.”…