D'wayne Wiggins
Encyclopedia
D'wayne Wiggins is an American musician, blues guitarist, producer, composer and community activist, best known as the founding member of the 1990s soul/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!
.
; specifically in the Lower Bottoms
neighborhood of West Oakland
. He was raised in East Oakland
, where he attended Castlemont High School.
, who resided in the “House of Music” from 1999-2001. Cole was mentored and received guidance from Wiggins during that time and went on to sign with A&M Records
. He also worked with Laurnea of Arrested Development on her release Laurnea II and collaborated with Jody Watley
. His “House of Music” was patronized by artists such as Alicia Keys
, Beyonce Knowles
, India Arie, Keyshia Cole
, Jamie Foxx
, Eddie Money
and producer Scott Storch
.
Wiggins released first solo project with Motown Records
, Eyes Never Lie, in 2000 featuring collaborations with Darius Rucker
of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jamie Foxx
and Carlos Santana
. This album contributed to the foundation of the Neo Soul
genre.
Wiggins also worked with the pioneers of what is known as Oakland’s “Hyphy
” movement on such projects as: Too Short’s How Does It Feel and Hoochie; Messy Marv
’s Blades; and The Coup
’s Pick A Bigger Weapon album released in 2006. You can find Wiggins guitar skills and vocals on Ludacris
’s Splash Waterfalls Remix. He formed the group Kenya Gruv performing Top Of The World the original movie soundtrack Menace II Society
.
In 2003, Wiggins went into the studio to work with platinum artist Alicia Keys
. The title track single, Diary, made Top Ten on the Billboard charts as well as the album going platinum and winning four Grammy Awards in 2005. D'wayne Wiggins co-produced another track on the album and performed the sitar, If I Was Your Woman, winning him a Grammy for production.
In 2005, Wiggins was on TV arena as bandleader for the Weekends at the D.L.
television show hosted by comedian D. L. Hughley
, which aired on the Comedy Central cable network.
songs with current lead singer Amar Khalil (since 1998), trumpeter Bill Ortiz, saxaphonist Vince Lars, drummer/keyboardist Timothy Christian Riley, guitarist John "Jubu" Smith and bassist Elijah Baker. Tony! Toni! Toné! was also part of the New Jack Reunion Tour
line-up.
Wiggins' current project, Poplyfe
, features his two sons along with several other local youth musicians.
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! is an American Soul/R&B group from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy...
.
Early life
Wiggins was born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
; specifically in the Lower Bottoms
Lower Bottoms, Oakland, California
The Lower Bottoms is the informal name of a neighborhood in West Oakland in Oakland, California. The neighborhood boundaries are Mandela Parkway to the east, 7th Street to the south, West Grand Avenue to the north, and the former Oakland Army Base to the west...
neighborhood of West Oakland
West Oakland, Oakland, California
West Oakland is a neighborhood situated in the northwestern corner of Oakland, California along the waterfront near the Port of Oakland and San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. It lies at an elevation of 13 feet .-History:...
. He was raised in East Oakland
East Oakland, Oakland, California
East Oakland is the southeastern portion of Oakland, California, and takes up the largest portion of the city's land area. It stretches between Lake Merritt in the northwest and San Leandro in the southeast...
, where he attended Castlemont High School.
Early career and Tony! Toni! Toné!
Wiggins is the founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné!. The group had 14 Billboard-charting R&B singles, including five number one hits, three Top Ten pop singles, one gold album, two platinum albums and one double platinum album. They sold over six million albums during their career together and toured internationally from 1998 through 2008.Music
Just before the group disbanded in 1996, Wiggins established Grass Roots Entertainment located in his West Oakland recording studio, “House of Music”. Also in 1995, D’wayne Wiggins developed and signed Destiny’s Child to Grass Roots Entertainment. The group went on to become a powerhouse of female performers and the best-selling girl group of all time. He worked with the group through three albums, which have collectively sold more than 15 million copies. He also worked with artist Keyshia ColeKeyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, who resided in the “House of Music” from 1999-2001. Cole was mentored and received guidance from Wiggins during that time and went on to sign with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. He also worked with Laurnea of Arrested Development on her release Laurnea II and collaborated with Jody Watley
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
. His “House of Music” was patronized by artists such as Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
, Beyonce Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, India Arie, Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, Eddie Money
Eddie Money
Eddie Money is an American rock guitarist, saxophonist and singer-songwriter who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums...
and producer Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
.
Wiggins released first solo project with Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
, Eyes Never Lie, in 2000 featuring collaborations with Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker is an American musician. He first gained fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld and Dean Felber...
of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
and Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
. This album contributed to the foundation of the Neo Soul
Neo soul
The term neo soul was originally coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a marketing category following the commercial breakthroughs of artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell...
genre.
Wiggins also worked with the pioneers of what is known as Oakland’s “Hyphy
Hyphy
The word hyphy is Conor Devlin's preferred short word meaning "hyperactive." It was created by Bay Area rapper Keak Da Sneak when he used the term on an album he recorded in 1994. From the USA Today article: "Every record label was getting at us at that time, but we fumbled the ball," says E-40,...
” movement on such projects as: Too Short’s How Does It Feel and Hoochie; Messy Marv
Messy Marv
Marvin Watson, better known by his stage name Messy Marv, is an American rapper from Pittsburg, CA, but represents the Fillmore Area of San Francisco, CA.Messy Marv is affiliated with the blood gang...
’s Blades; and The Coup
The Coup
The Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album but appears on the track "Breathing Apparatus" on...
’s Pick A Bigger Weapon album released in 2006. You can find Wiggins guitar skills and vocals on Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
’s Splash Waterfalls Remix. He formed the group Kenya Gruv performing Top Of The World the original movie soundtrack Menace II Society
Menace II Society
Menace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
.
In 2003, Wiggins went into the studio to work with platinum artist Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
. The title track single, Diary, made Top Ten on the Billboard charts as well as the album going platinum and winning four Grammy Awards in 2005. D'wayne Wiggins co-produced another track on the album and performed the sitar, If I Was Your Woman, winning him a Grammy for production.
Film and TV
In 2001, Wiggins was executive producer of the independent movie Me & Mrs. Jones and Life Is, a documentary on the life of multi-platinum music rapper Too Short. He also had an acting part in the movie Get Money in 2003.In 2005, Wiggins was on TV arena as bandleader for the Weekends at the D.L.
Weekends at the D.L.
Weekends at the D.L. was a talk show on Comedy Central, created in July 2005. In a typical episode, host D. L. Hughley entertains guests around a coffee table, where they drink wine and smoke stogies on the D.L...
television show hosted by comedian D. L. Hughley
D. L. Hughley
Darryl Lynn "D. L." Hughley is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is perhaps best known as the star of the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy. Additionally, he has been the host of CNN's D. L...
, which aired on the Comedy Central cable network.
Current projects
Wiggins continues to tour performing Tony! Toni! Toné!Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! is an American Soul/R&B group from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy...
songs with current lead singer Amar Khalil (since 1998), trumpeter Bill Ortiz, saxaphonist Vince Lars, drummer/keyboardist Timothy Christian Riley, guitarist John "Jubu" Smith and bassist Elijah Baker. Tony! Toni! Toné! was also part of the New Jack Reunion Tour
New Jack Reunion Tour
The New Jack Reunion Tour was a 2006 concert tour that featured members of the 1990s music genre new jack swing, which was created by Teddy Riley.The tour was organized by Riley and was intended as the springboard for a new jack swing revival...
line-up.
Wiggins' current project, Poplyfe
Poplyfe
POPLYFE is a teen pop band from Oakland, California that performed in the sixth season of America's Got Talent. The band finished in fourth place by audience vote after performing a medley by Queen in the finals...
, features his two sons along with several other local youth musicians.