D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! Dead at 64

D’Wayne Wiggins, a celebrated guitarist and vocalist and all-around champion of musical talent in Oakland and beyond, is dead.

The founding Tony! Toni! Toné! member’s death was announced in a family statement shared to social media on Friday. Revealed in the statement is that Wiggins, 64, had been privately battling cancer.

“With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,” reads a statement attributed to the Wiggins family. “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.”

The statement continued, “D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California. He was aguitarist, 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. For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support.”

While many know Wiggins from his work with Tony! Toni! Toné!, whose discography boasts multiple platinum-certified albums, he also had a decades-spanning impact on a number of fellow artists through his Oakland-based Grass Roots Entertainment and House of Music studio. The first three studio albums from Destiny’s Child, for example, featured production and co-writing from Wiggins.

RIP.

This story is being updated.