D’Wayne Wiggins’ death caught fans at a time when the mourning rained down like a monsoon. We’d just lost Roberta Flack, Angie Stone, and Roy Ayers all within a two-week span. The grief seemed never-ending especially considering that it was Wiggins and the other men of Tony! Toni! Toné! who told us that it never rains in Southern California, but the tears were flowed.
Everything seemed somber, and we didn’t think we’d have to prepare for a potential tribute this soon after the trio’s surprise reunion in 2023.
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Yet, here we are with a heavy heart. Wiggins died on Friday (March 7) following a battle with bladder cancer, according to the family. In a statement, they shared that he’d been “privately and courageously battling” over the past year, adding, “Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.”
He was 64 years old.
VIBE compiled a list of nine acts to honor the legacy of Tony! Toni! Toné! and Wiggins’ time as a solo act. From “Whatever You Want” to Eyes Never Lie and several classics in-between, this is who we’d want to see celebrating the life of Wiggins and the beautiful music he made with his family at his side.
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D’Angelo – “Diary (Instrumental)/Whatever You Want”
Image Credit: Shahar Azran/Getty Images D’Angelo will kick off the tribute with an instrumental of Alicia Keys’ “Diary” as he introduces himself and sets the tone. The tribute, named after the trio’s foundational album The Revival, D’Angelo will give a quick overview of how D’Wayne Wiggins and Tony! Toni! Toné! influenced his music especially as the leader of the neo-soul wave.
He’ll then get fancy with the chords and ease into his cover of “Whatever You Want.”
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Jamie Foxx – “(Lay Your Head On My) Pillow”
Image Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Maxim The illustrious talent that is Jamie Foxx is the perfect beast to take on the gravity that is “(Lay Your Head On My) Pillow.” He can extend the intro and transform it into an acoustic piano version with minimal speaking. Foxx’s crooning and animated personality will make his rendition both sultry and light-hearted.
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Jaheim – “Slow Wine”
Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/Getty Images Most of Jaheim’s discography are songs made to get a woman out of her panties. So, him tackling “Slow Wine” from 1993’s Sons Of Soul just makes sense.
The record peaked No. 21 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and remained on the chart for 17 weeks.
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Durand Bernarr – “Little Walter”
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for AFROPUNK Durand Bernarr’s bold flair and expressive vocal range makes him the best to bring the story of “Little Walter” to life — just look at his Tiny Desk for reference.
It’s a somber tale about a roommate who seemingly winds up dead — per the music video. The “Wade In The Water” instrumentation is chilling, but the flip is utterly brilliant. It’s the group’s debut single that peaked No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Carlos Santana/DIXSON – ‘Eyes Never Lie’ Medley
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images There has to be at least one moment to commemorate Wiggins’ solo debut, Eyes Never Lie. Since Darius Rucker has fully pivoted to country music, we’re enlisted the talents of Carlos Santana and DIXSON to perform the biggest hit from the LP — “Music Is Power.”
We also would be here for a medley of the aforementioned tune, “Move With Me” — which is his collab with Santana — and “What’s Really Going On (Strange Fruit).”
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Boyz II Men – “Feels Good”
Image Credit: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images Tony! Toni! Toné!’s top banger begins with “Play this record as frequently as possible/ Then, as it becomes easier for you/ Play the record once a day or as needed,” which is eerily reminiscent of the energy heard on Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly.”
One walked so the other could run, so why have them pay homage up close and personal? Shawn Stockman just did an acoustic tribute of “Whatever You Want,” so we know Wanya and Nathan are ready to take this thing to the next level.
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Usher – “Anniversary”
Image Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Live Nation Usher was made to cover “Anniversary.” If you’ve seen him perform at any point in the past four years, then you know he loves paying homage to the past.
He would be completely down to sing a snippet of the heartwarming ballad — because the full version is over nine minutes long. The opening chords will give him just enough to speak on the trio’s impact on his own career and it will definitely have the crowd swaying in their seats.
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Maxwell – “It Never Rains In Southern California”
Image Credit: Prince Williams/Wireimage Maxwell would make for an amazing closer, rounding out the soul of Tony! Toni! Toné!, with his cover of “It Never Rains In Southern California.”
Truthfully, it could turn into a modern version of Black Men United and every performer previously mentioned can come together to culminate the tribute set as the crowd erupts to give Raphael Saadiq, Timothy Christian Riley, and the late D’Wayne Wiggins their well-deserved flowers.
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