D'Wayne Wiggins is no stranger to what it really takes to create million dollar projects. He knows all the aspects of making great music. D'Wayne is best known as the founding member of the 90s New Jack Swing/Neo-Soul group, Tony! Toni! Toné. The group made no less then 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 have sold over six million albums during their career together.
Grass Roots Entertainment was established in 1995, when Wiggins decided to form a solid, structured, and well-oiled hit-making machine. According to Wiggins, the company was created out of a desire to produce artists and music using the winning formula, which made Tony Toni Toné a stand-out group during the past 10 years. "Create a unique sound and image and continually bring quality music created by actual musicians to mass audiences". By adding a comprehensive artist development program and broad music industry experience, Grass Roots is taking this formula a step further.
Also in 1995, D’Wayne discovered and signed Destiny’s Child to his own label, Grass Roots. 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 then 15 million copies. He also worked with then emerging artist, Keyshia Cole, who resided in the House of Music from 1999-2002, attended the School of Music and recorded on the Grass Roots label. Keyshia was mentored and received guidance from D’Wayne during that time and went on to sign with A&M Records. He also worked with Laurnea on her release Laurnea II and collaborated with Jody Watley. D’Wayne’s West Oakland recording studio, House of Music- home to Grass Roots Entertainment, has been patronized by artists as Alicia Keys, Beyonce Knowles, India Arie, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx, Scott Storch and Eddie Money.
Tony! Toni! Toné disbanded in 1996, and D'Wayne started to reach outside of the box of being in a group. After releasing Tony! Toni! Toné’s Greatest Hits in 1997, he took some time off to focus on his own path. In 2000, he broke out with his first solo project with Motown Records, Eyes Never Lie. This album substantially contributed to the foundation of the Neo-Soul genre.
Fan Review: "He has a nice tenor voice, his lyrics aren't that run-of-the-mill R&B stuff that you keep on hearing, and the production is top-notch. My favorites include "Don't Sleep", the title track, and the Maxwell-esque "Let's Make a Baby" (co-written by Jamie Foxx [!]). And I didn't even know until I read the reviews here that the guy he sings with on "Music is Power" is Darius Rucker, the black guy from Hootie & the Blowfish. Though his brother Raphael Saadiq released his good Lucy Pearl project that same year (2000) and his decent solo album this year, I would recommend Dwayne's album over those two any day." Quote from E.J. Rupert, Milwaukee, WI
As if this Wiggins brother didn't have enough talent for a whole city to be proud of, in 2001, he ventured into Hollywood to discover his talents in movie production. He is the 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.
While Neo-Soul seems to be his true genre, D'Wayne has also worked with the pioneers of what is now 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. Traveling into the Dirty South you can even find D'Waynes guitar skills and vocals on Ludacriss’ “Splash Waterfalls Remix”.
Going back to the style he is best known for, in 2003 he went into the studio in New York City to work with platinum selling piano diva Alicia Keys. The 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 co-produced another track on the album and performed the sitar, “If I Was Your Woman”, winning him a Grammy for production.
In 2005, D'Wayne Wiggins stepped back into the 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. D’Wayne has plans to get more involved in TV and movie production.
2007 has much in store for Oakland as it emerges as the Mecca of urban talent and the West Coast breaks out to worldwide attention. As in the past, D’Wayne Wiggins and Grass Roots Entertainment will be fundamental to Bay Area recognition. Expect to hear more from Grass Roots Entertainment as they continue to produce platinum selling projects. There is so much more to look forward to from D'Wayne Wiggins, this master of music and production.
