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.
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 Cole, 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, Beyoncé 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.
Wiggins continues to tour performing Tony! Toni! Toné! 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.
Wiggins’ current projects include Poplyfe, which had a run on America’s Got talent where they placed 4th in the final round (2012). Currently he is working with Oakland’s next generation of talented youth through his non-profit Youth Aid. Wiggins is also putting together the Tony! Toni! Toné! 25th Anniversary Album and other special related projects.

The Robert Cornelius Seven was founded in 1998 by Robert Cornelius (vocals) and Jesse Richardson (bumpin’ bass) after a particularly odd show Robert was doing out at Frankie’s Blue Room in Naperville. Having been put together with a group of blues musicians, Robert felt they weren’t compatible and at 2:00 in the morning on the way back to Chicago, he called his cousin Jesse and told him he had a month to get a band together. We had a rehearsal the next day and our first gig at Schuba’s Tavern a week later. Robert was with Poi Dog Pondering at the time, and recruited a couple of his bandmates to be in the original line up. When we began we had Paul Mertens (saxophone, flute, harmonica, coolness), Arlene Newson (vocals), Leddie Garcia (percussion extraordinaire), along with Chip DuBose (guitar hero), who has so many major credits on his resume, Rick Gehrenbeck (killer keyboards), Ron Lambert (drums), Chris Robinson (keyboards and vocals-the prodigy), and Eric Buehlman (vocals and management). Line up changes over the years have included John Bose (horns), YL Douglas (drums), Khari Parker (killer drums-left us for Destiny’s Child), as well as present members Kina Clayton (vocals), Chip DuBose III (drums), and Roger Harris (keyboards). The band has played just about every venue in Chicago, including a four year stint as house band at Schuba’s Tavern, Fitzgerald’s (with Mavis Staples), Metro, The Vic, Park West, Martyrs, House of Blues (opening for Average White Band), Navy Pier (on their own and with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin), Subterranean, and just about every summer festival you can name. Their first record was a self released disc in 2001 titled To Your Soul, a live recording (thank you Timothy Powell) and their only cd to date. The band is currently hard at work on the long awaited follow up, due out this summer, and is gearing up to play a lot more live shows than they have in the past few years. Lastly we get asked about the seven a lot. There is more significance to it than just the number of band members, but if we told you, we would have to kill you, and we are NOT a violent band, except when it comes to grooves.

PJ is a Bassist, writer & entrepreneur from Chicago’s West Side. PJ began playing bass guitar at the age of 8 years old. His cousin bought a bass guitar and a keyboard for his son to play. He did not take to it and passed it on to PJ. While PJ was practicing with his cousins, PJ realized that he could play by ear. This was the beginning of a beautiful thing for PJ.

While PJ was attending Hugh Manley High School in Chicago, he learned to read music and to go on and sharpen his bass playing skills. In his sophomore year PJ was selected to be a part of Manley’s Jazz band. From there PJ was selected to be the bass player for The Chicago All-City Jazz Band from 1984 to 1987. During this time PJ received numerous awards which include “The Outstanding Soloist Award” at the Midwest Jazz Festival and “Outstanding Musician of the Year” from All City Jazz Band of Chicago.

After High school PJ started playing professionally around the Chicago area and Gospel recording artist Rev. Jessy Dixon approached me and asked me to become the full-time bass player for him and his choir. It was Rev. Dixon, who taught PJ showmanship and how to be a professional musician. This position provided PJ with the opportunity to perform with the talents of Andre and Sandra Crouch, Kurt Carr and Abraham Laboriel.

Currently PJ working with his new project “PJ & Soul” and just finished a CD to be release in November 2013. PJ also is touring the USA and abroad with Rodney Sir Nose Trotter as Bass Player and Musical Director. When not touring PJ is doing clinics and studio sessions.

PJ’s goal is to enjoy Life simply to have fun!