No matter the music genre, the bug of solo stardom is always put in the lead singer’s ear when it comes to a group or band. For that reason, I’ve always believed that if I ever pursued a career in music as a group member, I would ensure that I had other talents if I wasn’t a lead singer.
While most casual fans associate Raphael Saadiq as the lead singer of Tony Toni Tone, I wanted to highlight another group member, Dwayne Wiggins, for this week’s Second Listen Sunday and his solo debut “Eyes Never Lie .”Following the disbandment of the Tony’s, Wiggins would work with artists such as Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, and Keyshia Cole. Wiggins could have easily had his bread & butter as a writer or session musician. However, a personal encounter with racial profiling was the catalyst for his solo release.
On May 2nd, 2000, the album titled “Eyes Never Lie” hit stores led by the single “What’s Going On (Strange Fruit)”. In this song, Wiggins draws inspiration from the renowned Billie Holiday, addressing his encounter with racial profiling, which served as the impetus for his solo album. The song’s title pays homage to Billie Holiday’s 1939 composition “Strange Fruit,” a poignant portrayal of lynching, underscoring its thematic significance.
Given where R&B was going then, I don’t recall the album getting a second single. However, it is full of solid material that music lovers will appreciate. One of the things I enjoy about the album is that Wiggins called in some favors to aid in the album’s production.
The iconic Carlos Santana shares his guitar skills on the electric grooving ‘Move with Me.’ While Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish fame shares writing credits on the funky ‘Music Is Power.’ At the same time, saxophonist Najee shows out on a remix of the debut single. The most welcome guest, though, was Jamie Foxx on the ballad “Let’s Make A Baby.”
R&B purists know how impressive Foxx’s 1994 debut album “Peep This” and the Wiggins-led Tony ballads, “Slow Wine” and “Whatever You Want,” were, so it’s no surprise that they delivered some heat when working together. The song elegantly explores themes of love, intimacy, and the desire to create a family.
“Let’s Make A Baby” presents a joyful and somewhat playful request to partner in the experience of parenthood. It emphasizes a deep emotional connection and the excitement of envisioning a future together that includes children. Through a lively expression of longing and affection, Wiggins captures the essence of romance intertwined with the joys of upbringing and companionship.
While “Eyes Never Lie” didn’t break Wiggins out a solo start, it’s a fine album that showcases his talent outside of his legendary group.
Final Grade: B+
“Eyes Never Lie” is available on all streaming platforms.
