How did the band Tony! Toni! Toné! get their name? Origins explored

For years, fans have always wondered about the members of Tony! Toni! Toné! coming up with the name of their band. The band consists of Raphael Saadiq, D'Wayne Wiggins, and Timothy Riley. As unique as their music is the story behind them naming their band.

The band claims that an internal joke among the members inspired the moniker Tony! Toni! Toné!. They stated in an interview that it started as a humorous incident concerning Wiggins' hairdo.

According to the legend, Wiggins once chose to use a relaxer to get a sleeker appearance for his naturally curly hair. The change was so noticeable that he made a joke about how the teacher would call him Tony instead of D'Wayne if he went to school with that hairdo. The teacher, however, would pronounce it three times because of how amazing he looked:

"Tony! Toni! Toné!"

Another version of the story is that the name may have been inspired by a sharp-dresser friend who always had well-groomed hair. The band members started calling everyone who appeared unusually well-dressed "Tony." Their passion for vintage suits and flashy fashion was embodied in the persona they invented, Tony Toni Toné, who developed from their fun banter.

The name's stylized punctuation(exclamation marks and accents) was simply an artistic choice to add flair and make the name stand out even more. What began as a joke evolved into a renowned R&B brand that is now associated with silky voices and soulful songs.

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More about Tony! Toni! Toné!: legacy and success

Despite their unusual moniker, Tony! Toni! Toné! became a household name for R&B lovers by the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their first album, "Who?" released in 1988 was an instant hit with tracks like "Little Walter" and "For the Love of You" introducing their rhythm and style to the world. The album received golden certification.

Their second album, The Revival, released in 1990 also became a classic hit, which went on to hit double platinum status with songs like "Feels Good," "It Never Rains (In Southern California)," and "Whatever You Want." With this, they were able to show their ability to write both upbeat and poignant ballads. Thus making them seen as icons of R&B.

They released an album, "Sons of Soul," an album that combined modern sounds with homages to old soul music, in 1993. One of their most well-known songs, "Anniversary" was a successful single that demonstrated their ability to write everlasting love ballads. Their status in R&B history was further cemented when this record reached multi-platinum.

For their contributions to R&B, Tony! Toni! Toné! received several award nominations throughout the course of their career, including Grammy nominations. Even if they finally took a break, their impact remained constant. Raphael Saadiq was still present on the scene when he collaborated with Beyoncé on her "Renaissance" album.

The band members have reunited after 25 years for a tour bringing its classic songs to the newer generation.