Rapheal Saadiq Confirms That a Tony! Toni! Toné! Reunion Is Coming Soon
Multi-Talented singer, songwriter and producer Raphael Saadiq has reportedly confirmed that Tony! Toni! Toné! are planning a long-awaited major comeback in 2021.
I am here for it!! I grew up listening to the group.
According to ABC Audio online, the 52-year old says that he's setting aside his solo efforts to unite with his legendary group members and create new material.
"I'm actually working on another Tones' record, Tony! Toni! Toné!, me, my brother and Tim," says Saadiq. "We're getting together to do like a little surprise EP because I feel like I've done enough records on myself."
Saadiq, his brother D'Wayne Wiggins and cousin Timothy Riley are the R&B trio that make up Tony! Toni! Tone! Between the late 80s and through the 90s, the group released four albums of classic soul music and contemporary R&B.
Some of me favorites are "It never rains in southern California", "Lay Your Head on My Pillow" and "Ask of You" just to name a few.
After Saadiq and the team parted ways in 1997, the group continued to tour with Amir Khalil (another family member) singing lead. Saadiq says his departure from the group helped him "grow in some different ways," but hindered the group from touring to support their 1996 album, House of Music.
"But now I think it's time for us to [come together]... [We're] not try[ing] to have any big hit records," he says. "But I just want people to see us together as a family and kind of celebrate one more time with our fans."
Saadiq said the surprise Tony! Toni! Toné! EP will likely feature, "new work and the songs that we already have," and fortunately "everybody [in the band] is down."
I have seen Tony! Toni! Toné! before with their cousin Amir, and he sounded just like Saadiq, I was pleasantly surprised, and i have seen Rapheal Saadiq perform as a solo artist. However, I have never seen the original trio together live.
I am excited that they are all reuniting to make an album and hopefully go on tour. Can you imagine if they come the Central Texas area? Fingers crossed!