Raphael Saadiq facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raphael Saadiq
Saadiq at the 2012 Time 100
Background information
Birth name	Charles Ray Wiggins
Born	(1966-05-14) May 14, 1966 (age 59) Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul progressive soul hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist record producer
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards synthesizer guitar bass guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Columbia Pookie Universal

Raphael Saadiq (/səˈdiːk/; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, meaning he plays many instruments. He became famous as a singer for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!. He started this group with his brother D'Wayne and cousin Timothy Christian Riley in 1986.

Besides his work with groups and his solo career, Raphael Saadiq has produced and written songs for many other R&B artists. These include Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend.

Saadiq released four albums with Tony! Toni! Toné! before they took a break. These albums were Who! (1988), The Revival (1990), Sons of Soul (1993), and House of Music (1996). In 1999, he formed a supergroup called Lucy Pearl with singers Joi and Dawn Robinson. Their first album, Lucy Pearl (2000), had the popular song "Dance Tonight".

He has also released five solo albums. Some of these are the highly praised The Way I See It (2008) and Stone Rollin' (2011). His album Jimmy Lee came out in 2019 and also received great reviews.

Music critic Robert Christgau once called Saadiq the "best R&B artist of the '90s." Saadiq has won two Grammy Awards for his songwriting. He has also been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award. Beyond music, Saadiq helped start a video game company called IllFonic in 2007. This company has made games like Friday the 13th: The Game (2017) and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (2022).

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Raphael Saadiq was born in Oakland, California. He was one of 14 children in his family. He went to Castlemont High School. He started playing the bass guitar when he was six years old. He began singing at age nine in a local gospel group. When he was 12, he joined a group called "The Gospel Humminbirds."

In 1984, just before he turned 18, Saadiq heard about tryouts for Sheila E.'s band. She was touring with Prince on the Parade Tour. At the audition, he chose the name "Raphael." He got the part to play bass in the band.

Music Career Highlights

Tony! Toni! Toné! and Early Solo Success

After touring with Prince, Saadiq returned to Oakland. He started his professional career as the lead singer and bassist for Tony! Toni! Toné!. He used the name Raphael Wiggins at that time. His brother Dwayne Wiggins and cousin Timothy Christian were also in the group.

In the mid-1990s, he changed his last name to Saadiq. This name means "man of his word" in Arabic. He changed it to have his own identity and avoid confusion with his brother.

In 1995, Saadiq had a big solo hit with "Ask of You." This song was on the soundtrack for the movie Higher Learning. It reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Tony! Toni! Toné! became very popular in the late 1980s and 1990s. However, after their 1996 album House of Music, the group decided to go their separate ways in 1997.

Lucy Pearl and Solo Albums

In 1999, Saadiq started a new R&B supergroup called Lucy Pearl. He recorded an album with Dawn Robinson from En Vogue and Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest. The group released only one album.

Also in 1999, he worked with rapper Q-Tip on the song "Get Involved." This song was for the TV show The PJs.

His collaboration on the 2000 song "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" helped D'Angelo win a Grammy Award. The song was also nominated for Best R&B Song.

In 2002, Saadiq started his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. He released his first solo album, Instant Vintage, that same year. This album earned him three Grammy Award nominations. He released a live album in 2003 and his second studio album, Ray Ray, in 2004.

Expanding His Music and New Albums

Saadiq in 2009

Raphael Saadiq has worked with many famous artists. These include Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, and John Legend. He is known for creating a classic sound in his productions. He focuses on natural sounds rather than too much studio effects.

Saadiq's third solo album, The Way I See It, came out in 2008. It was praised by critics and earned three Grammy nominations. Music from this album was used in several movies.

Saadiq performing at the 2009 Stockholm Jazz Festival.

In 2008, Saadiq started another label called Velma Records. He wanted it to be a place where artists could freely express themselves. He also produced songs for other artists like LeToya Luckett and Ledisi.

In 2009, Saadiq announced his video game company, IllFonic. He also worked on a new TV show called Love That Girl! as an executive producer and composer. In 2010, he sang in the "2010 remake" of "We Are the World" to help Haiti.

Recent Work and Achievements

Saadiq performing at South by Southwest in 2011.

In 2011, Saadiq was the guitarist and bandleader for Mick Jagger's performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards. His touring band, Stone Rollin, played with Jagger.

Saadiq's 2011 album Stone Rollin' also received great reviews. Critics said he found a new level in his music. They praised how he blended classic soul with a fresh, progressive sound.

In 2012, he partnered with Toyota for a TV commercial. In 2016, he was an executive producer for Solange Knowles' album, A Seat at the Table. This album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. He also appeared in the TV series Luke Cage, performing his songs.

In 2017, Saadiq was in a documentary film called The American Epic Sessions. He recorded a 1928 song live using old recording equipment. He said it had a "magical sound." That same year, he worked with Mary J. Blige on a song for the movie Mudbound. They both received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song.

In 2018, he produced John Legend's holiday album, A Legendary Christmas. On August 23, 2019, Saadiq released his fifth album, Jimmy Lee, which was highly praised. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he released a song called "Rony! Roni! Roné!" as a tribute to his old group.

In 2022, Saadiq worked on songs for Brent Faiyaz's album Wasteland. He also collaborated with Beyoncé on her albums Renaissance and Cowboy Carter. He received two Grammy nominations for his work on Renaissance.

Musical Instruments and Gear

Raphael Saadiq often plays Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster electric guitars.

Signature Guitar

In 2024, Fender announced a special guitar designed with Saadiq. It's called the Raphael Saadiq Telecaster. It has a unique dark red metallic finish and custom pickups. This guitar was inspired by his first solo album, Instant Vintage.

Discography

Solo Albums

• Instant Vintage (2002)
• Ray Ray (2004)
• The Way I See It (2008)
• Stone Rollin' (2011)
• Jimmy Lee (2019)

With Tony! Toni! Toné!

• Who? (1988)
• The Revival (1990)
• Sons of Soul (1993)
• House of Music (1996)

With Lucy Pearl

• Lucy Pearl (2000)

Singles

• "Ask of You" (1995)
• "Can't Get Enough" (Duet with Willie Max, 1998)
• "Get Involved" (Duet with Q-Tip, 1999)
• "Be Here" (Duet with D'Angelo, 2002)
• "Still Ray" (2002)
• "Love That Girl" (2008)
• "Never Give You Up" (With Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton, 2009)
• "100 Yard Dash" (2009)
• "Staying In Love" (2009)
• "Something Keeps Calling" (2019)

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

BET Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards

Grammy Awards

Soul Train Music Awards