"We named our album the House of Music after a popular old record store in East Oakland, CA, where everybody used to buy their music at," says Raphael Saadiq of Tony Toni Tone. "We felt this album was packed with good music, too." "We grew up in a house of music," adds D'Wayne Wiggins, Raphael's brother. "Our father was a blues guitarist, and the title just felt right. Music always brings people together." "Tony Toni Tone is a real band with real instruments, who have succeeded in bringing the art of R&B songwriting back to the future," states Time magazine. Called "Sexy, slamin' and totally hip!" by People magazine, the Bay Area-based trio, winner of the 1994 Rolling Stone Critic's Poll for "Best R&B Group," comprises Raphael Saadiq, D'Wayne Wiggins and their cousin Timothy Christian Riley. House of Music, which mixes hip-hop and funk flavors with rock, jazz, blues and gospel, is a "guitar, bass and drums-driven record, with lots of keyboard and horns," explains Raphael. "But moving back and forth is what the Tonyies is about. We're not just one thing." "Their collective style seems to transcend all formats...It sets the Tonyies apart by introducing various styles, not just one sound, on the album," writes Billboard. "I'm hearing a lot of growth on this record," says Tim, who plays drums and keyboards. "This time was more raw. We used mostly live instruments, and you get more of a real vibe if you have somebody playing." D'Wayne, who plays guitar and sings, adds "People want musical, jazzy breaks in hip-hop, but they also want to hear piano, they want to hear flutes, they want to hear orchestras. Music is not one dimensional. We try not to stay one dimensional." The first single, "Let's Get Down," (featuring DJ Quik) with hip-hop master DJ Quik is what D'Wayne calls "straight dance funk, bump in the back of your trunk" music. Raphael, who produced the track, says, "I respect Quik as a musician. I always knew he was kind of a P-Funk head, like a funkster, so the collaboration was pretty much normal and natural. It was my influence as far as singing, playing guitar and arranging, and he brought the DJ Quik side, the club thing that I was looking for." Besides hip-hop flavor, the album drops up-tempo tracks like "Don't Fall In Love," which D'Wayne says brings to mind "the Temps and chicken slacks," and "Annie Mae," the story of a 'good girl next door,' who becomes an exotic dancer. On "Wild Child," Raphael taps the Tower of Power horn section. He calls the ballad "Thinking About You," a "really soul, southern, funky song" that pays respect to the Rev. Al Green. "We like ballads," says D'Wayne, "in ballads you can just tell so much more." "I played a lot of guitar on this album, and I sing a lot of background, " says Raphael, who also plays bass and keyboards. "I am singing a little better to myself, and feel more comfortable." Has their oft-quoted 'less is more' production policy changed? "Less is more, but the people we play with know so much, it always makes it about even," he says. Acclaimed as the architects of the 'New Soul' sound, D'Wayne comments, "R&B was never dead." "I have to say we were fortunate to get the break before a lot of people," adds Raphael. "We don't want to do the '70s thing over. People said R&B was soggy and they were right. But for artists like us, they should add another 'R' and call it 'Real R&B.'" "Rumors circulated after the 1993 platinum Sons of Soul that the group had broken up," states Raphael. "Everybody had their projects. The group was trying to figure out where everybody's time, space and head was at." "I think we are like some bigger groups, like Genesis, that have members venturing off to do different things and have fun," adds Tim. Raphael used his time away from the group to take on production and writing work for D'Angelo, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, En Vogue and Total. "I basically felt it was a growing experience to learn more about myself, write the kinds of songs I want to write, and think about expanding in years to come," he says. During this time he changed his surname from Wiggins to Saadiq, a muslim name meaning 'A man of his word.' "I just wanted my own identity and my own name, " he explains. "I like what it represents. I feel better with that name." He also sports a shaved head. "I didn't want to hide behind my dreads. I want to just have at the Mic. Me and the Mic," he says, "that's my whole attitude." Tim started Nature Boy Productions, writing and producing for Bay Area-based trio Art & Soul, and producing for Tevin Campbell and the Danish superstar Thomas Helmig. "I was excited to expand my talents to another country," he says. D'Wayne started Grass Roots Productions, and stays 'on the run,' he says, producing domestic and international artists including Karyn White, Tevin Campbell, Toshi Kabutal, Richie Rich, Blu and Simple E. The Group's 1988 gold debut album Who?, produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, spawned four hits including "Baby Doll," "Born Not To Know," "For the Love of You," and the #1 Billboard R&B Chart smash "Little Walter." On their next effort, 1990's The Revival, the group took over production, achieving four consecutive #1 Billboard Pop Chart hits: "Feels Good," "The Blues," "Whatever You Want," and "It Never Rains," which also went Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Chart. The Revival has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Raphael's "Me And You," from the platinum Boys in the Hood soundtrack garnered chart action, and his "Ask Of You" from the platinum Higher Learning soundtrack scored with critics. The title track for the film House Party 2 also charted. Their third album, 1993's Sons of Soul, generated the hits "If I Had No Loot," the classic "Anniversary," "Slow Wine," "Leavin'" and "(Lay Your Head On My) Pillow," bringing the group platinum sales and critical acclaim from all quarters. In addition to the Rolling Stone Critic's Award, they were nominated for a Grammy in the "Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group" category. "With Sons of Soul, Tony Toni Tone does it again, reaffirming its talent for creating a sound that embraces soulful influences, while remaining distinctively its own," wrote Request magazine. Music critics have compared the group to legendary acts like the Meters, the Temptations, Kool and the Gang and the Commodores. "It is a real compliment" says Tim. "All of those groups were great live performers." They say if you want to be like one of the greats you should study and listen to them," says Raphael. "I can't say that I've studied everybody, but it was around us so much, it starts to wear off on you." Raised in Oakland, home to such legendary musicians as Sly Stone and Tower of Power, Raphael and Dwayne also listened to rappers like the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and performed in church, school, and occasionally with their father. "I never really tripped about what a musical place it is," says Tim, who heard mostly gospel music there. "There were always kids around playing instruments and competing in talent shows. You had to be good, 'cause there were always people saying 'I can beat you.'" Although Raphael now calls Sacramento home, he still has roots in Oakland, and sponsors two Little League baseball teams there. "They each came in first place this year, and brought me trophies and stuff," he says. "It was great." Besides writing, playing, performing and producing, Raphael has studied acting and intends to pursue a film career in addition to music. Tim built a commercial recording studio where the Tonyies and Karyn White record. "Having a studio to record in and build as a business is a dream come true," he says. "My house of music lives inside of me," says D'Wayne, who feels as comfortable strumming "Rhythm and Soul" notes from his guitar in favorite Oakland clubs as he does in the recording studio. He is a community activist, and also writes movie scores. "I don't get down to the club to do the 'D-style' as often as I would like to, but when I can -- 'Ooh,'" he exclaims, "just me, my guitar and my people: friends and family more than fans." 'Toneheads,' as the Tonyies fans are known, have encouraged the group to record and tour again. "It's cool, because lots of people say they wanted to see us play together and be a group, so it makes us feel good to know we are wanted," says Raphael. The trio has pulled together their original twelve-piece touring band, adding two background singers, and look forward to life on the road. "The more feedback we get, the more we want to do it. I want to be like a gas station, where everybody comes to get pumped up off of us," says Raphael. Adds Tim, "The whole tour is gonna be something this time. There is real chemistry with us." 取自http://www.artistdirect.com/showcase/urban/tonyie.html -- 劳动是一切财富的泉源； 劳动是人类一切生活的头号基本条件； 劳动创造了人类自身。 <<Frederick Engels>> --

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