Raphael Saadig: Singer/Songwriter/Producer
Raphael, aka: Charles Ray Wiggins, you may remember on Grammy night he was the guy Mick Jagger played off while prancing around the stage. He was the one with the guitar. Saadig, born and raised in California, is in the world of R&B, Soul, and Rock, flavored with the Motown sound and infused with Hip Hop, Neo Soul. The multi-talented musician, plays the bass guitar, the guitar, and keyboards and is a lead vocalist.
While his personal genre seems to be old school R&B, or traditional R and B, he produces music in all of the fields of music and represents artists in all genres. His name is associated with many well known R&B and Hip-Hop artist and has collaborated with D’angelo in 2000 & 2001, who won Grammy both years. In all he has 12 Grammy Nominations from 1995-2009 and one win in 2003 for Best R/B Song “Love of My Life (Ode to Hip Hop)” sung by Erykah Badu, co-written and produced by him.
The youngest of fourteen children his life had discernible tragedy as a young child. Three of his brothers died, one was murdered, one from a drug overdose and one committed suicide as a result of drug addiction, and one sister was killed in a car crash, during a police chase. During this time he was playing bass guitar from the age of 6 and he began singing at the age of 9. When he was 18 he went to an audition for Sheila E and ended up on tour with Sheila E and Prince. Here he was at the age of 18 in Tokyo and touring with some of the world’s most popular entertainers. He refers to it as his university of learning. He toured with Prince & Sheila E for 2 years before moving on.
In the 90’s he changed his name to Raphael Saadig because he wanted his own identity, and didn’t want to be confused with his brother Wayne who is also in the music business. Wayne is the Founder of Tony, Toni, Toné, which Raphael was an original member. Wayne also is the founder Grass Roots Entertainment (Destiny’s Child). You can see why he wanted to change his name, and have his own identity.
On January 11, 2011 Raphael released a single “Radio”, a Rockn’Roll 50’s style song that received not so favorable reviews, but worth a listen to the upbeat tune.
On February 15, 2011, he released “Good Man”, a 70/80’s style R&B kind of sound. Both of these singles are released from his 5th studio album STONE ROLLIN, to be out sometime in May 2011.
Check out his web-site, he has rehearsal footage with Mick Jagger for the Grammys.
Tunedin4U.blogspot.com
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