Raphael Saadiq, born Raphael Wiggins, first got his first big taste of music’s larger possibilities when he was 18, winning a chance to play with Prince during his “Parade” tour. Singing lead for the multiplatinum pop group Tony Toni Tone in the mid-’90s, Saadiq has achieved a career high with recent solo work, diving headfirst into the throwback influences of old-school soul and R&B, taking cues from artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Sly Stone and Ray Charles. With the recent release of perhaps his best work to date, “Stone Rollin,'” Raphael Saadiq is scheduled to serenade Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as part of its Groovin’ in the Garden music series on Thursday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. $25-$30. 262-9887.