He formed the band in the first place, and bandmate Steve Lukather labeled him Toto's "figurehead." Jeff Porcaro died in an accident on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38. They had considered using him for their 1980 album Chicago XIV, but went with Tom Dowd instead. It was their most comprehensive tour on the continent in years. Because the band members played on so many records and so many musical genres, they adopted the name "Toto" as their own. Formed in 1977, the group's original lineup included lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, keyboardist and vocalist David Paich, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and drummer Jeff Porcaro. On February 9, 2018, Toto released their anniversary album 40 Trips Around the Sun. Following Toto IV, two of the original members, Hungate and Kimball, departed the band. Toto IV earned six Grammy Awards, including "Record of the Year" for "Rosanna", "Album of the Year" for Toto IV and "Producer of the Year". David Paich made a special appearance with the group at the tour opener in Los Angeles, singing and playing on Africa and Home of the Brave. In 2008, a companion DVD of the show which was recorded on March 26, 2007, at Le Zenith in Paris was released. [21] In April, mirroring the situation that had happened with Kimball seven years previously, former singer Joseph Williams was arrested on drug-related charges.[22]. [1], Toto was formed in 1977 by vocalist Bobby Kimball, guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, keyboardist and vocalist David Paich, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and drummer Jeff Porcaro. Luke and I have been through a lot with one another, he said. Our creative partnership has always enriched our lives. With Joseph Williams now onboard officially, Toto wrote and recorded Fahrenheit, released in October 1986. It is over. Toto toured throughout 1982 in support of Toto IV. The new band lineup would feature bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and the News, Pablo Cruise, and a long-time session player), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight (Ghost-Note, Snarky Puppy), and keyboardists Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note) and Steve Maggiora (Robert Jon & the Wreck), as well as multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham. The Seventh One became the band's most successful release since Toto IV. A veteran singer with the likes of rock bands like Trillion, Survivor, and La Roux, he certainly had the chops and experience to roll with Toto, but it just didn't work outhe left the band after Isolation, replaced by singer Joseph Williams. The band recruited several guest musicians for the album. In Jeff's absence, Lukather developed a greater influence on the band. Toto - Members, Ages, Trivia | Famous Birthdays And so he stayed, playing bass for Toto on record and on stage all the way until 2007, when, according to Louder, he tragically had to quit the band because of serious health issues. "They found one one-hundredth of a microgram of cocaine in Jeff's blood. The renewed attention helped draw many new fans to Toto concerts, but a lawsuit by Susan Porcaro Goings, the widow of late Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro, stalled their momentum. [19] Steve Porcaro was never replaced and Toto decided to continue with only five members. Critics already couldn't stand the band; Rolling Stone (via People) labeled Toto IV "about as real as a Velveeta-orange polyester leisure suit," while Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times claimed a "disheartening lack of depth or daring in the group's music." In late 2003, Toto headlined Night of the Proms for two months straight. Beginning in June 2003, near the end of their "25th Anniversary Tour", keyboardist David Paich took a leave of absence from touring to spend time with a sick family member. Formed in 1977, the group's original lineup included lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, keyboardist and vocalist David Paich, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and drummer Jeff Porcaro.The current lineup features constant member Lukather, and lead vocalist Joseph Williams (who originally . [60] Released on June 25, the album contains the streamed performance of November 2020, and was preceded by the release of two singles, live renditions of "Til The End" and "You Are The Flower". The remaining members attempted to keep the band together, with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger taking over on lead vocals. In 2013, celebrating their 35th anniversary, the band embarked on tour across Europe and North America, along with Japanese dates to follow in 2014. I really can't go out and play Hold The Line with a straight face anymore. After noticing a numbness in his fingers while playing the bass, Porcaro sought medical treatment, and doctors diagnosed him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's disease," a devastating and ultimately fatal degenerative neural condition that slowly robs the body of its abilities to speak, eat, and breathe. "When we came through the litigation, all the s*** left over from management that screwed us and all the other negatives, we decided to turn the negative into a positive. Formed in 1977, the group's original lineup included lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, keyboardist and vocalist David Paich, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and drummer Jeff Porcaro. [64][65] Phillinganes' brief stay with the band was only temporary though, as Taplin returned to the band on August 23, 2022 for their show in Luxembourg. [15] Original bassist David Hungate also returned for the album's touring cycle, with Shannon Forrest taking over from Carlock. In 1982, the rock band Chicago brought in David Foster to produce their album Chicago 16. [citation needed]. The rest of us were doing a hundred times more than that and we all lived to tell the tale." "There was a void," he says, "and I stepped up.". "He was probably smoking a cigarette or a joint. Its disappointing chart performance and sales in almost every country except Japan and Norway put the band's career into further jeopardy, as they had not had a hit single in North America in almost two years at that point. Jeff Porcaro played drums on the track,[70] while Steve Porcaro programmed synthesizer for the Thriller album and also wrote and composed "Human Nature". The abnormal success of the album's lead single "Goodbye Elenore" in Japan proved to be the band's breakthrough there, and Japan has become a permanent staple of their touring schedule since. Formed in 1977, the group's original lineup included lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, guitarist and vocalist Steve Lukather, keyboardist and vocalist David Paich, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and drummer Jeff . The band released Mindfields in early 1999 and embarked on the "Reunion" tour, touring worldwide and returning to the United States for the first time in six years. Were the last men standingthe Dogz of Oz!. Joseph Williams, 62 1. It's a seriously horrible diagnosis. According to a story published in the Los Angeles Times on August 7, 1992, Porcaro was working in his yard in the San Fernando Valley, spraying plants with pesticide, when he fell ill. By the time emergency workers arrived, he wasn't breathing, had no pulse, and his heart had stopped. Under Foster's direction, the band adopted more of a soft rock sound, shed most of its jazz fusion/horn section sound, and brought in many session musicians. 'Toto' band member dies People want to hear the hits played the way they were recorded, Joe has his voice back 100% and I loved having that power in front again and all REAL, BIG vocals again strong and seeing Paich AND Steve Porcaro with THOSE real keyboard sounds, Simon back and as Lee was busy having old pal Nate East step in.. it was so much fun and so successful we thought "Hmm, maybe a few gigs once in awhile would be fun" and we can make some money etc.. please some of the hard core fans. Castro had appeared with the group on their first album as a session musician and continued to play on every one of their albums for the next 40 years in varying capacities, with the exception of Turn Back. Toto began 2022 with a 40-city tour through major U.S. basketball and hockey arenas, serving as the opening act for Journey. Toto is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. [27] But the real reason the band got back out there is a lot more depressing: They had no choice. [26] At the close of the tour, the band then took a break to pursue individual projects as well as to keep up their session schedules. I cant think of anyone else on earth Id rather launch the next chapter with this lifelong, loyal, and gifted friend and bandmate. But Jeff and me really bumped heads." Jeffrey T. Porcaro, a rock musician who played drums for Sonny and Cher, Bruce Springsteen and the Grammy Award-winning group Toto, died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. As we look toward whats to come in unison, there is nothing but anticipation to bring everything in our minds to life. The album's other single, "Pamela", became very popular and would be the band's last to hit the US Top 40. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. [57] The tour began with a soft-opening: a worldwide live-streamed performance on November 21, 2020, during which David Paich appeared with the band for the final two songs. [12], Less than two years after the band's breakup, it was announced in February 2010 that Toto would be reforming for a run of shows in benefit of Mike Porcaro, who had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His younger brother Mike was a successful bassist and was a member of the band Toto. [49][50][51] Dave Santos took over bass from Dave Hungate for the final three dates of the tour and Shannon Forrest continued to perform as the band's drummer. 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It was understandably devastating to the band when Porcaro suddenly died at the young age of just 38 in August 1992. Notable past members of the band's touring lineup include guitarist and vocalist Tony Spinner (from 1999 to 2008),[22] keyboardist and backing vocalist John Jessel (from 1991 to 2004),[23] bassist Leland Sklar (from 2007 to 2008, and in 2016),[24][25] and backing vocalist Jenny Douglas-Foote (from 1990 to 1997, 2011 to 2012, and 2014 to 2016). Some of the biggest and most important acts in rock history are sibling actsconsider the Beach Boys with its Wilson brothers, Heart with its Wilson sisters (no relation), and those golden-haired angel boys in Hanson. Unfortunately for the band, in 2014, a judge ruled that the label didn't owe them any money. Steve Lukather released his next solo album on February 22, 2008, titled Ever Changing Times. Bobby Kimball - Wikipedia [29] However, the record gave the band material to promote their "25th Anniversary Tour", which started in 2002 and concluded in 2003. Shortly thereafter, in early 1979, Toto embarked on their first American tour in support of the debut album. [5] The band's constant drummer Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack on August 5, 1992. Paich only occasionally appeared, with Phillinganes playing at most of the shows. An auditor confirmed that notion, and in 2010, the band sued Sony, seeking more than $600,000 in damages. Toto: Inside 'Africa' Hitmakers' Slow Fall and Surprise Resurrection They recorded an instrumental piece entitled "Don't Stop Me Now" with legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Lukather claims that Porcaro's premature death was brought about by a long-standing heart condition and a smoking habit, which bizarrely helped that toxic pesticide find its way into the drummer's bloodstream. It's tough to replace the lead singer of an established bandSammy Hagar of Van Halen and Brian Johnson ofAC/DC are about the only ones who succeededand it was a tall order for Kimball's immediate successor, Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen. Historically, few ensembles in the history of recorded music have individually or collectively had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of TOTO.As individuals, the band members' performances can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a HALF A BILLION albums. That's how the chemicals got into his skin.". While Toto IV peaked at #4 on the Billboard album chart, won some Grammys, and went multi-platinum, the group's apparently not-so-highly-anticipated 1984 follow-up Isolation stalled at #42 (and only went gold). [5][8] After the tour, Kimball remained with the band. Jeff Porcaro died in 1992. On September 18, 2018, guitarist Steve Lukather released his autobiography The Gospel According to Luke, a humorous review on his life in music. We have a big debt to pay. In 1978, under David Foster's direction, he brought in David Hungate, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, and Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball to play on Alice Cooper's 1978 album From the Inside. DiscoverNet | The Tragic Real Life Story Of Toto Hungate was replaced on bass by Mike Porcaro, while Kimball was replaced by a number of different short-term vocalists, the longest serving of which was Joseph Williams. [11] In June 2008, Lukather announced that he had left Toto, signalling the disbandment of the group. Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images. On April 6, 2015, Toto announced that they would embark on August 7, 2015, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, with the band Yes, on a joint summer tour of North America, due to end on September 12 in Coquitlam, British Columbia. That's a long time, and with it come changesband members arrive, band members leave, and people formerly or currently associated with the band fall prey to the predatory nature of time. But by that point, Steve Lukather was the only original member left, but as he later told Classic Rock (via Louder), neither musical nor personnel reasons caused the split. The song "Hold the Line" was now sung as a duet between James and Douglas-McRae. Jeff Porcaro, drummer for the rock band Toto, died of hardening of the arteries caused by cocaine use--not from an allergic reaction to a pesticide as originally reported, the Los Angeles County . He was 59 years old when he died. I didnt want to stop this way. Bass player Nathan East, who had been touring with them since 2010, left after the Japanese tour to pursue his own projects. After Simon Phillips announced of illness, Jon Fariss and Ricky Lawson joined the band for the Night of the Proms. Their show on July 17, 2011, in Verona, Italy was recorded for a live DVD but has yet to be released because of a contractual issue with their former label. That is something Ill never stop doing., The Dogz of Oz global tour offers a rare opportunity to reimagine our personal futures while simultaneously preserving the deep connection that exists with the audience while likewise yielding continual discovery, he continues. The Secret History Of Toto | Louder LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Drummer Jeff Porcaro of the Grammy-winning rock band Toto died of an apparent allergic reaction to pesticides he was using in his yard, his manager said Thursday. Having released 14 studio albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide,[2] the group has received several Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.[3]. A lot of kids were coming to see us [because of Weezer], believe me, Lukather told Guitar Player. The 2007 leg featured Leland Sklar filling in on bass for Mike Porcaro due to an (at the time) undisclosed illness. List of Toto band members - Wikiwand Douglas-McRae even sang lead on the album's bonus track, "Blackeye", and also in a duet with Steve Lukather on "Baby He's Your Man". "We were not the only band that did blow. Toto is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Credit: Orlando Sentinel. Theyve held onto a devoted cult fanbase ever since that time, but they saw an incredible resurgence in popularity a few years back when a new generation of fans discovered Africa. Weezer covered the song in 2018 and turned it into a hit yet again. Two singles were released: "Could You Be Loved", a Bob Marley cover, and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Beatles cover. That arrangement only lasted for two years before the Doors . Toto stayed a going concern, an intact, often touring band for more than 30 years, all the way until 2008, which marked the first time the band ever officially disbanded. It's a rare band in which the leader is the drummer, seeing as how they're stuck behind a mass of snares and hi-hats way in the back of the stage. The singer-songwriter is best known for serving for a time as the lead vocalist for the rock band Toto for new material on their first greatest hits album, Past to Present, [1] as well as the band's Greatest Hits . Toto has featured a wide range of additional musicians as part of its touring lineup. [12] The band also released four promotional music videos for the album, including the title track, "99", "St George and The Dragon" and "All Us Boys". On September 29, 2015, Toto announced the first leg of their 2016 Tour in support of Toto XIV consisting of European and Japanese dates. Other artists/bands whom the members of Toto have collaborated with include Larry Carlton, Pink Floyd, Quincy Jones, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, James Newton-Howard, Michael McDonald, the Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Yes, Eddie Van Halen, Los Lobotomys, Yoso, Richard Page (of Mr. Mister, who was proposed to replace Bobby Kimball), and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (also featuring Richard Page). In early 2006, Toto released Falling in Between on the Italian label Frontiers, their first album of new material since 1999. In addition, a then-unknown Paula Abdul appeared as a dancer in their "Till the End" music video. Steve Lukather, 65 5. "I was drinking myself to death, I was losing my marriage, my mother was dying," he said. The lineup featured David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams, and special guest Nathan East. [34] They would tour Japan with Boz Scaggs, which additionally featured Joseph Williams singing lead and background vocals with Kimball, and also featured the return of David Paich.[35]. After original bassist David Hungate left the groupin 1982, another one of those Porcaros, Mike, jumped from occasional Toto cellist to full-time Toto bassist. An inordinate number of Toto's musicians have diedJeff Porcaro, Mike Porcaro, Fergie Frederiksenwhile Steve Porcaro managed to avoid the Grim Reaper for now. Fahrenheit eventually went Gold on October 3, 1994. We were doing amazing shows, so its sad and disgusting to stop this way because of a legal issue. On February 26, 2010, the band reformed and reunited for a brief tour of Europe in the summer to benefit Mike Porcaro, who had been diagnosed with ALS. He was demoted to background vocals before ultimately being fired at the conclusion of the tour. Toto (stylized as TOTO) is an American rock band formed in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. On October 11, 2010, Steve Lukather released his next solo album, All's Well That Ends Well. [14] The group continued touring over the next few years, before Phillips left in January 2014 during the recording of Toto XIV and was replaced by Keith Carlock. Later that year, a live album titled Livefields was released. Toto Reform With New Lineup, Plot 'Dogz of Oz' World Tour got back together for the RIGHT reason. In addition to "Africa" and "Rosanna", Toto IV continued its successful run with the release of another single, "Make Believe". He didn't have gloves on. The Band Playing Most of the Songs on Michael Jackson's - TVOvermind Is Toto A Rock And Roll Band - BoySetsFire Two lineups of Toto onstage in 1982 (top) and 2010 (bottom). While Toto topped the charts and dominated both the Grammys and rock radio in the early '80s, sadly the band subsequently drifted into semi-obscurity thereafter, the fate of so many artists who were once on top of the world. With the Triple Platinum-certified Toto IV, the band delivered one of the most commercially successful records of the year. Isolation's tour began in February 1985 and concluded three months later.[10]. Both the live album and the DVD were released in late 2003. For the tour, Toto brought along two additional musicians, Tom Kelly (guitar, backup vocals) and Lenny Castro (percussion), to increase the depth of the sound. [9] The group returned to a lineup with two keyboardists in 2005 with the addition of Greg Phillinganes, who had previously toured with the band in place of Paich. After its release, the band embarked on another world tour. "Africa" topped the Billboard Hot 100, while "Rosanna" reached number 2, helping Toto become one of the best-selling music groups of their era. The album also appeared on several worldwide charts, introducing the band to new audiences around the globe. Their show on June 25, 2013, in d, Poland was recorded for a live release and was released on April 29, 2014. [3] Kimball left two years later, with Lukather crediting his dismissal to increasing vocal problems stemming from his cocaine use. On June 5, 2008 after a period of rumors and some allusions, Lukather posted a message on his official website, stating, "The fact is yes I have left Toto. Because the band members played on so many different records and many different musical genres, they adopted the name "Toto" as their own. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday. Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro died first, on August 5 1992, aged just 38. Toto is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time 19951997: Addition of Simon Phillips and, 20032005: Greg Phillinganes joins and David Paich's semi-retirement, 2008-2010: First hiatus and subsequent reformation, 20132014: 35th anniversary and Simon Phillips's departure, 2014: David Hungate's return and North American tour with Michael McDonald, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s), "Steve Lukather Says Toto Are 'Calling It a Day', "Toto to Release First Album in Nearly a Decade", "Rascal Flatts Perform With Toto During Musicians Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony", https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-lukather-there-will-be-no-more-toto-albums, "Former Toto singer upsets fans by using band's name at club", "Drummer's Death Linked to Cocaine, Coroner Says: Autopsy: Report finds no evidence to support earlier belief that Toto's Jeff Porcaro died of an allergic reaction to a pesticide", "Toto: Africa (Music Video 1982) Full Cast & Crew Website", "A Rip-Roaring Tribute to Toto's Jeff Porcaro", "Toto Setlist at Medina Entertainment Complex, Medina", "Toto Setlist at Vive Cuervo Saln, Mexico City", "Toto Ramps Up for Busy 2014 With Planned Studio Album, Upcoming DVD/CD Release, Japanese Tour", "Steve Lukather Talks New Toto Album: 'I Think This Is Gonna Surprise People', "Toto XIV Lukather & CJ Vanston Comment Exclusively", "Toto's First Album in 10 Years Given Release Date", "Yes & Toto 2015 North American Summer Tour", "Yes & Toto 2015 Co-Headlining North American Summer Tour Schedule", "Toto announce European/Japan dates for 2016", "Toto has announced that David Paich will not be performing on the band's planned North American tour", "Susan Porcaro Goings vs Steven L Lukather et al", "Toto To Call It Quits After Finishing '40th Anniversary Tour' In Philadelphia", "Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams Announce New Toto Line-Up and Plans to Bring The Dogz of Oz Tour Worldwide", "Toto Reform With New Lineup, Plot 'Dogz of Oz' World Tour", "Toto Announce Plans to Move Confirmed Appearances to 2022 and Share Detail on Additional Announce / On-Sales", "Toto To Release 'With A Little Help From My Friends' In June", "Steve Lukather: There will be no more Toto albums", "Toto reunites with David Paich in Amsterdam", "Help us in welcoming back the legendary @greg_phillinganes_live to the Toto stage! The band came together in 1977 after the various members played on albums by Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Seals and Crofts, and others. Hes like a brother to me. Tambu sold 600,000 copies worldwide. List of Toto band members - Wikipedia That added up to a bubbling cauldron overflowing with searing hot animosity and resentment. Byron remained for the promotional tour for the album Past to Present: 19771990, but did not get on with the rest of the band and left shortly thereafter, with no new frontman brought in to take his place. Jeff Porcaro died in an accident on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38 while working in his garden. In the early 1980s, band members told the press that the band was named after Toto the dog from The Wizard of Oz. Getting to the point that we need to make a deal that didnt favor usThis action stuck a knife in us and it is a lot to endure. What caused a outwardly-healthy seeming, relatively young guy to drop dead is a bizarre amalgam of factors and the story changes a bit, depending on who's talking. Younger brother Steve is still a studio musician and also was a member of Toto. [15] In the music video for the song, Cynthia Rhodes plays the title character. Douglas-McRae formerly served as an actress as the librarian in the band's 1982 "Africa" music video. David Hungate, after viewing the name on the demo tapes, explained to the group that the Latin words "in toto" translated to "all-encompassing". Steve Lukather - Wikipedia Here's the long, strange, and sad story of Toto. Mike Porcaro, bassist with pop group Toto, dies at 59 Band History - TOTO While Isolation did not achieve the acclaim or sales of Toto IV, it did achieve Gold status, largely on the strength of the single "Stranger in Town". [13] They were directed by Bruce Gowers and produced by Paul Flattery for Jon Roseman Productions International. Mike Porcaro, the longtime bass player for Grammy-winning rock band Toto, died early Sunday morning at 59 following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). [31] The 2007 leg also featured extensive dates in both Europe and the United States, including an appearance at Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota. According to the Los Angeles Times Report, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office lists the cause of death to be a heart attack from the hardening of the arteries caused by cocaine use. Paich was still a member of Toto, however, as he continued to record and produce on all of Toto's releases. This is NOT a break. Their final release was 2018's Old Is New before the band eschewed recording any further studio albums.[4]. A Los Angeles County Coroner spokesman (and some doctors who treated Porcaro) attributed the death to a heart attack caused by an allergic reaction to inhaled pesticide spray.