Toto is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. 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 joined in 1986, and rejoined in 2010). The band also tours with several additional musicians, currently bassist John Pierce (since 2020), drummer Shannon Forrest (since 2024, originally from 2014 to 2019), keyboardists Greg Phillinganes (since 2024, originally from 2003 to 2008) and Dennis Atlas (since 2024), and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham (since 2017, and originally from 1986 to 1988). Paich is still in the band as a music director, but medically unfit to tour. [1] He still makes guest appearances at random select concert dates.
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. [2] Hungate left after the recording of the band's fourth album Toto IV in 1982, with Mike Porcaro (brother of Steve and Jeff) taking his place. [3] Kimball left two years later, with Lukather crediting his dismissal to increasing vocal problems stemming from his cocaine use. [4] He was replaced by Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen (who performed on Isolation before), and later Jean-Michel Byron. Byron remained for the promotional tour for the album Past to Present 1977–1990 , 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. [5] The band's constant drummer Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack on August 5, 1992. [6]
After briefly considering disbanding, Toto returned to touring, with Los Angeles-based British drummer Simon Phillips replacing Jeff Porcaro. [7] The group continued as a four-piece throughout much of the 1990s, before reuniting with Kimball, Williams and Steve Porcaro in 1998 for a tour in promotion of the 20th anniversary compilation Toto XX: 1977–1997 . [5] [8] After the tour, Kimball remained with the band. [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. [10] Mike Porcaro was forced to retire in 2007 due to illness, with Leland Sklar filling in. [11] In June 2008, Lukather announced that he had left Toto, signalling the disbandment of the group. Writing on his website, he explained that the band members "had some differences in how business was being done". [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. [13] Lukather, Paich and Phillips were joined by former members Joseph Williams and Steve Porcaro, and touring bassist Nathan East. [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. [15] Original bassist David Hungate also returned for the album's touring cycle, with Shannon Forrest taking over from Carlock. [16] [17] The next lineup of Toto included Joseph Williams, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Shem von Schroeck, Shannon Forrest, Lenny Castro and Warren Ham. [18]
On October 19, 2020, it was announced that Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams would return to touring under the band name, in a proposed worldwide tour in 2021, known as the Dogz of Oz Tour. 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 long-time multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham. [19] 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. [20] On April 12, 2021, the band announced that the Dogz of Oz World Tour would be pushed to 2022. [21]
Toto has featured a wide range of additional musicians as part of its touring lineup. Notable past members of the band's touring lineup include keyboardist and technician John Jessel (from 1991 to 2004), [22] guitarist and vocalist Tony Spinner (from 1999 to 2008), [23] vocalist Buddy Hyatt (1999), 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). [26] Many of these additional musicians have also contributed to Toto's studio albums, both during their tenures and as guest contributors.
In January 2024, Toto announced the return of keyboardist Greg Phillinganes and drummer Shannon Forrest ahead of their 2024 tour, [27] replacing Taplin and Searight respectively. In June, Dennis Atlas replaced Maggiora. [28]
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Lukather |
|
| all Toto releases | |
David Paich |
|
| all Toto releases except Falling in Between Live (2007) | |
Joseph Williams |
|
|
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Porcaro |
|
|
| |
Jeff Porcaro | 1977–1992 (until his death) [2] [6] |
|
| |
Bobby Kimball |
|
|
| |
David Hungate |
|
|
| |
Mike Porcaro | 1982–2007 (died 2015) [3] [11] |
|
| |
Fergie Frederiksen | 1984–1985 (died 2014) [5] | lead and backing vocals |
| |
Jean-Michel Byron | 1989–1990 [5] |
| ||
Simon Phillips |
|
| all Toto releases from Absolutely Live (1993) to 35th Anniversary: Live in Poland (2014), except Greatest Hits Live... and More (2002) | |
Keith Carlock | 2014 [15] [16] [17] |
| Toto XIV (2015) |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Warren Ham |
|
|
| |
Greg Phillinganes |
|
| ||
Shannon Forrest | drums |
| ||
John Pierce | 2020–present [19] | bass | With a Little Help from My Friends (2021) | |
Dennis Atlas | 2024–present |
| none |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lenny Castro |
|
| ||
Tom Kelly | 1979 [31] |
|
| |
Keith Landry | 1980 [32] | none | ||
Jon Smith [33] | 1982 |
| Toto IV (1982) | |
James Newton Howard | keyboards |
| ||
Timothy B. Schmit [34] | backing vocals |
| ||
Paulette Brown-Castro | 1985–1987 (died 1998) | Fahrenheit (1986) | ||
Scott Page | 1985 |
| none | |
Ralf Rickert | 1986–1987 |
| ||
Luis Conte | 1988 | percussion | Past to Present 1977–1990 (1990) | |
Jenny Douglas-McRae |
| backing vocals |
| |
Chris Trujillo | 1990–1993 | percussion |
| |
Jacci McGhee | 1990–1991 | backing vocals |
| |
John Jessel | 1990–2003 |
|
| |
Fred White | 1991 | backing vocals |
| |
John James | 1992–1997 |
| ||
Donna McDaniel | 1992–1994 | Absolutely Live (1993) | ||
Gregg Bissonette | 1995 | drums | none – filled in temporarily for Simon Phillips | |
Sofia Bender | 1996 | backing vocals | none – filled in temporarily for Jenny Douglas | |
Tony Spinner | 1999–2008 [23] |
|
| |
Buddy Hyatt | 1999–2000 |
| Livefields (1999) | |
Jeff Babko | 2000 |
| none – filled in temporarily for David Paich | |
Jon Farriss | 2003 | drums | none – filled in temporarily for Simon Phillips | |
Ricky Lawson | 2003 (died 2013) | |||
Leland Sklar |
| bass |
| |
Mabvuto Carpenter | 2010–2016 [14] | backing vocals |
| |
Nathan East | 2010–2014 [14] |
| 35th Anniversary: Live in Poland (2014) | |
Jory Steinberg | 2010 [14] | backing vocals | none | |
Amy Keys | 2013–2014 |
| ||
David Santos | 2015 | bass | none – filled in temporarily for David Hungate | |
Shem von Schroeck | 2017–2019 |
| 40 Tours Around The Sun (2019) | |
Dominique "Xavier" Taplin | 2018–2024 (substitute for Paich 2018–2019) [19] [35] [30] |
| With a Little Help From My Friends (2021) | |
Robert "Sput" Searight | 2020–2024 [30] |
| ||
Steve Maggiora | 2020–2024 [19] |
| With a Little Help from My Friends (2021) |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marty Paich |
| string arrangements, conductor |
| |
Roger Linn |
|
|
| |
Jim Horn |
|
|
| |
Chuck Findley |
|
|
| |
Cheryl Lynn | 1977–1978 | backing vocals | Toto (1978) | |
Sid Sharp | string arrangements | |||
Michael Boddicker | 1979 | synthesizer samples | Hydra (1979) | |
Joe Porcaro |
|
| ||
Tom Scott |
|
|
| |
Jerry Hey |
|
|
| |
Jimmy Pankow |
|
|
| |
Gary Grant |
| trumpet |
| |
Ralph Dyck | 1981–1982 | synthesizers | Toto IV (1982) | |
The Martyn Ford Orchestra | strings | |||
Richard Page |
| backing vocals |
| |
Mike Cotten | 1984 | synthesizers | Isolation (1984) | |
The London Symphony Orchestra | strings | |||
Gene Morford | bass vocal | |||
Virginia Madsen | narration | Dune (1984) | ||
Vienna Symphony Orchestra | strings | |||
Kenneth McMillan | 1984 (died 1989) | dialogue | ||
Paul Smith | 1984 (died 2012) | |||
Jim Keltner |
| percussion |
| |
Michael McDonald |
| backing vocals |
| |
Paulinho da Costa |
| percussion |
| |
"Sidney" | 1986 | Fahrenheit (1986) | ||
Steve Jordan | ||||
Larry Williams | saxophones | |||
David Sanborn | 1986 (died 2024) | |||
Charles Loper | 1986 | trombone | ||
Bill Reichenbach Jr. | ||||
Miles Davis | 1986 (died 1991) | trumpet | ||
Amin Bhatia | 1986 | synthesizer | ||
Paulette Brown | backing vocals | |||
Tony Walthes | ||||
Don Henley | ||||
Michael Sherwood | 1986 (died 2019) | |||
Gary Herbig |
|
|
| |
Michael Fisher |
| percussion |
| |
Patti Austin | 1987–1988 | backing vocals | The Seventh One (1988) | |
Jon Anderson | ||||
Linda Ronstadt | ||||
Bill Payne | keyboards | |||
Andy Narell | steel drums | |||
David Lindley | 1987–1988 (died 2023) | lap steel | ||
Phillip Ingram |
| backing vocals |
| |
Stan Lynch | ||||
C. J. Vanston |
|
|
| |
Bobby Womack | 1992 (died 2014) | backing vocals | Kingdom of Desire (1992) | |
John Elefante | 1992 | |||
Alex Brown | ||||
Angel Rogers | ||||
Fred White | ||||
Steve George | ||||
John Fogerty | ||||
Kevin Dorsey | ||||
Arnold McCuller | ||||
Billy Sherwood | ||||
Phil Perry | ||||
Don Menza | saxophone | |||
Ricky Nelson | 1995 | backing vocals | Tambu (1995) | |
Jim Giddens | S.P. chant | |||
Elliot Scheiner | ||||
Clint Black | 1999 |
| Mindfields (1999) | |
Bill Reichenbach Jr. | horns | |||
Mark Hudson | backing vocals | |||
Phil Soussan | ||||
Chris Thompson | ||||
Maria Vidal | ||||
Monet |
|
|
| |
James Ingram | 2001–2002 (died 2019) | Through the Looking Glass (2002) | ||
Brandon Fields | 2001–2002 |
| ||
Walt Fowler |
| |||
Tippa Irie | DJ | |||
Ellis Hall | vocals | |||
Davey Johnstone | backing vocals | |||
Nigel Olsson | ||||
Trevor Lukather |
|
|
| |
Ian Anderson | 2005 | flute | Falling in Between (2006) | |
L. Shankar | violin | |||
Ray Herrmann | tenor saxophone | |||
Lee Thornburg | trumpet | |||
Roy Hargrove | 2005 (died 2018) | trumpet and flugelhorn | ||
Jason Scheff | 2005 | backing vocals | ||
James Tormé | ||||
Martin Tillman |
| cello |
| |
Tal Wilkenfeld | 2013–2014 | bass guitar | Toto XIV (2015) | |
Tim Lefebvre | ||||
Jamie Savko | backing vocals | |||
Emma Williams | ||||
Vinnie Colaiuta | 2016–2017 | drums | Old Is New (2018) | |
Mark T. Williams | backing vocals | |||
Pat Knox | ||||
Lorraine Paich | ||||
Weston Wilson | ||||
What So Not | instrumentation | |||
James Rushent | additional instrumentation | |||
Surahn Sidhu |
Role | Lead Vocals | Guitar/vocals | Bass | Keyboards/vocals | Synthesizers | Drums |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toto (1978) | Bobby Kimball | Steve Lukather | David Hungate | David Paich | Steve Porcaro | Jeff Porcaro |
Hydra (1979) | ||||||
Turn Back (1981) | ||||||
Toto IV (1982) | ||||||
Isolation (1984) | Fergie Frederiksen | Mike Porcaro | ||||
Dune (1984) | no-one | |||||
Fahrenheit (1986) | Joseph Williams | |||||
The Seventh One (1988) | ||||||
Kingdom of Desire (1992) | Steve Lukather | Steve Porcaro/ John Jessel | ||||
Tambu (1995) | David Paich | Simon Phillips | ||||
Toto XX (1998) | various singers | Mike Porcaro/ David Hungate | Steve Porcaro | Jeff Porcaro | ||
Mindfields (1999) | Bobby Kimball | Mike Porcaro | no-one | Simon Phillips | ||
Through the Looking Glass (2002) | ||||||
Falling in Between (2006) | Greg Phillinganes | |||||
Toto XIV (2015) | Joseph Williams | David Hungate | Steve Porcaro | Keith Carlock | ||
Old Is New (2018) | David Hungate/ Mike Porcaro | Jeff Porcaro/ Vinnie Colaiuta |
Period | Personnel | Releases | |
---|---|---|---|
Official members | Touring musicians | ||
1977–1982 |
|
| |
1982–1984 |
|
| none |
1984–1985 |
|
| |
1985–1987 |
|
|
|
1987–1988 |
|
|
|
1988–1989 |
| none | none |
1989 |
|
| |
1990 |
|
|
|
1991–1992 |
|
|
|
1992–1998 |
|
|
|
1998–2005 |
|
|
|
2005–2007 |
|
|
|
2007–2008 |
|
|
|
Band inactive June 2008 – February 2010 | |||
February 2010 – January 2014 |
|
|
|
January – May 2014 |
|
|
|
May 2014 – September 2015 |
|
|
|
November 2015 – October 2019 |
|
|
|
Band inactive October 2019 – October 2020 | |||
October 2020 – present |
|
|
|
David Frank Paich is an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist, and secondary vocalist of the rock band Toto since 1977. He wrote or co-wrote much of Toto's original material, including the band's three most popular songs: "Hold the Line", "Rosanna", and "Africa". With Toto, Paich has contributed to 17 albums and sold over 40 million records. He and guitarist and singer Steve Lukather are the only members to appear on every studio album.
Steven Lee "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a steady flow of session work beginning in the 1970s that has since established him as a prolific session musician, recording guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums spanning a broad array of artists and genres. He has also contributed to albums and hit singles as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Notably, Lukather played guitar on Boz Scaggs' albums Down Two Then Left (1977) and Middle Man (1980), and was a prominent contributor to several studio albums by Michael Jackson, including Thriller (1982). Lukather has released nine solo albums, the latest of which, Bridges, was released in June 2023.
Toto, stylized as TOTO, is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1977. Toto combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, hard rock, R&B, blues, and jazz. Having released 14 studio albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide, the group has received several Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.
Toto IV is the fourth studio album by American rock band Toto, released on April 8, 1982, by Columbia Records. The album's lead single, "Rosanna", peaked at number 2 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, while the album's third single, "Africa", topping the Hot 100 chart, became the group's first and only number 1 hit. Both songs were hits in the UK as well, reaching number 12 and 3, respectively. The fourth single, "I Won't Hold You Back", also peaked within the top ten on the Hot 100, at number 10 and atop the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts for three weeks. It also went into the top 40 in the UK. With the success of "Africa", the album climbed back into the top 10 in early 1983 on both sides of the Atlantic.
Kingdom of Desire is the eighth studio album by Toto, released in 1992. It is the first album on which guitarist Steve Lukather assumed sole lead vocal duties and the final album to feature drummer Jeff Porcaro, who died during rehearsals for the tour promoting this album, and the last album which involved all the Porcaro brothers together. The album was mixed by Bob Clearmountain and dedicated to Jeff in his memory.
Isolation is the fifth studio album by American rock band Toto, released in November 1984. Isolation is the first album to feature longtime bassist Mike Porcaro, the only album with Fergie Frederiksen as the primary vocalist, and the first time that all of the Porcaro brothers involved together on Toto record. Isolation failed to achieve the popularity of its predecessor, Toto IV, although it achieved gold record status and gave the band their highest charting mainstream rock single "Stranger in Town". Relatively few songs from this album were featured in live performances after 1985's Isolation World Tour.
Falling in Between is the twelfth studio album by American rock band, Toto. The album was released in Europe on February 14, 2006 on the Italian label Frontiers Records, and in the United States on April 18, 2006. The band supported the album with a world tour. It was the band's first studio release since Through the Looking Glass in 2002, the last one with lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the only one with keyboardist/vocalist Greg Phillinganes. Phillinganes originally began playing with Toto as a touring replacement for David Paich, who had retired from the road. Another Porcaro brother, Steve, continues to work in the studio with the band, though he also retired from touring following the Fahrenheit album in 1987. Similarly, Lenny Castro has never been a member of the group, but has consistently contributed to their recordings since their first album in 1978. This is also the band's last studio album to feature bassist Mike Porcaro and drummer Simon Phillips; Porcaro retired from touring in the following year due to symptoms of ALS taking away the use of his hands and died in 2015. Phillips left the band in 2014 to focus on his solo career.
David Hungate is an American bass guitarist noted as a member of the Los Angeles pop-rock band Toto from 1976 to 1982 and again from 2014 to 2015, and the son of judge William L. Hungate. Along with most of his Toto bandmates, Hungate did sessions on a number of hit albums of the 1970s, including Boz Scaggs's Silk Degrees and Alice Cooper's From the Inside.
Robert Troy Kimball is an American singer and songwriter best known as longtime frontman of the rock band Toto from 1977 to 1984 and again from 1998 to 2008. Kimball has also performed as a solo artist and session singer.
Toto is the debut studio album by American rock band Toto, released in October 1978 by Columbia Records. It includes the hit singles "Hold the Line", "I'll Supply the Love" and "Georgy Porgy", all three of which made it into the top 50 in the US. "Hold the Line" spent six weeks in the top 10, and reached number 14 in the UK as well.
25th Anniversary: Live in Amsterdam is a live album by Toto, released in 2003, in the 25th anniversary of the band. And this was also the band's last live album to feature keyboardist/vocalist David Paich and bassist Mike Porcaro; Paich, before his semi-retirement from touring in 2005 until his return to the band in 2010 with Greg Phillinganes taking his place, and Porcaro, before his retirement from touring due to him being diagnosed with ALS four years later and his death on March 15, 2015.
"Hold the Line" is a song by American rock band Toto from their 1978 eponymous debut studio album. Written by the band's keyboardist David Paich, the lead vocals on the song were performed by Bobby Kimball.
"Rosanna" is a song written by David Paich and performed by the American rock band Toto, the opening track and the first single from their 1982 album Toto IV. This song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 1983 ceremony. "Rosanna" was also nominated for the Song of the Year award. It is regarded for the half-time shuffle which drummer Jeff Porcaro developed for the song, and for its production, which is generally seen as being one of the best mastered songs of all time. The groove has become an important staple of drum repertoire and is commonly known as the "Rosanna shuffle".
Toto XX: 1977–1997 is a compilation album by Toto to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The album features rare original demos, outtakes, previously unreleased recordings and live tracks from the band's 20-year career. Despite its being labeled as a compilation album, Steve Lukather in 2014 defined the album as the tenth studio album overall.
"99" is a song by the American rock band Toto. The song appeared on the Hydra album in 1979. As a single, it reached number 26 on the Billboard charts. In Canada, the song peaked at number 17 on the RPM singles chart. The full album version of the song includes a gentle piano-driven ride out, while the single edit fades the song out before that part.
Falling in Between Live is the fourth live album by American band Toto, released in 2007. It was recorded live at Le Zénith, Paris, France.
Best Ballads is a 1995 compilation album by Toto. It features many of the band's well known ballads.
Toto XIV is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Toto. Toto released the album on March 20, 2015. It is the band's first studio album since Falling in Between in 2006.
"Holy War" is a song by the American rock band Toto. It was released as the second single from the band's 2015 album, Toto XIV. Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather share lead vocals on the song and co-wrote the it with Jeffery CJ Vanston.
"Waiting for Your Love" is a song by American pop and rock band Toto from their 1982 album Toto IV. In 1983, it was released as a single, peaking at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.