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Our Complete List Of TOTO Band Members looks at a band first formed in 1979. I will never forget hearing their first single release, “Hold the Line,” driving in my car during the fall of 1979. That piano riff was so original sounding, and everybody who played piano at the time wanted to learn it. It was easy to hear that this was a special band. What many people did not realize at first was that it was a group of legendary session players whom we had all heard many times before throughout the seventies on so many big-time hits and legendary albums. These guys could play. But more importantly, they can also write great songs. If there ever was a band where the interest in each individual band member can be a fascinating read, TOTO is the one.
LIST OF CURRENT AND FORMER TOTO BAND MEMBERS
Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather, whose full name is Steven Lee Lukather, is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, widely recognized as one of the founding members of the rock band TOTO. Steve Lukather was born on October 21, 1957, in San Fernando Valley, California. Lukather’s interest in music, particularly rock and jazz, blossomed early in his life. He is acclaimed for his versatile guitar playing, distinctive tone, and emotional solos, making him one of the prominent figures in rock and session guitar playing. He is also one really nice guy who we have recently interviewed.
Lukather’s career with TOTO began with the band’s formation in 1977. As the band’s guitarist and one of its vocalists, he played a crucial role in shaping the sound and success of TOTO. Lukather’s guitar work is featured on all of TOTO’s albums, from their debut “TOTO” (1978) to their latest works. He is known for his contributions to hits like “Rosanna,” “Hold the Line,” and the iconic guitar solo in “Africa.” His musicianship extends beyond playing; he is also a key songwriter and producer for the band, contributing to the creative direction and production of many of their albums.
Beyond TOTO, Steve Lukather has an exceptionally prolific career as a session musician. He has contributed to over 1,500 albums spanning a wide range of artists and genres. His session work includes collaborations with Michael Jackson (notably playing the guitar solo on “Beat It” with Eddie Van Halen), Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, George Benson, and many others, showcasing his adaptability and high demand in the music industry.
As a solo artist, Steve Lukather has released several albums that exhibit his skills as a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. His solo albums are killer.
Throughout his career, Steve Lukather has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, both as a member of TOTO and as a session musician. His contributions to TOTO and the music world at large have cemented his status as one of the most important and respected guitarists in rock history.
Bobby Kimball
Bobby Kimball is best known as the original and longtime lead vocalist of the rock band TOTO. He was born on March 29, 1947, in Orange, Texas. His powerful and distinctive voice has been a defining element of the band’s sound, particularly in their early years of international acclaim. No one sounded like Bobby Kimball. Do you remember the first time you heard the song “Hold The Line” in 1979? That voice blew us all away. I was in high school at the time, and I could not believe what I was hearing.
Despite his success with TOTO, Kimball’s time with the band had its challenges. He initially left the group in 1984 amid personal and professional difficulties, including struggles with substance abuse. However, his association with the band didn’t end there. After a period of working on solo projects and other musical endeavors, he rejoined TOTO in the late 1990s, participating in several albums and tours before again departing in 2008.
Outside of TOTO, Bobby Kimball has had an active career as a solo artist and collaborator. He has released several solo albums, and has also collaborated with other musicians and bands, lending his vocal talents to a range of projects and performances.
David Paich
David Paich is a founding member of the rock band TOTO. Born on June 25, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, he comes from a rich musical lineage, with his father, Marty Paich, being a well-known jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. This background profoundly influenced Paich, who showed a profound talent for music from an early age.
As the keyboardist and one of the primary composers and vocalists for TOTO, Paich’s contributions have been fundamental to the band’s sound and success. He co-wrote much of the band’s material, including some of their most famous hits like “Africa,” “Rosanna,” and “Hold the Line.” His keyboard work, characterized by its sophistication and versatility, has been a staple of TOTO’s music, contributing to their distinctive fusion of rock, pop, jazz, and other genres.
Beyond his work with TOTO, Paich is an accomplished session musician and arranger. He has contributed to a wide array of albums for a diverse list of artists, showcasing his versatility across genres. Notably, he’s worked with artists like Michael Jackson, Boz Scaggs, and Aretha Franklin, among many others. His work on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” particularly the song “Human Nature,” which he co-wrote, is among his most recognized outside of TOTO.
David Paich has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including Grammy Awards both as a member of TOTO and as a contributing arranger and musician on other celebrated works.
Jeff Porcaro
Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro, widely known as Jeff Porcaro, was an American drummer, songwriter, and record producer, celebrated for his work with the rock band TOTO as well as an extensive array of session work. He stands as one of our favorite drummers of all time. He had a groove like no one else. Born on April 1, 1954, in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Porcaro was born into a musical family, with his father Joe Porcaro being a well-respected percussionist and his brothers Steve and Mike also becoming prominent musicians.
Jeff Porcaro is often regarded as one of the most influential and skilled drummers in rock history, known for his precise and tasteful playing style that drew from a variety of genres, including rock, jazz, and funk. His drumming was integral to the sound of TOTO from the band’s formation in 1977 until his untimely death in 1992. He contributed to all of TOTO’s albums during his lifetime, providing the solid, innovative backbeat for which the band became known. Notable TOTO tracks showcasing his drumming include “Rosanna,” known for its intricate shuffle beat often referred to as the “Rosanna shuffle,” and “Africa.”
Outside of TOTO, Porcaro was an extraordinarily prolific session drummer, contributing to hundreds of albums across a wide spectrum of artists and genres. His session work includes notable performances on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Boz Scaggs‘”Silk Degrees,” where he really shined and Steely Dan’s “Katy Lied.”
Tragically, Jeff Porcaro passed away on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38 from a heart attack, which was reportedly precipitated by an allergic reaction to pesticide. Porcaro’s contributions to drumming and music continue to be celebrated, and his style is studied by drummers around the globe, ensuring that his influence will be felt for generations to come.
Steve Porcaro
Steve Porcaro is an original member of the rock band TOTO. Born on September 2, 1957, in Hartford, Connecticut, he grew up in a musical family with his father, Joe Porcaro, an acclaimed percussionist, and his brothers Jeff and Mike Porcaro, who were also members of TOTO. As a keyboardist for TOTO, Steve Porcaro contributed significantly to the band’s sound from its inception in 1977. One of his most notable contributions is co-writing the hit song “Africa.”
Outside of TOTO, Steve Porcaro has had a prolific career as a session musician and composer. He has worked with a wide array of artists, contributing to numerous albums and projects. His work is particularly noted in the field of film and television scoring, where he has lent his composing talents to various soundtracks and themes. This includes work on the acclaimed series “Fargo” and the film “Justified,” among many others. His ability to create emotive, atmospheric compositions has made him a respected figure in the scoring community.
Despite stepping back from touring with TOTO in the late 1980s to focus more on studio work and his family, Steve Porcaro has remained connected to the band, contributing to albums and participating in various reunions over the years.
David Hungate
David Hungate was the original bass player for the rock band TOTO. He was born on August 5, 1948, in Texas, Hungate developed an interest in music early on, eventually becoming a highly respected session musician in the industry. Hungate was a critical part of TOTO’s early sound and success, playing on their debut album “TOTO” (1978) and subsequent releases like “Hydra” (1979) and “Turn Back” (1981). His bass playing contributed to the band’s tight rhythm section and was integral to their early hits, including tracks like “Hold the Line” and “Africa.” His playing style, often smooth and melodic yet rhythmically complex, helped define the band’s distinctive blend of rock, pop, jazz, and other influences.
Despite his success with TOTO, David Hungate left the band after their fourth album, “TOTO IV” (1982), to focus on session work and spend more time with his family. He moved to Nashville, where he became a sought-after session musician in the country music scene. His post-TOTO work includes collaborations with a variety of artists across genres, showcasing his versatility and skill as a bassist.
In addition to his session work, Hungate has also made contributions as a producer and arranger. In 2014, Hungate briefly rejoined TOTO for a series of tours, reuniting with the band for a short period before retiring from touring.
Mike Porcaro
Mike Porcaro was born on May 29, 1955. He was the brother of both, Jeff and Steve Porcaro. Though not an original member of TOTO, Mike Porcaro joined the band in 1982 after the departure of the original bassist, David Hungate. His entry marked the beginning of a period where all three Porcaro brothers were part of the band, contributing to its familial and musical dynamic. Mike’s smooth playing style and reliability made him an excellent fit for TOTO, and he became known for his solid rhythm work and tasteful bass lines that supported the band’s complex arrangements and hits.
Mike played on many of TOTO’s albums during the 1980s and 1990s, including Isolation (1984), Fahrenheit (1986), The Seventh One (1988), and Mindfields (1999), among others. His work contributed to the band’s evolving sound over the years, from their more pop-oriented tracks to their sophisticated, jazz-infused rock compositions.
Outside of TOTO, Mike was also an accomplished session musician, much like his brothers, contributing to a variety of projects and recordings across different genres. His reputation as a skilled and versatile bassist made him a sought-after collaborator in the music industry.
Tragically, Mike’s career was cut short due to his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The illness forced him to stop performing in 2007, and he passed away on March 15, 2015.
Joseph Williams
Joseph Williams is an American singer and film score composer. He became the lead vocalist for TOTO during two separate tenures, initially from 1986 to 1988 and then rejoining the band in 2010. He was born on September 1, 1960, in Santa Monica, California, into a highly musical family; his father is famed film composer John Williams, and his mother, Barbara Ruick, was an actress and singer.
Williams first joined TOTO during a period of change for the band, stepping in as lead vocalist for their 1986 album “Fahrenheit” and subsequent albums like “The Seventh One” in 1988. His tenure included singing lead vocals on songs like “Pamela” and “Stop Loving You.” Despite his success with the band, Williams left in 1988.
In 2010, Williams returned to TOTO, rejoining the band for a series of tours and albums, including “Toto XIV” (2015) and the anniversary album “40 Trips Around the Sun” (2018).
Simon Phillips
Simon Phillips is an English drummer, songwriter, record producer and one of the most well-known drummers in classic rock history.He was born on February 6, 1957. Before joining TOTO, Phillips had already established a reputation as a versatile and in-demand session drummer. He worked with many prominent artists, including The Who, Jeff Beck, Judas Priest, and Mike Oldfield, among many others. His ability to adapt to various musical settings and his technical skills made him a favorite in the studio and live performances.
Phillips joined TOTO following the death of the band’s original drummer, Jeff Porcaro, in 1992. Initially stepping in to help the band complete a tour, his association with TOTO turned into a long-term commitment, and he became a full member. During his tenure with TOTO, Phillips contributed to several albums, including Tambu (1995), Mindfields (1999), and Through the Looking Glass (2002).
Fergie Frederiksen
Fergie Frederiksen was the lead vocalist for TOTO for a very short time. Before joining TOTO, Frederiksen was part of bands such as Trillion, Angel, and Le Roux, and he was briefly associated with Survivor. Frederiksen joined TOTO in the early 1980s, stepping in after the departure of Bobby Kimball. He contributed to the band’s 1984 album Isolation, lending his vocals to songs that continued to evolve TOTO’s sound. Despite the quality of his performance and the album’s production, his time with TOTO was relatively short-lived; he left the band after Isolation and the subsequent tour.
Fergie Frederiksen passed away on January 18, 2014, after a battle with liver cancer. His legacy in music, marked by his time with TOTO and his extensive work as a vocalist.
Jean-Michel Byron
Jean-Michel Byron is a South African singer known primarily for his brief tenure as the lead vocalist for TOTO. He was featured as the lead vocalist on the “Past to Present 1977-1990” album, released in 1990. This album was a compilation of TOTO’s greatest hits, but it also included a few new tracks recorded with Byron, intended to introduce him as the band’s new lead vocalist.
His style, markedly different from previous TOTO vocalists, was more aligned with the pop and R&B influences of the time. The new tracks, including “Love Has the Power” and “Out of Love.” Byron’s tenure with TOTO was short-lived. He toured with the band following the release of “Past to Present 1977-1990” but departed shortly thereafter.
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes joined TOTO in 2003 as a touring musician before becoming a full member. He was with the band until 2008. During his time with TOTO, Phillinganes brought his extensive experience as a session musician to the group, contributing to the albums “Falling in Between” (2006) as a session player and later as an official member. Known for his adept keyboard skills and musical versatility, Phillinganes’ presence marked a continued evolution in TOTO’s sound during the mid-2000s.
His tenure, while not as lengthy as some other members, was notable for his contributions to the band’s live performances and his participation in the album during a period of revival and change for TOTO. After leaving TOTO, Phillinganes continued his prolific career as a session musician and musical director, known for working with a variety of prominent artists across genres.
Keith Carlock
Keith Carlock is an accomplished American drummer known for his work with a variety of high-profile artists and bands, including Steely Dan, John Mayer, and Sting. Keith Carlock joined TOTO in 2014 and played on the album Toto XIV.
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