Toto (band)

Toto, stylized asTOTO, is an American rock band formed inLos Angeles,California, in 1977. Toto combines elements ofpop,rock,soul,funk,hard rock,R&B,blues, andjazz. Having released 14 studio albums and sold over 50 million records worldwide,the group has received severalGrammy Awardsand was inducted into theMusicians Hall of Fame and Museumin 2009.
David Paich(keyboards, vocals) andJeff Porcaro(drums) had played together assession musicianson several albums and formed the band;David Hungate(bass),Steve Lukather(guitar, vocals),Steve Porcaro(keyboards, vocals), andBobby Kimball(vocals) were recruited before the release of the band'seponymous debut albumin 1978. Led by the Top 5 single "Hold the Line", the album brought the band to mainstream attention, though it was their fourth albumToto IV(1982) which brought them global attention. "Africa" topped theBillboard Hot 100, while "Rosanna" reached number 2, helping Toto become one of the best-selling music groups of their era.
FollowingToto IV, two of the original members, Hungate and Kimball, departed the band. Hungate was replaced on bass byMike Porcaro, while Kimball was replaced by a number of different short-term vocalists, the longest serving of which wasJoseph Williams. After Jeff Porcaro's death in 1992, he was replaced bySimon Phillips. While the band has not repeated the U.S. radio successes of their heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they have continued to produce albums and tour more-or-less continuously to the current day, minus a few hiatuses, and have had many more top-ten albums and singles in places like Japan andScandinavia. Steve Lukather remains the only original member who still records and tours with the band. Paich remains an official member of the band, though he has mostly retired from touring. Since the 2010s, the band has increasingly relied on contracted touring musicians to continue to perform. As of 2023, they have released fourteen studio albums, eight live albums, one movie soundtrack, 1984'sDune, and a number of compilation albums. Their final release was 2018'sOld Is Newbefore the band decided against recording any further studio albums.In 2024, Toto launched its "Dogz of Oz" Tour with its first date inRed Bank, New Jersey.
The members of Toto were regulars on albums bySteely Dan,Seals and Crofts,Boz Scaggs,Sonny and Cher,and many others, contributing to many of the most popular records of the 1970s. KeyboardistDavid Paich, son of musician and session player/arrangerMarty Paich, rose to fame after having co-written much of Scaggs'sSilk Degreesalbum. David met drummerJeff Porcaro, the son of session percussionistJoe Porcaro, while attendingGrant High School, where they formed the band Rural Still Life. Years later, having played on many sessions together, the two began to seriously discuss the possibility of forming their own band.
They brought in bassist and fellow session veteranDavid Hungate, with whom they had played in the backing band for Scaggs. The duo asked fellow Grant High School students, guitaristSteve Lukather(who also played in Scaggs's band as a replacement forLes Dudek) and Jeff Porcaro's brotherSteve Porcaro(keyboards) to join the team. Lukather and Steve Porcaro were in the same year at Grant and continued the band Rural Still Life (the name shortened to Still Life) after Paich and Jeff graduated. With the addition of former S.S. Fools singerBobby Kimball, the group began to work on their first album in 1977 after signing withColumbia Records.
Once the band came together, David Paich began composing what would become the eponymous debut album,Toto. According to popular myth, at the first recording sessions, in order to distinguish their own demo tapes from other bands' in the studio, Jeff Porcaro wrote the word "Toto" on them. In the early 1980s, band members told the press that the band was named afterToto the dogfromThe Wizard of Oz.After the completion of the first album, the band and record were still unnamed. David Hungate, after viewing the name on the demo tapes, explained to the group that the Latin words "in toto" translated to "all-encompassing". Because the band members played on so many records and so many musical genres, they adopted the name "Toto" as their own.
Totoclimbed the charts quickly, earning popularity with the hit single "Hold the Line", as well as the charting "I'll Supply the Love" and "Georgy Porgy", featuringCheryl Lynn. Though the band was largely dismissed by music critics,it was nominated for aGrammy AwardforBest New Artist.Shortly thereafter, in early 1979, Toto embarked on their first American tour in support of the debut album.For the tour, Toto brought along two additional musicians,Tom Kelly(guitar, backup vocals) andLenny Castro(percussion), to increase the depth of the sound. 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 ofTurn Back.The band continued to hire additional touring musicians for all subsequent tours.(See the "Tour Musicians" section below.)
At the close of the first tour, the band began work on their next album,Hydra, which was released later that year and featured the single "99", inspired byGeorge Lucas' cult filmTHX 1138.Nearly 30 years later, Steve Lukather confessed that, despite the song's popularity, he hated "99" and that it's one of his least favorite Toto songs, which is why it was rarely performed afterHydra's tour.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".They were directed by Bruce Gowers and produced by Paul Flattery for Jon Roseman Productions International. Although the albumHydrafailed to achieve the commercial success of Toto's first release, it still went gold. Following the album's release, the band set out on the "Hydra Tour", which featured both American and international dates. The tour lasted from February until June 1980.
In early 1981, Toto released their third album,Turn Back.The album was a venture intoarena rockand featured heavier guitar and fewer keyboards than the previous two albums. Its disappointing chart performance and sales in almost every country exceptJapanandNorwayput 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. The unexpected 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.
1982 marked the beginning of Toto's most successful era. After the poor sales ofTurn Back, the band was under a great deal of pressure from the record company to produce a new hit record, akin to their first. With the Triple Platinum-certifiedToto IV, the band delivered one of the most commercially successful records of the year. The album featured three singles that reached the Top 10 on theBillboardHot 100chart: "Rosanna", "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back". The album appeared on several worldwide charts, introducing the band to new audiences around the globe. "Africa" topped the charts in February 1983 and was a constant presence on radios around the world, but it was "Rosanna" that earned the band multiple Grammy nominations.Toto IVearned sixGrammy Awards, including "Record of the Year" for "Rosanna", "Album of the Year" forToto IVand "Producer of the Year". At the timeSteve Porcarowas dating actressRosanna Arquette, but the song is not about her, according to writer David Paich.
In the music video for the song,Cynthia Rhodesplays the title character. In addition to "Africa" and "Rosanna",Toto IVcontinued its successful run with the release of another single, "Make Believe". Toto toured throughout 1982 in support ofToto IV.During this time, Steve Porcaro co-wrote and co-composed "Human Nature", whichMichael Jacksonrecorded for his best-selling albumThriller(1982), turning the song into a smash hit. Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather also appeared onThrilleron multiple tracks, most notably onBeat Itand the Jackson/Paul McCartneyduet "The Girl Is Mine".
Directly after the release ofToto IV, bassistDavid Hungateleft the band. Hungate, who had relocated toNashvillein 1980 to pursue a session/production career, felt that the fame surroundingToto IVwould prevent him from spending time with his family. A third Porcaro brother,Mike Porcaro, who had performed cello on a track fromToto IV, replaced Hungate on bass, while lead singerBobby Kimballspent the early part of 1983 facing prosecution for drug-related charges. Kimball was ordered to stand trial, but pled not guilty. The charges were dismissed on May 28 of that year.However, Kimball was fired from the band in 1984 due to difficulty recording vocals and numerous missed sessions.Later that year, Toto composed most of the music for thesoundtrack to the filmDune.
At one point,Richard Pageof the bandMr. Misterwas offered the lead singer spot, but turned it down to continue with his band.Fergie Frederiksen(formerly of bandsAngel, Trillion andLeRoux) was brought in as the new vocalist and the band recordedIsolation, released in November 1984. WhileIsolationdid not achieve the acclaim or sales ofToto IV, it did achieve Gold status, largely on the strength of the single "Stranger in Town".Isolation's tour began in February 1985 and concluded three months later.
At the close of theIsolationtour in 1985, Fergie Frederiksen was let go. Lukather stated that the band was not meshing well with Frederiksen because he had a difficult time recording with them in the studio.The band held an audition andJoseph Williams, son of film composerJohn Williamsand 1950s singer/actressBarbara Ruick, was chosen to take over lead vocals in early 1986.
With Joseph Williams now onboard officially, Toto wrote and recordedFahrenheit, released in August 1986. While Williams performs lead vocals, Frederiksen had begun recording a few tracks before leaving the band, and he is featured as a background vocalist on the track "Could This Be Love".
Fahrenheitbrought the band back from the heavier sound ofIsolationto their pop/rock roots. "I'll Be Over You" and "Without Your Love", which were both ballads sung by Lukather, were the two hit singles. The band recruited several guest musicians for the album. They recorded an instrumental piece entitled "Don't Stop Me Now" with legendary jazz trumpeterMiles Davis. In addition, a then-unknownPaula Abdulappeared as a dancer in their "Till the End" music video.Michael McDonaldprovided backup vocals on the song "I'll Be Over You" (and appeared in the accompanying music video), whileEaglesfounder and songwriting giantDon Henleyappeared on the Steve Porcaro penned track "Lea".
After the release ofFahrenheit, the band embarked on another world tour. Upon its conclusion in 1987, Steve Porcaro left the band to pursue a career in film and television scoring.Fahrenheiteventually went Gold on October 3, 1994.Steve Porcaro was never replaced and Toto decided to continue with only five members. Although Porcaro occasionally assisted the band on synthesizers for their subsequent studio albums and appeared on their 1988 tour, David Paich handled most of the live keyboard work, with keyboard technician John Jessel assisting on certain dates from 1989 onward.
In 1988 Toto released their next albumThe Seventh One, featuringJon AndersonofYeson backup vocals on the single "Stop Loving You". The album's other single, "Pamela", became very popular and would be the band's last to hit the US Top 40.The Seventh Onebecame the band's most successful release sinceToto IV.The band toured from February through July 1988.
Although "The Seventh One Tour" was very successful, after it was finished the band decided to replace lead singer Joseph Williams. Originally, the band wanted to reunite with original vocalist Bobby Kimball to record new songs for a greatest hits record, but the record company instead insisted they hire South African singerJean-Michel Byron. Before Byron was brought in, the band recorded "Goin' Home" with Kimball. This song was later featured on theToto XXalbum as an "unreleased song". When Byron was brought in (in 1989) he and Toto recorded four new songs which were included on their greatest hits albumPast to Present 1977–1990, released in 1990.
Toto then embarked upon the "Planet Earth" tour that lasted from September until December 1990. The band didn't get along with Byron, whose diva-like behavior and flamboyant stage presence caused friction during the tour. He was demoted to background vocals before ultimately being fired at the conclusion of the tour. During this time, the band also found that former singer Bobby Kimball was booking shows and billing himself and his backing band as "Toto".In April, mirroring the situation that had happened with Kimball seven years previously, former singer Joseph Williams was arrested on drug-related charges.
Lukather's first solo album was released in 1989, namedLukather, and featured musicians such asEddie Van HalenandRichard Marx.
With Toto once again without a lead vocalist, guitaristSteve Lukatherstepped in to sing lead vocals and became the band's new front man. Toto played at theMontreux Jazz Festivalin 1991 and the band recordedKingdom of Desire, which was released on Columbia Records in most parts of the world and onClive Davis' labelRelativity Recordsin the United States.
Jeff Porcaro died unexpectedly on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38 while working in his garden. 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.Facing the prospect of a tour without Jeff, Toto almost broke up. However, Jeff Porcaro's family insisted the band continue. The band contacted Los Angeles-based EnglishmanSimon Phillipsto replace Jeff Porcaro as they knew that Porcaro liked Phillips alongsideVinnie ColaiutaandGregg Bissonetteand because Lukather worked with Phillips on a previous tour withSantanaandJeff Beckin Japan in 1986.
Phillips joined the band and they went on the tour, which they dedicated to Jeff's memory. In 1993 they released a live album calledAbsolutely Live.From 1991 on, Steve Lukather would handle a majority of the vocals (until Bobby Kimball's return in 1998), but some older songs originally sung by Kimball, Fergie Frederiksen, and Joseph Williams were put in the set list and sung by new backup singers Fred White (who was replaced by John James in 1992), Jackie McGee, who had joined for the 1990 tour and was replaced by Donna McDaniel in 1992, and Jenny Douglas-McRae, who came aboard in 1990. Douglas-McRae formerly served as an actress as the librarian in the band's 1982 "Africa" music video.James sang "Stop Loving You" and Kimball's part on "Rosanna", McDaniel sang "Home of the Brave" and "Angel Don't Cry", and Douglas-McRae sang "Hold the Line".
On December 14, 1992, the Tribute to Jeff Porcaro Concert was held at Universal City'sUniversal Amphitheatre. Performers includingDon Henley,Eddie Van Halen,Donald Fagen,Walter Becker,Boz Scaggs,James Newton Howard,Michael McDonald,David Crosbyand special guestGeorge Harrisonperformed various Toto songs along with the four remaining Toto members.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.
From March to November 1993, Lukather and Phillips teamed up with friends David Garfield and John Pena on the side project Los Lobotomys and recorded the albumCandyman.
In 1995 Toto recordedTambu, their first album with Simon Phillips, which saw the band back with CBS (nowSony). A departure from Toto's sound of the late 1970s and 1980s,Tambuwas a very organic release and featured the single "I Will Remember", which received moderate radio play. Other singles released were "Drag Him To The Roof" and "The Turning Point".Tambualso featured John James and Jenny Douglas-McRae as backup singers on some of the tracks. 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".Tambusold 600,000 copies worldwide.
The "Tambu Tour" proved to be another success, although there were no North American dates. Simon Phillips suffered from a back problem, soGregg Bissonettehad to fill in for him during the first leg of the tour in late 1995. The tour concluded in 1996. The rest of the tour personnel remained the same, with the exception of Donna McDaniel who had left in 1994 shortly after the "Night of the Proms" performances (which Douglas-McRae had missed since she was out touring withJoe Cocker). The song "Hold the Line" was now sung as a duet between James and Douglas-McRae.Both James and Douglas-McRae were dropped from the band at the conclusion of the 1997 tour.
Lukather released his second solo album,Luke, which was a more "introspective" album than his previous solo album.
1997 marked the band's 20th anniversary, and in order to commemorate it, David Paich and Steve Lukather started to go through several old tapes and demos for a special record of unreleased songs. In 1998 they releasedToto XXwith the single "Goin' Home". Toto went on a small promotional tour with former membersBobby Kimball,Steve PorcaroandJoseph Williams.
After the "Toto XX" tour, Bobby Kimball rejoined the band as lead singer after 14 years. The band releasedMindfieldsin early 1999 and embarked on the "Reunion" tour, touring worldwide and returning to the United States for the first time in six years. The new album featured three singles, "Melanie", "Cruel" and "Mad About You", a song co-written by David Paich and former vocalist Joseph Williams. Later that year, a live album titledLivefieldswas released. The tour officially concluded in 2000, but the band played a few shows throughout 2001. David Paich briefly took a break from touring in 2000, so Jeff Babko filled in on keyboards.Paich then resumed touring with Toto in 2001.
In 2002, in celebration of Toto's 25th anniversary, the band releasedThrough the Looking Glass, a covers album that paid tribute to the band's musical influences, such as Bob Marley, Steely Dan, The Beatles, and Elton John. Two singles were released: "Could You Be Loved", a Bob Marley cover, and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Beatles cover. The album was not a commercial success and many fans were upset about the release, thinking that the band should have written new material instead.However, the record gave the band material to promote their "25th Anniversary Tour", which started in 2002 and concluded in 2003. After the tour, Toto released a live album and DVD of the show titledLive in Amsterdam. Both the live album and the DVD were released in late 2003.
Beginning in June 2003, near the end of their "25th Anniversary Tour", keyboardistDavid Paichtook a leave of absence from touring to spend time with a sick family member. Veteran keyboardistGreg Phillinganesfilled in for Paich for the rest of the tour.
In late 2003, Toto headlinedNight of the Promsfor two months straight. Paich returned but was only able to play for a few weeks before he had to leave again, so Phillinganes once again filled in for the remainder of the shows. After Simon Phillips announced he would be unable to play due to illness, Jon Fariss andRicky Lawsonjoined the band for the Night of the Proms. In early 2004, the band embarked on a world tour that went throughout 2004 and 2005. Paich only occasionally appeared, with Phillinganes playing at most of the shows. In 2005, Phillinganes was asked to become a regular member of the band and Paich retired from touring. Paich was still a member of Toto, as he continued to record and produce on all of Toto's releases.
In October 2003, Steve Lukather released aChristmas albumnamedSantamental, featuring musicians such asEddie Van Halen,Slash,Steve Vai, andGregg Bissonette.
In early 2006, Toto releasedFalling in Betweenon the Italian labelFrontiers, their first album of new material since 1999. The release featured extensive keyboard work from Steve Porcaro and a duet with Joseph Williams on the first single, "Bottom of Your Soul". Following the record's release, Toto embarked on a worldwide tour in 2006, which continued into 2007 for a second leg. The 2007 leg featuredLeland Sklarfilling in on bass for Mike Porcaro due to an, at the time, undisclosed illness. Mike Porcaro's last show with the band was on November 16, 2006, inMedina, Minnesota.
The 2007 leg featured extensive dates in both Europe and the United States, including an appearance atMoondance JaminWalker, Minnesota. Former lead singerFergie Frederiksenmade a guest appearance at the Minneapolis date on May 5, 2007andJoseph Williamsalso made a few guest appearances with the band in June 2007.The tour continued into 2008 and began in Mexico City, Mexico on January 31, 2008.They toured Japan withBoz Scaggs, which tour featured Joseph Williams singing lead and background vocals with Kimball, and featured the return of David Paich.
Toto released a two-CD setFalling in Between LiveonEagle Recordsto commemorate the tour. This live set marked the fourth for the band, following 1993'sAbsolutely Live, 1999'sLivefields, and 2003'sLive In Amsterdam.
In 2008, a companion DVD of the show, recorded atLe ZenithinParison March 26, 2007, was released.
On June 5, 2008, after a period of rumors about the band's future, Lukather posted a message on hisofficial website, stating, "The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto. I just can't do it anymore and at 50 years old I wanted to start over and give it one last try on my own."
As the main motivation for his decision, Lukather said:
Steve Lukather released his next solo album on February 22, 2008, titledEver Changing Times.
On February 26, 2010, the band reformed and reunited for a brief tour of Europe in the summer to benefitMike Porcaro, who had been diagnosed withALS. The lineup featuredDavid Paich,Steve Lukather,Steve Porcaro,Simon Phillips,Joseph Williams, and special guestNathan East.
Steve Lukather stated that the band still existed:
On October 11, 2010, Steve Lukather released his next solo album,All's Well That Ends Well.
Another tour in the summer of 2011 took place with former backup singer Jenny Douglas once again joining. 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. They once again toured Europe in 2012.
In 2013, celebrating their 35th anniversary, the band embarked on tour across Europe and North America, along with Japanese dates to follow in 2014. Their show on June 25, 2013, inŁódź, Poland was recordedfor a live releaseand was released on April 29, 2014. On November 5, it was confirmed both on Toto's and David Paich's official Facebook pages that a new studio album was in the works and that the band planned to go into the studio early 2014.
On January 21, 2013, Steve Lukather released a solo album,Transition, featuring former Toto touring bassistLeland Sklar, as well asGregg BissonetteandChad Smith.
On January 18, 2014, former vocalist Fergie Frederiksen died after a long battle with liver cancer.After the 2013 leg of the 35th anniversary tour, it was revealed via the band's official website on January 23, 2014, that Simon Phillips had departed the band to pursue a solo career. Phillips was then replaced by Steely Dan drummerKeith Carlock.
While Carlock was on the Japanese tour from April to May 2014, he did not join them for the North American tour and his role was filled byShannon Forrest. Bass player Nathan East, who had been touring with them since 2010, left after the Japanese tour to pursue his own projects. In his stead, original bass player David Hungate rejoined the band. They once again toured the United States in spring 2014 as co-headliners with Michael McDonald. It was their most comprehensive tour on the continent in years.
Toto released their fourteenth studio album and their first in nine years titledToto XIVon March 20 (Europe), March 23 (UK and Oceania), and March 24, 2015 (North America). To promote the newly finished project, the band started a world tour running with an extensive European headline arena tour including appearances at key festivals, along with a North American tour to follow in the summer of 2015 and Asia later that year.
On March 15, 2015, former bassist Mike Porcaro died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles, due to complications from his battle with ALS.
On April 6, 2015, Toto announced that they would embark on August 7, 2015, inMashantucket, Connecticut, with the bandYes, on a joint summer tour of North America, due to end on September 12 inCoquitlam,British Columbia.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.
On September 29, 2015, Toto announced the first leg of their 2016 Tour in support ofToto XIVconsisting of European and Japanese dates.Leland Sklar, who joined them on their 2007 and 2008 tours, replaced founding member Hungate.Sklar stopped touring with Toto in early 2017 and was replaced by Shem von Schroeck.
In June 2016, keyboardistSteve Porcaroreleased his first solo album, titledSomeday/SomehowfeaturingMichael McDonaldand Toto touring backing singer Mabvuto Carpenter.
On February 9, 2018, Toto released their anniversary album40 Trips Around the Sun. They then embarked on a world tour promoting the album and celebrating 40 years of music. The band's lineup consisted of Joseph Williams, Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Steve Porcaro, and their touring musicians:Lenny Castro,Shannon Forrest,Warren Ham, and Shem von Schroeck.
On July 20, 2018, Toto announced: "David Paich will not be performing on the band's planned North American tour. He plans on focusing on his health and looks forward to returning to the road when ready to do so. In the absence of the founding keyboardist's presence on the tour, Dominique 'Xavier' Taplin (formerly withPrince) will be sitting in for David performing with Toto."
After the European leg of the tour, Toto coveredWeezer's song "Hash Pipe" in response to their cover of Toto's 1981 number 1 single, "Africa". The band added the cover to their setlist as theencorefor the 2018 North American leg of the tour.
On September 18, 2018, guitaristSteve Lukatherreleased his autobiographyThe Gospel According to Luke, a humorous review on his life in music. AnAudiobookwas released shortly after onAudible.
On November 6, 2018, the band released the box setAll Inwhich contained their fourteenth studio albumOld Is New. This contained the three new tracks already released on40 Trips Around the Sunplus completed recordings of four other older tracks featuring Jeff Porcaro on drums and either Mike Porcaro or David Hungate on bass plus other new recordings.
On January 2, 2019, Toto kicked off their 2019 leg of the 40 Trips Around The Sun tour inByron Bayat theFalls Festival. Xavier Taplin remained in place of Paich through that tour. Toto embarked upon a brief tour of North America on September 20, 2019. Steve Lukather stated that the tour would be the band's last for "a while", and that tensions within the band and its management had increased due to legal troubles, such as an ongoing lawsuit with the widow of founding member and drummer Jeff Porcaro, Susan Porcaro-Goings(current wife ofRick Goings). 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”.
On October 16, 2019,Steve Lukatherstated that after the final show in Philadelphia on October 20, 2019, it would mark the "end of this configuration of Toto".Steve Lukather had also announced that there is a film about Toto in the works, and hinted that he would be writing a new book, titledThe New Testament According to Luke. David Paich made another special appearance at the final show in Philadelphia to again perform "Africa" and "Home of the Brave".
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 theDogz 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), drummerRobert "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-instrumentalistWarren Ham.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.On April 12, 2021, the band announced that theDogz of Oz World Tourwould be pushed to 2022.
On April 14, 2021, the band announced that they would release a new live album,With a Little Help from My Friends, throughMascot Label Group/The Players Club.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". On June 28, 2021, Lukather stated that the group has no plans to record any future studio albums, though he was open to working with Williams on solo projects.
Toto began 2022 with a 40-city tour through major U.S. basketball and hockey arenas, serving as the opening act forJourney.David Paich joined Toto for the final four songs (Home of the Brave, With a Little Help From My Friends, Rosanna and Africa) in several shows. He also joined the band for the European leg of the tour at the Amsterdam show on July 15, 2022.On August 16, 2022,Greg Phillinganesreturned to the Toto lineup for the first time since the Falling In Between tour in 2008, filling in for regular touring keyboardist, Dominique Xavier Taplin, who was forced to return home shortly before the end of the European leg of the tour, citing family reasons.Phillinganes's stay with the band was only temporary though, as Taplin returned to the band on August 23, 2022, for their show in Luxembourg.
Toto toured with Journey again in early 2023,before performing several concerts on its own in Japan during the summer.The band performed in November and December in Belgium and Germany for theNight of the Proms2023, beginning inAntwerp.
It was announced on September 25, 2023, that Toto and Journey would tour North America together for the third straight year, with concerts scheduled from February–April 2024.
In January 2024, Toto announced on Facebook the return of keyboardistGreg Phillinganesand drummerShannon Forrestahead of their "Dogz of Oz" tour in 2024, replacing Taplin and Searight.On June 15, 2024, it was announced thatDennis Atlaswas the new 2nd keyboardist for their upcoming tours, replacing keyboardist and vocalist Steve Maggiora.
In the second half of 2024, Toto toured Europe from late June-late July,returned to perform in its hometown of Los Angeles at theHollywood Bowlon September 1, 2024,and then played a series of concerts in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia.
Toto announced additional European appearances for February-March 2025.Christopher Cross, who opened for Toto at the Hollywood Bowl, will also serve as the opening act in Europe. Following that, Toto also announced tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, again with Christopher Cross as the opener.
Before and during Toto, members of the band did session work for a slew of notable musicians. The first such session, which also led to the birth of the band, was withBoz Scaggs, in whichJeff Porcaro,David Paich,David Hungate, andJoe Porcaro(regular Toto guest contributor and father of Jeff,Steve, andMike) played on Scaggs's albumSilk Degrees.The members had done smaller scale work together before this, including withSteely Dan,Seals and Crofts,andSonny & Cher.Steve Lukatherprovided the main guitar work onMichael Jackson's hit "Beat It", althoughEddie Van Halenplayed the guitar solo in the bridge. Jeff Porcaro played drums on that track,whileSteve Porcaroprogrammed synthesizer for theThrilleralbum and also wrote and composed "Human Nature".
In 1982, the rock bandChicagobrought inDavid Fosterto produce their albumChicago 16. Under his direction, the band adopted more of asoft rocksound, shed most of itsjazz fusion/horn section sound, and brought in many session musicians, including Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Steve Porcaro, the three core members of Toto.
In 1978, David Foster broughtDavid Hungate, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, and Toto vocalistBobby Kimballto play onAlice Cooper's 1978 albumFrom the Inside. They have also played with legendaryjazzplayerMiles Davis. Members of Toto have also collaborated withLarry 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(ofMr. Mister, who was proposed to replace Bobby Kimball), andRingo Starr & His All-Starr Band(also featuring Richard Page).
Studio albums
Soundtrack albums
In 1986 Toto won a Crystal Globe award, signifying sales of more than 5 million records outside of their home country.