Jeff Porcaro

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Lore & Background

Jeff Porcaro and David Paich met at Grant High School and 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 veteran David Hungate, with whom they had played in the backing bands for both Sonny & Cher and Scaggs. The duo asked fellow Grant High School students, guitarist Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro's brother Steve Porcaro (keyboards) to join the team. 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 after Toto the dog from The Wizard of Oz.

In Their Own Story

Jeff Porcaro sat behind the kit in the studio, sticks in hand, as the band prepared to record their eponymous debut album. 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. That name would later be explained by David Hungate as deriving from the Latin words "in toto," translating to "all-encompassing," because the band members played on so many records and so many musical genres. Jeff's drumming anchored the debut album, which climbed the charts quickly with the hit single "Hold the Line."

Reader's Guide

Jeff Porcaro co-founded Toto in 1977 with David Paich after years of session work together. He played on the band's first album, Toto (1978), which featured the top 5 single "Hold the Line." Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather appeared on Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982) on multiple tracks, most notably on "Beat It" and the Jackson/Paul McCartney duet "The Girl Is Mine." After Jeff Porcaro's death in 1992, he was replaced by Simon Phillips. Steve Lukather remains the only original member who still records and tours with the band.

Did You Know?

• Jeff Porcaro met David Paich at Grant High School, where they formed the band Rural Still Life.
• According to popular myth, Jeff Porcaro wrote the word 'Toto' on demo tapes to distinguish them from other bands' tapes.
• Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather appeared on Michael Jackson's Thriller on multiple tracks, including 'Beat It' and 'The Girl Is Mine.'
• After Jeff Porcaro's death in 1992, he was replaced by Simon Phillips.
• Jeff Porcaro is the son of session percussionist Joe Porcaro.