MUSIC HISTORY 101 SEPTEMBER 2, 1957 - Born on this day in Hartford, Connecticut: Grammy Award winning keyboardist/vocalist/composer STEVE PORCARO Best known as a member of Toto, Steve Porcaro was the youngest of three sons of drummer Joe Porcaro (b. April 29, 1930), who had an extensive career working with big bands. Steve started taking piano lessons when he was four years old, though while growing up he spent a lot of time on the baseball field with his brothers, bassist Mike Porcaro (b. May 29, 1955) and drummer Jeff (April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992). Later inspired by the Beatles, he also took up guitar and singing, then like his brothers, began playing in various bands. The Porcaro brothers met David Paich when their fathers, Joe Porcaro and Marty Paich, worked together on Glen Campbells TV variety show. Steve later toured with Gary Wright on his Dream Weaver tour, and with Boz Scaggs during his Silk Degrees tour. Members of that touring band would later form Toto with the Porcaro brothers. Their self-titled LP was released by Columbia in fall 1977 went platinum, on the strength of the gold single Hold the Line, and the Ill Supply the Love. Georgy Porgy would become a favorite sample source for rap/hip hop groups in the 1990s. Totos other LPs were Hydra and Turn Back. 1982s Toto IV had a Grammys sweep, winning Album of the Year, Record of the Year for Rosanna, and Producer of the Year. Steve Porcaro wrote or co-wrote at least one song on each of Totos first six albums, with the exception of Isolation. Unlike most of his bandmates, he generally did not contribute lead or even backing vocals; he considered himself a weak singer, and sang lead on two of his compositions only because he felt that the vocal styles of his bandmates, with the exception of Joseph Williams, were not appropriate for his songs. Porcaro left Toto in 1986 after the Fahrenheit album in order to pursue a more full-time songwriting and composing career, yet continued working with Toto in various supporting capacities, assisting with keyboards, drum looping, synthesizers and arranging/composing, but after a seventh album, Toto disbanded in 1988. Steve composing the music for the song Human Nature from Michael Jacksons album Thriller (another song heavily sampled by 90s rap/hip hop artists), and has also done session musician work for many other acts, including Yes (on Union) and Jefferson Airplane (on their self-titled 1989 reunion album). In 1992, he was also a member of The Chris Squire Experiment, led by Yes bassist Chris Squire. Steve also began a film scoring career and contributing to Metro starring Eddie Murphy and Hope with Christine Lahti. He also scored the UPN-TV series The Sentinel, Gideons Crossing which premiered on ABC in fall 2000, and composed the music for the FX television show Justified. While Steve Porcaro remains working on film and television scores, he also is involved in the studio for collaborating with his daughter Heather Porcaro on her 2009 debut album The Heartstring Symphony. Hes also returned to play with Toto at live performances since 2010, when they decided to reform the band and tour in Europe to support Mike Porcaro. Toto is currently on their 35th anniversary tour. READ MORE: totoofficial/ https://facebook/totoband classicrock.about/od/bandartistprofil2/p/Toto.htm themastermentors/steve-porcaro-and-toto-hit-the-road/ musicradar/us/news/drums/steve-porcaro-interview-573341 insidemusicast/musicasts/2009/9/7/steve-porcaro.html allmusic/artist/steve-porcaro-mn0000038489/biography
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 18:13:32 +0000
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