Jeff Porcaro

Jeff Porcaro was a renowned American musician, best known as the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Toto. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, Porcaro was exposed to music from a young age, with his father, Joe Porcaro, being a jazz drummer who played with Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra. Porcaro's early life was influenced by Los Angeles-based musicians, including The Beach Boys and The Byrds. He attended Grant High School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, where he met his future Toto bandmates, David Paich and Steve Lukather.

● Early Life and Education

Porcaro's musical education began at a young age, with lessons from his father, Joe Porcaro, and later from Roy Burns and Carmine Appice. He attended Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where he studied jazz and classical music with George Russell and John Von Ohlen. Porcaro's early musical influences included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as jazz musicians like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He also drew inspiration from classical composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók.

● Career

Porcaro's professional career began in the early 1970s, playing with Sonny and Cher and later with Seals and Crofts. In 1977, he co-founded Toto with David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, and David Hungate. The band's debut album, Toto (album), was released in 1978 and featured the hit single Hold the Line. Porcaro's work with Toto included collaborations with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and George Benson. He also played with Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen, and Walter Becker of Steely Dan.

● Session Work

As a highly sought-after session musician, Porcaro worked with a wide range of artists, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Pink Floyd. He played on Michael Jackson's Thriller (album), Bad (album), and Off the Wall (album), as well as on Quincy Jones' Back on the Block (album). Porcaro also worked with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, and Warren Zevon, among others. His session work took him to Los Angeles-based studios like A&M Recording Studios, Record Plant, and Sunset Sound Recorders.

● Personal Life

Porcaro was married to Susan Norris and had three children. He was known for his sense of humor and his love of sports, particularly Los Angeles Lakers basketball and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball. Porcaro was also an avid golfer and enjoyed playing with his friends, including Alice Cooper and Don Henley. He was a member of the Musicians' Union and supported various charitable organizations, including the Starkey Hearing Foundation and the Grammy Foundation.

● Death and Legacy

Porcaro died on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38, from a heart attack caused by a pre-existing condition. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from the music community, including statements from Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Paul McCartney. Porcaro's legacy continues to be celebrated through his work with Toto and as a session musician. He was posthumously inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007 and has been named one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone and Modern Drummer.

● Discography

Porcaro's discography includes Toto (album), Hydra (Toto album), Turn Back (Toto album), Toto IV, Isolation (Toto album), and The Seventh One. He also played on numerous albums by other artists, including Michael Jackson's Off the Wall (album), Thriller (album), and Bad (album), as well as Quincy Jones' Back on the Block (album). Porcaro's work can also be heard on albums by Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen, and Steely Dan, among others. Category:American drummers