Composed entirely of seasoned studio musicians, Toto seemed to come out of nowhere. They did not get known first on the club circuit as nearly all bands do prior to being signed by a label. Their reputations in the studio were enough. For example, Paich, Hungate and Jeff Porcaro wrote songs for and performed on Boz Scaggs' album Silk Degrees.
Toto released their debut album Toto in October 1978, selling two million copies based on their top ten hit Hold the Line. The next two albums Hydra and Turn Back had little success, but Toto IV (released in 1982) featured the number one hit Africa as well as the top ten single Rosanna. Toto IV went multi-platinum and earned several Grammy Awards including 1983 Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rosanna").
Their only film work to date was for the 1984 David Lynch science fiction film Dune. In addition to their own score, they also recorded the Prophecy Theme, composed by Brian Eno.
After the release of Toto IV, Mike Porcaro (brother to Jeff and Steve), joined the group on bass, replacing Hungate. In 1984, Bobby Kimball left the group after being arrested for selling cocaine and was replaced by Dennis Frederiksen aka Fergie Frederiksen, who was replaced not long after by Joseph Williams.
Steve Porcaro left the band in 1988, however, he still contributes as a sideman.
In 1990, Jean-Michel Byron replaced Williams for the new recordings on Past to Present 1977-1990, then left with Lukather becoming the group's lead singer.
On August 5, 1992, Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack, days after completing work on Kingdom of Desire. The group considered disbanding, before adding British drummer Simon Phillips for the subsequent tour. In the years since Porcaro's death, Lukather has seemingly succeeded Paich as the band's de facto leader.
In 1999, Bobby Kimball returned to the lineup after a 15-year absence.
Greg Phillinganes joined the lineup in 2004 to fill in for David Paich during a tour, then officially joined Toto in 2005.
After a period of rumours and some allusions, on June 5th, 2008 Steve Lukather made an official announcement on his website stevelukather.net, stating: "The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto." Lukather further stated that after 31 years of recording, producing and playing with Toto without even missing one single gig, he couldn't do it anymore: "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." With Lukather being the only original member left in the band (Bobby Kimball was also an original member, but was out of the band from 1984-1998) there was no other option than to call it quits. As the main motivation for his decision, Lukather said: "When Dave retired that was REAL hard for me 'cause we started the band together. Hell, it's 35 years if you count High School where the core all met. When Mike fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isn't Paich or at least one Porcaro how can we even call it Toto?" Luke also stated: "Honestly, I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really can't go out and play Hold The Line with a straight face anymore." The break-up of Toto after 31 years received mixed reactions from the fans, but in general the decision was understood and many agreed with Lukather's reasons to quit the band.
On April 5th, 2008, Toto played what would be their last show ever, in Seoul, Korea, as a part of their Falling In Between Live tour. This left lots of fans without a real farewell tour.
On February 26th, 2010, Steve Lukather announced on his Twitter-account that Toto are reforming for a brief tour in Europe in the summer of 2010 to honor bass player Mike Porcaro, who's suffering from ALS syndrome. Line-up will include David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and Nathan East.
Toto released their fourteenth studio album and their first in nine years titled Toto XIV on 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.[43][44]
On March 15, 2015, former bassist Mike Porcaro died, due to complications from his battle with ALS, in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles.[45]
On 6 April 2015, Toto announced that they would embark on 7 August 2015 in Mashantucket, Connecticut with veteran progressive band Yes on a joint summer tour of North America due to end on 12 September 2015 in Coquitlam, British Columbia.[46][47][48] Shannon Forrest has continued to perform as the band's drummer.
On 29 September 2015, Toto announced the first leg of their 2016 Tour in support of Toto XIV consisting of European and Japanese dates. Leland Sklar, who joined them on their 2007 and 2008 tours, replaced founding member Hungate.[49] Sklar left Toto in early 2017 and was replaced by Shem von Schroeck.
Toto will release their anniversary album "40 Trips Around The Sun" on February 9, 2018. Then, they'll embark on their world tour promoting their album and celebrating 40 years of music.
The original lineup (1978)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Bobby Kimball - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - keyboards
* David Hungate - bass
* Jeff Porcaro - drums
The last lineup (2017)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Joseph Williams - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - vocals and keyboards
* Africa
Toto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(Ah, gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
In Toto's song, Africa, the lyrics tell the story of a person's journey to the continent of Africa. From the first line, we are hearing the drums in Africa, while the person is possibly boarding a plane to the continent. The second line implies that while the writer is excited to be in Africa, they are aware that not everyone shares their enthusiasm. The line "But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation" could mean that there is someone with the writer who is hesitant or afraid to be in Africa. The next line tells us that the person has arrived on the continent, as they describe the "moonlit wings" of the plane reflecting the stars that are guiding them towards "salvation". This could mean that the writer feels that they will find some sort of enlightenment, or refuge in Africa.
The following few lines describe the writer's interactions with an older African man who they encounter along the way. It's possible that the writer believes that this man is wise or knowledgeable about Africa, and they're hoping to learn from him. The older man's response "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you" suggests that there is something that the writer has yet to discover, something that they need to hurry to find before it's too late.
The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, and it's one of the most memorable parts. The lines "I bless the rains down in Africa" suggest that the writer is grateful for the natural beauty that Africa offers. It could also be interpreted as a sort of prayer or blessing being said for the continent itself.
The final verse talks about the sounds of the wild dogs crying out in the night, which could be a metaphor for the writer's own fears and doubts. The line "As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company" could mean that the writer is feeling lonely or isolated, and they're seeking something or someone to give them comfort. The mention of Kilimanjaro rising above the Serengeti could symbolize the majesty and beauty of Africa, and the need to protect it.
Overall, Toto's Africa is a song that celebrates the beauty of the African continent, while also acknowledging the struggles and fears that may come with visiting a new and unfamiliar place.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the drums echoing tonight
I am struck by the sound of drums that I hear in the distance.
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
Despite being surrounded by sounds of conversation, she only hears faint whispers.
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
She will soon be arriving on a late-night flight.
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
As I travel, I am guided by the stars shining on the wings of the aircraft.
I stopped an old man along the way
While on my journey, I came across an elderly man and I stopped to talk to him.
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
I was hoping to learn some lost words or songs from the past.
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
The old man gave me a message, urging me to hasten on my journey, telling me that something significant was waiting for me at the end.
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
I am committed to staying with my significant other.
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
No matter how many people try to pull me away, I will not go.
I bless the rains down in Africa
I hold a special reverence for the natural wonders of Africa, especially the rain.
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
There are things that we have not accomplished and it will take time to complete them.
The wild dogs cry out in the night
The sounds of wild dogs howling in the dark can be heard around me.
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
The dogs are searching for companionship amidst their loneliness and restlessness.
I know that I must do what's right
I am aware of the responsibility that lies on me to do what is right.
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
Kilimanjaro, towering over the Serengeti, is an unwavering symbol of majesty and greatness, like Mount Olympus.
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
I am on a quest to heal my deep emotional wounds, as I am scared of the impact of my current state of being.
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
My journey is time-bound because someone is waiting for me at the end.
(Ah, gonna take the time)
(I'm committed to taking the necessary time.)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
We are going to take the necessary time to do things that we haven't had the chance to do yet.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF PORCARO, DAVID PAICH, KARL WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yonathana.lumbangaol6568
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
@papayer
I showed this to myself.
He liked it.
@anti-dreamstansunited3391
@Penguin Gamer lol
@fixthatspaghetti9605
is he chinese?
@mishudka3160
I swear i was just about to post something with "I showed this to myself". There goes my Top-Comment chance
@treannahtruongtuiai6888
myself must be a really nice guy
@RoyaltyYT
How dare you assume myselfs gender...
@dimitrisboulios
I played this song to my garden.
Now it's Africa.
@kettlejocksjr7771
You just plaged it with a famine
@twistedsnipes1671
Lol
@rjasistido1228
@@Jack-tz2xz and suicide is not a joke mate