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
Can
Toto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta know, the time has come to follow through
Drive straight through the night
Just hold on, we can make it home before daylight
There's a voice inside you
And you know it can't be wrong
So break away from this pain, girl
[Chorus]
We can make it tonight
If you give me the sign
And I'll be by your side
I've got the feeling it's right
We can make it in time
We can make it tonight
Fear nothing at all
Ya gotta know that nothing is impossible
The things I've seen with these eyes
Precious dreams
That somehow you don't realize
Well there's a thirst inside you
I know I can't be wrong
So let's get out of the storm girl
We've waited much too long
These lyrics are from Toto's song "Can," and they talk about a man's determination to help his loved one. He tells her that he is counting on her and that it is the time to follow through. He urges her to hold on as they drive straight through the night, and promises that they will make it home before daylight.
The man reminds his partner that she has a voice inside her and it cannot be wrong. He encourages her to break free from the pain they have held on for too long. In the chorus, he tells her that they can make it tonight with her giving him the sign. He promises to be by her side and has a feeling that it is the right time. He thinks that they can make it in time, and assures her that they do not have to fear anything.
The man advises his partner to fear nothing at all and that they must know that nothing is impossible. He reminds her of the things he has seen with his eyes, precious dreams that somehow she does not realize. He also acknowledges the thirst inside her and assures her again that he cannot be wrong. He suggests that they get out of the storm as they have waited for too long.
Overall, the song is about a man's determination to help his loved one realize her dreams and get out of the storm of pain that they have been in. He shows his support and promises to stand by her side through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm counting on you
I trust you to take action
Gotta know, the time has come to follow through
We need to act now and complete what we started
Drive straight through the night
Let's keep going, without stopping
Just hold on, we can make it home before daylight
Don't give up, we will reach our destination before dawn
There's a voice inside you
You have a gut feeling that you can trust
And you know it can't be wrong
Your intuition is right, trust it
So break away from this pain, girl
Let go of the past and move forward
We've held out much too long
We have been waiting for this moment for too long and need to act
We can make it tonight
We have the power to succeed
If you give me the sign
Let me know if you're ready to take action
And I'll be by your side
I will support you every step of the way
I've got the feeling it's right
I believe that we will succeed
We can make it in time
We have enough time to reach our goal
Fear nothing at all
Don't be afraid of failure
Ya gotta know that nothing is impossible
Believe that anything can be achieved
The things I've seen with these eyes
I have witnessed incredible things that prove this is possible
Precious dreams
Our goals and aspirations are valuable and worth fighting for
That somehow you don't realize
You may not fully grasp the importance of our goals
Well there's a thirst inside you
You have a strong desire to achieve our goals
I know I can't be wrong
I trust that your thirst for success is genuine
So let's get out of the storm girl
Let's leave our troubles behind and move forward
We've waited much too long
We can't postpone our goals any longer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH STANLEY WILLIAMS, BARRY L. BREGMAN, JEFFREY T. PORCARO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jtdcjtdc
who's here Feb 2020! its a loss this song ain't available on Spotify. so much energy in this music! absolute smooth bass, drums, vocals, piano, synth, etc... generally they say Byron is not a fit, but i don't see anyone else driving this specific song 👍
The world is precious, a gift to you and me
I suggest we treat her right, with love and dignity
Everybody's looking for some peace of mind
If you seek the truth then you will surely find
Everybody wants to have global peace
While the press of a button can shake the world to its knees
Can you hear what I'm saying, can you hear what I'm saying
There are those who say might is right, I beg to disagree
I say we all unite and redirect our destiny
Everybody's looking for a quick solution
Our lungs are choking from breathing air pollution
I say put down your guns and stop the revolution
I say it's time we make a restitution, yes
Can you hear what I'm saying, can you hear what I'm saying
Can you hear what I'm saying, can you hear what I'm saying
Can you hear what I'm saying, can you hear what I'm saying
Can you hear me now, I am calling out to you
(Can you hear me calling out to you, can you hear me calling out to you)
There's so much starvation, so much say untruth
So much prejudice, there's so much deprivation - oh how long, how long
Can you hear what I'm saying
Africa, America, Eurasia, Latin Africa
@pepcaone
I know there was lots of turmoil in the band when Jean-Michel Byron was lead vocalist, but this song will always be one of my favorites from Toto.
@anjinghitam8141
Agree!
@anchorpoint3631
I don't get the hate towards him. This guy was indeed a good lead singer for the band.
@maximum.p
@@anchorpoint3631 He quickly started behaving like a diva, and thought he had become sorta Michael Jackson. So he got fired ...
@devilopment3291
@@maximum.p ah, star syndrome. that's definitely bad thing happened to some artist with sudden increase in their exposure and popularity.
@nickavenoso7851
I do love the songs he recorded with the band, but I don’t think he was the best fit live. Just my opinion.
@aridematos3555
One genius for every instrument. Jeff and Mike live on forever.
@auratolosa827
Love this singer
So beautiful and talented
@braddmartins
Reggae,blues,funk,soul,rock. Toto is dinamic,ecletic,the most complete band ever!
@myp0nytail
soo many bands members gone........................they will be MISSED!!!