Skip to content

Jeff Porcaro

Published on

Jeff Porcaro was a highly respected and influential drummer best known for his work with the band Toto. Born on April 1, 1954, in South Windsor, Connecticut, Porcaro grew up in a musical family. His father, Joe Porcaro, was a session percussionist, and his brothers Mike and Steve also became accomplished musicians.

Porcaro's career took off in the 1970s and 1980s, during which he became one of the most in-demand studio drummers in Los Angeles. His precise yet versatile drumming style made him a sought-after collaborator for a wide range of artists and genres, from rock and pop to jazz and R&B. He played on numerous hit records, contributing his distinctive groove to songs by artists such as Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson, and Paul McCartney, among many others.

In 1977, Porcaro co-founded the band Toto with his brother Steve Porcaro, along with David Paich, Steve Lukather, Bobby Kimball and David Hungate. Toto quickly rose to fame with their self-titled debut album in 1978, which featured the hit singles "Hold the Line", "I'll Supply The Love" and "Georgy Porgy." Porcaro's drumming was a crucial element of Toto's sound, characterized by its precision, power, and groove.

Throughout the 1980s, Toto released a string of successful albums, including "Toto IV," which won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, in 1983. Porcaro's drumming on tracks like "Rosanna" and "Africa" became iconic, showcasing his technical skill and musicality.

In addition to his work with Toto, Porcaro continued to collaborate with other artists and participate in studio sessions. He was known for his professionalism, versatility, and ability to enhance any musical project he was involved in.

Tragically, Jeff Porcaro passed away on August 5, 1992, at the age of 38, due to a heart attack caused by allergic reaction to pesticide he was using in his garden. Despite his premature death, his legacy as one of the greatest drummers of his generation continues to inspire musicians and fans around the world.

Jeff Porcaro Sessions Discography

  • Seals & Crofts – Diamond Girl (1973); Unborn Child (1974); Get Closer (1976)
  • Les Dudek – Les Dudek (1976)
  • Three Dog Night - American Pastime (1976)
  • Joe Cocker – I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974); Civilized Man (1984)
  • Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic (1974) - "Night by Night", "Parker's Band"; Katy Lied (1975); "FM (No Static at All)" (1978, FM movie soundtrack album); Gaucho (1980) - "Gaucho"
  • Tommy Bolin – Teaser (1975) - "The Grind", "Homeward Strut", "Dreamer", "Teaser"
  • Jackson Browne – The Pretender (1976)
  • Leo Sayer – Endless Flight (1976) - "When I Need You"; Thunder in My Heart (1977); Leo Sayer (1978); World Radio (1982); Have You Ever Been in Love (1983)
  • Boz Scaggs – Silk Degrees (1976); Down Two Then Left (1977); Middle Man (1980); "Look What You've Done to Me" (1980, featured in the movie Urban Cowboy); "Miss Sun" (1980, released as a single, then included on the compilation Hits!); Other Roads (1988)
  • John Sebastian – Welcome Back (1976)
  • Carly Simon – "Nobody Does It Better" (1977)
  • Eric Carmen – Boats Against the Current (1977) - "She Did It"
  • Valerie Carter – Just a Stone's Throw Away (1977); Wild Child (1978)
  • Lisa Dal Bello – Lisa Dal Bello (1977)
  • Hall & Oates – Beauty on a Back Street (1977)
  • Lee Ritenour – Captain Fingers (1977); Rit (1981)
  • Diana Ross – Baby It's Me (1977); Ross (1983)
  • Colin Blunstone – Never Even Thought (1978)
  • Larry Carlton – Larry Carlton (1978); Sleepwalk (1981); Friends (1983)
  • Allen Toussaint – Motion (1978)
  • Linda Evans - "You Control Me" (1979)
  • Dave Mason – Mariposa De Oro (1978) - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"
  • Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy (1978) - "Nighttime in the Switching Yard"; Mr. Bad Example (1991)
  • Ruben Blades – Nothing but the Truth (1988)
  • Bim – Thistles (1978)
  • Jerry Williams – Gone (1978)
  • Al Stewart – Time Passages (1978) - "Valentina Way"
  • Marc Jordan - Mannequin (1978)
  • The Pointer Sisters - Energy (1978)
  • Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones (1979); The Magazine (1984)
  • Janne Schaffer – Earmeal (1979)
  • Lowell George – Thanks, I'll Eat It Here (1979)
  • Flyer – Send a Little Love My Way (1979)
  • Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979) - "Mother"
  • Aretha Franklin – Aretha (1980); Love All the Hurt Away (1981)
  • Mariya Takeuchi – Miss M (1980)
  • The Brothers Johnson – Winners (1981)
  • Peter Frampton – Breaking All the Rules (1981)
  • Bee Gees – Living Eyes (1981)
  • Char – U.S.J (1981)
  • Christopher Cross – "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981); Another Page (1983); Rendezvous (1992)
  • Randy Crawford – Secret Combination (1981); Windsong (1982); Nightline (1983)
  • Al Jarreau – Breakin' Away (1981) - "Breakin' Away"; Jarreau (1983) - "Mornin'", "Step by Step", "Black and Blues"
  • Amii Ozaki – Hot Baby (1981)
  • Greg Lake – Greg Lake (1981)
  • Crosby, Stills & Nash – Daylight Again (1982); Allies (1983)
  • Eye to Eye – Eye to Eye (1982)
  • Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) - "The Girl is Mine", "Beat It", "Human Nature", "The Lady in My Life"; Dangerous (1991) - "Heal the World"
  • Donna Summer – Donna Summer (1982) - "Protection"
  • Elton John – Jump Up! (1982)
  • Melissa Manchester – Hey Ricky (1982) - "You Should Hear How She Talks About You"
  • Donald Fagen – The Nightfly (1982)
  • Herbie Hancock – Lite Me Up (1982)
  • Don Henley – I Can't Stand Still (1982) - "Dirty Laundry"; The End of the Innocence (1989) - "New York Minute"
  • Michael McDonald – If That's What It Takes (1982) - "I Keep Forgettin'"; No Lookin' Back (1985); Take It to Heart (1990)
  • George Benson – In Your Eyes (1983) - "Lady Love Me (One More Time)"
  • James Newton Howard – James Newton Howard and Friends (1983)[15]
  • Lionel Richie – Can't Slow Down (1983) - "Running with the Night"; Louder Than Words (1996) - "The Climbing"
  • Paul Simon – Hearts and Bones (1983) - "Train in the Distance"
  • Randy Newman – Trouble in Paradise (1983) - "I Love L.A."
  • Russ Taff – Walls of Glass (1983) - "Walls of Glass", "Jeremiah", "Inside Look"
  • Chicago – Chicago 17 (1984) - "Stay the Night"
  • David Gilmour – About Face (1984)
  • The Jacksons – Victory (1984) - "Torture", "Wait"
  • Paul McCartney – Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) - "Silly Love Songs"
  • Joe Walsh – The Confessor (1985)
  • Eric Clapton – Behind the Sun (1985) - "Forever Man"
  • Peter Cetera – Solitude/Solitaire (1986)
  • Earth, Wind & Fire – Touch the World (1987)
  • Roger Hodgson – Hai Hai (1987)
  • David Benoit – Freedom at Midnight (1987); Shadows (1991)
  • Jon Anderson – In the City of Angels (1988)
  • Luis Miguel – Busca Una Mujer (1988)
  • Love and Money – Strange Kind of Love (1988)
  • Patti Austin – The Real Me (1988); Love Is Gonna Getcha (1990)
  • Dr. John – In a Sentimental Mood (1989)
  • Nik Kershaw – The Works (1989) - "Walkabout"
  • Poco – Legacy (1989)
  • Clair Marlo – Let It Go (1989)
  • Celine Dion – Have a Heart (1989)
  • Natalie Cole – Good to Be Back (1989) - "Miss You Like Crazy", "Starting Over Again"
  • Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989) - "Cherish"; I'm Breathless (1990) - "Hanky Panky"
  • Jude Cole – A View from 3rd Street (1990) - "Time for Letting Go", "Compared to Nothing"; Start the Car (1992) - "Open Road", "Tell The Truth"
  • Sandi Patty – "Another Time…Another Place" (1990)
  • Bruce Springsteen – "Viva Las Vegas" (1990, included in the collective album The Last Temptation of Elvis and featured in the movie Honeymoon in Vegas); Human Touch (1992)
  • Fahed Mitre – Toda la Verdad (1990)
  • Twenty Mondays – The Twist Inside (1990)
  • Bryan Duncan – Anonymous Confessions of a Lunatic Friend (1990)
  • Emily Remler – This Is Me (1990)
  • Michael Bolton – Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) - "When a Man Loves a Woman"
  • Cher – Mermaids (1990) - "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"; Love Hurts (1991) - "Could've Been You"
  • Dire Straits – On Every Street (1991) - "Calling Elvis", "Heavy Fuel"
  • Richard Marx – Rush Street (1991); Paid Vacation (1993) - "One Man"
  • Bonnie Raitt – Luck of the Draw (1991)
  • Rod Stewart – Vagabond Heart (1991) - "The Motown Song"
  • Curtis Stigers – Curtis Stigers (1991)
  • Ricky Gianco – E' rock & roll (1991)
  • B-52s – Good Stuff (1992)
  • Go West – Indian Summer (1992)
  • 10cc – …Meanwhile (1992)
  • Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch (1992) - "Human Touch"
  • Paul Young – The Crossing (1993)
  • David Crosby – Thousand Roads (1993)
  • Steve Porcaro – Someday/Somehow (2016) - "Back to You"