David Paich | |
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 Paich in 2003 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | David Frank Paich (1954-06-25)June 25, 1954 (age 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1973–present |
| Member of | Toto |
David Frank Paich (born June 25, 1954) is an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist, and secondary vocalist of the rock bandToto since 1977. He wrote or co-wrote much of Toto's original material, including the band's three most popular songs: "Hold the Line", "Rosanna", and "Africa". With Toto, Paich has contributed to 17 albums and sold over 40 million records. He and guitarist and singerSteve Lukather are the only members to appear on every studio album (Steve Porcaro contributed to every studio album as well, but was not an official member of the band from 1987 to 2010).
In addition, Paich has worked as a songwriter, session musician, and producer with a host of artists includingBoz Scaggs,Cheryl Lynn,George Benson,Helen Reddy, andMichael Jackson.
Paich is the son of jazz composer, musician, and arrangerMarty Paich.[1]
A prolific writer of chart-performing songs (13 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100), Paich wrote or co-wrote such tracks as "Miss Sun"(1980),[2] "Got To Be Real"(1978), "Georgy Porgy"(1978), "99"(1979), "Lowdown"(1976), "What Can I Say"(1976), "Lido Shuffle"(1976), "Lady Love Me (One More Time)"(George Benson), "Hold the Line"(1978), "It's Over"(1976), "Rosanna", "Hydra", and "Pamela". He also performed lead vocals on theToto hits "Africa", "Lovers in the Night", and "Stranger in Town".
Paich remained with Toto from the beginning of the band in 1977 until 2004, then performed on only a few shows until their disbandment in 2008. Session keyboardistGreg Phillinganes joined Toto in 2003 as an additional keyboardist for both studio projects and tour dates. In 2010, Paich resumed performing with Toto, and until mid-2018 was one of the band's keyboard players, alongside fellow original memberSteve Porcaro.
With Toto in between legs of its 201840 Trips Around the Sun (40th anniversary) tour, the band announced via its official website on July 20, 2018, that Paich "will not be performing on the band's planned North American tour [lasting from July 30 – November 17]. The recent European appearances [February 11 – April 8] took a toll on his personal well-being... He plans on focusing on his health, and looks forward to returning to the road when ready to do so." GuitaristSteve Lukather later stated that Paich's absence stemmed partially from an apparent seizure he suffered on the bus during the band's early 2018 European tour.[3]
Paich returned to the stage with Toto for the opening and closing shows of their 2019 US tour, reportedly their last, on September 20 in Los Angeles and October 20 in Philadelphia.[4] In both instances, Paich joined the band at the end of the show to play keyboards and sing on "Africa" and "Home of the Brave". The band dissolved at the end of the tour, however, before he could make a full return. Toto reformed in 2020 with Lukather and singerJoseph Williams fronting a new band. Paich is no longer able to tour full-time, but remains a member of the band as its musical director and a guest performer whenever his health allows.[5][6] David made a guest appearance in Amsterdam, the 15th of July 2022 for 5 songs only.[7]
He has co-writing credits withBoz Scaggs on the songs "What Can I Say", "Lowdown", and "Lido Shuffle" from the multi-platinum albumSilk Degrees, and occasionally still sits in on keyboards with Boz Scaggs' band. As songwriter he wrote or co-wrote songs forCher,[8][9]The Jacksons,[10]Andy Williams,[11]George Benson,[12]Glen Campbell,[13] Boz Scaggs,[14]Jon Anderson[15] (Yes),Cherie &Marie Currie,[16][17] andChicago.[18] As arranger he worked forMichael Jackson,Rod Stewart,Patti Austin,Donna Summer,the Doobie Brothers,Sheryl Crow and many more.
In 1977, Paich produced the No. 1 R&B hit "Break It to Me Gently" byAretha Franklin.
In the early and mid-1980s, Paich often worked with well-known producersQuincy Jones andDavid Foster. Paich was a part of the session group on the Michael Jackson albumThriller. He played piano, synthesizer, and did some synth and rhythm arrangements.
In 1982, Paich produced and arranged the song "It's A Long Road" for the filmFirst Blood.
In 1989, Paich produced and arranged the Oscar-nominated song "The Girl Who Used to Be Me", written byMarvin Hamlisch andAlan and Marilyn Bergman, for the filmShirley Valentine and produced the song "I'll Be Holding On", written by Hans Zimmer and Will Jennings, for the filmBlack Rain.
In 1994, Paich was a producer on the Tramaine Hawkins albumTo a Higher Place which was nominated for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.
In October 2009, David Paich was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame along with the other members of Toto.
Paich was the Co-Music Director for President Bill Clinton's Foundation Concert in 2011. That year Paich also performed on the all-star benefit album entitled Jazz For Japan (Avatar Records).
David was the music coordinator for 2012 Music Cares Person of the Year, Paul McCartney.
For his extraordinary contributions to the world of music, David Paich was honored with the 2013 South-South Award for Lifetime Cultural Achievement.
As a session musician, Paich has played on numerous soundtracks and on albums by many artists, includingElkie Brooks' albumRich Man's Woman;Bryan Adams' song "Please Forgive Me"; the Michael Jackson songs "Earth Song", "The Girl Is Mine", "Heal the World", "Stranger in Moscow", and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"; and theUSA for Africa song "We Are the World", as well as work with Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, Quincy Jones,Melanie Safka,Don Henley,Diana Ross, the Doobie Brothers,Neil Diamond,Seals and Crofts,Steely Dan,Elton John,Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Cher, Sarah Vaughan,Randy Newman,Tina Turner,the Brothers Johnson andPink.
Paich traveled to China, where he worked composing the theme music for the2008 Summer Olympics. In 2009, he sang the hit song "Africa" at theMillennium Development Goals awards in New York and co-produced a new tune for George Benson. Paich was involved with the61st Primetime Emmy Awards as a music producer and keyboardist for the on-stage band.[19]
In 2022, Paich announced his debut solo album titledForgotten Toys. It was released by The Players Club (Mascot Label Group) on August 19, 2022.[20] On June 9, 2022, he released the first single titled "Spirit of the Moonrise," followed by July 14's "Queen Charade."[21]
Paich has said he plans to release more solo music in the future and he has "some stuff lying around here", and is often "slow" because he is "methodical and a perfectionist, sometimes too much...".[22]
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David Paich was born in Los Angeles, California to Hilda Lorraine Paich andMartin Louis Paich. He had one sister, Lorraine Louise Paich Cohen, who died on December 20, 2010, at age 58. She was a survivor of a double lung transplant that took place in November 2006, and Paich took a leave of absence from Toto in 2003–2008 to help care for her. She has three credits on albums her brother David was involved in. These include two production credits, one from the 1978Cheryl Lynn self-titleddebut album David produced, and one from the 1981Sarah Vaughan album titledSongs of the Beatles. She was also credited as providing vocals on the Toto song "Struck By Lightning" from their 2018 studio albumOld Is New. His mother, Hilda, died in 1979, and his father, Marty, died on August 12, 1995. He married his wife, Lorraine, on December 8, 1984. They have one daughter together named Elizabeth, who was born on November 4, 1988.
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