American drummer (1954–1992)
Jeff Porcaro
Background information Born Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro
(1954-04-01 ) April 1, 1954Died August 5, 1992(1992-08-05) (aged 38) Genres Occupations Instruments Drums Years active 1971–1992 Formerly of Spouse
Susan Norris (1983–1992; his death)
Musical artist
Jeff Porcaro (April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992) was an American drummer and songwriter. He is best known for being the co-founder and drummer of the rock bandToto , but is also one of the most recordedsession musicians in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions.[ 1] [ 2] Steely Dan albumKaty Lied
AllMusic characterized Porcaro as "arguably the most highly regarded studio drummer in rock from the mid-'70s to the early '90s" and said that "it is no exaggeration to say that the sound of mainstream pop/rock drumming in the 1980s was, to a large extent, the sound of Jeff Porcaro."[ 2] Modern Drummer [ 3]
Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro was born on April 1, 1954, inHartford, Connecticut , the eldest son of Los Angeles session percussionist[ 4] Joe Porcaro (1930–2020) and his wife, Eileen.[ 5] Mike was a successful bassist and was a member of the band Toto. Younger brotherSteve is still a studio musician and was also a member of Toto. Porcaro was raised in theSan Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and attendedUlysses S. Grant High School . Jeff's youngest sibling was sister Joleen, born in 1960.[citation needed
Porcaro began playing drums at the age of seven. Lessons came from his fatherJoe Porcaro , followed by further studies with Bob Zimmitti and Richie Lepore. When he was seventeen, he got his first professional gig playing inSonny & Cher 's touring band.[ 6] Jim Keltner andJim Gordon his idols at that time.[ 7] [ 8] Boz Scaggs before co-founding Toto with his brotherSteve and childhood friendsSteve Lukather andDavid Paich . Jeff Porcaro is renowned among drummers forthe drum pattern he used on theGrammy Award -winning Toto song "Rosanna ", from the albumToto IV [ 9] Bernard Purdie , who called it the "Purdie Shuffle." Porcaro created his own version of this groove by blending the aforementioned shuffle withJohn Bonham 's groove heard in theLed Zeppelin song "Fool in the Rain ", while keeping aBo Diddley beat on the bass drum. Porcaro describes this groove in detail on a Star Licks video (now DVD) he created shortly after "Rosanna" became popular.[ 10] Boz Scaggs ,Rhythm Heritage ,[ 11] Steely Dan ,Lee Ritenour ,Larry Carlton ,David Foster ,George Benson ,Donald Fagen ,Miles Davis ,Christopher Cross ,Michael McDonald ,Al Jarreau ,Michael Jackson ,Sonny & Cher ,Tommy Bolin ,Eric Carmen ,Eric Clapton ,Joe Cocker ,Andrew Gold ,Stan Getz ,Herb Alpert ,David Gilmour ,Elton John ,Leo Sayer ,Rickie Lee Jones ,Paul McCartney , theBee Gees ,Lynn Anderson ,Sérgio Mendes ,Jim Messina ,Seals and Crofts ,Barbra Streisand ,Richard Marx ,Don Henley ,Frankie Valli andJoe Walsh . Porcaro contributed drums to four tracks onMichael Jackson 'sThriller Dangerous Heal the World ". He also played on10cc 's...Meanwhile Al Stewart 's 1980 album24 Carrots 10cc Alive album, recorded after his death, the band dedicated "The Stars Didn't Show" to him.[citation needed
Richard Marx dedicated the song "One Man" to him and said Porcaro was the best drummer he had ever worked with.[ 12] Michael Jackson made a dedication to Porcaro in the liner notes for his 1995 albumHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Personal life and death [ edit ] On October 22, 1983, Porcaro married Susan Norris, aLos Angeles television broadcaster atKABC-TV . Together, they had three sons: Christopher Joseph (1984), Miles Edwin Crawford (1986–2017) and Nico Hendrix (1991).[citation needed
Porcaro died at Humana Hospital-West Hills on the evening of August 5, 1992, at the age of 38 after falling ill while sprayinginsecticide in the yard of his Hidden Hills home. Initially his death was wrongly attributed to a heart attack caused by an allergic reaction to inhaled pesticide. Bandmate Steve Lukather and Porcaro's wife stated they believed that Porcaro had also been suffering from a long-standing heart condition, exacerbated by heavy smoking, which contributed to his death. Lukather noted that several members of Porcaro's family had died at a young age due to heart disease.[ 13] heart attack due to occlusivecoronary artery disease caused byatherosclerosis resulting fromcocaine use.[ 14] [ 15] [ 13] Eddie Van Halen andDavid Crosby among others.[ 16]
Porcaro's tombstone was inscribed with the following epitaph, comprising lyrics from theKingdom of Desire
The Jeff Porcaro Memorial Fund was established to benefit the music and art departments ofGrant High School in Los Angeles, where he was a student in the early 1970s. A memorial concert took place at theUniversal Amphitheater in Los Angeles on December 14, 1992, with an all-star line-up that includedGeorge Harrison ,Boz Scaggs ,Donald Fagen ,Don Henley ,Michael McDonald ,David Crosby ,Eddie Van Halen and the members of Toto. The proceeds of the concert were used to establish an education trust fund for Porcaro's sons.
Seals & Crofts –Diamond Girl Unborn Child Get Closer Joe Cocker –I Can Stand a Little Rain Civilized Man Steely Dan –Pretzel Logic Katy Lied FM (No Static at All) " (1978, for theFM Gaucho Andrew Gold (1978) –Thank You For Being a Friend Tommy Bolin –Teaser Rhythm Heritage –Disco-fied (1976)Les Dudek –Les Dudek Three Dog Night –American Pastime Jackson Browne –The Pretender (1976)Leo Sayer –Endless Flight When I Need You ";Thunder in My Heart Leo Sayer World Radio Have You Ever Been in Love Boz Scaggs –Silk Degrees Down Two Then Left Middle Man Look What You've Done to Me " (1980, featured in the movieUrban Cowboy Miss Sun " (1980, released as a single, then included on the compilationHits! Other Roads Eric Carmen –Boats Against the Current She Did It ", "Boats Against the Current", "Love Is All That Matters"Valerie Carter –Just a Stone's Throw Away Wild Child (1978)Lisa Dal Bello –Lisa Dal Bello Alan O'Day –Appetizers (1977) – "Undercover Angel "Hall & Oates –Beauty on a Back Street Lee Ritenour –Captain Fingers Rit Diana Ross –Baby It's Me Ross Colin Blunstone –Never Even Thought Larry Carlton –Larry Carlton Sleepwalk (1981);Friends (1983)Allen Toussaint –Motion (1978)As Frenéticas –Dancin' Days (1978)Dave Mason –Mariposa De Oro Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow "The Manhattan Transfer –Pastiche Extensions Birdland ", "Twilight Zone / Twilight Tone";Bodies and Souls The Offbeat of Avenues Warren Zevon –Excitable Boy The Envoy Mr. Bad Example Ruben Blades –Nothing but the Truth Bim –Thistles Jerry Williams –Gone (1978)Al Stewart –Time Passages Marc Jordan –Mannequin (1978)The Pointer Sisters –Energy Linda Evans – "You Control Me" (1979)Rickie Lee Jones –Rickie Lee Jones The Magazine Janne Schaffer –Earmeal (1979)Lowell George –Thanks, I'll Eat It Here Bill Hughes –Dream Master Pink Floyd –The Wall Mother "Airplay –Airplay Aretha Franklin –Aretha Love All the Hurt Away Klaatu –Endangered Species Mariya Takeuchi –Miss M (1980)The Brothers Johnson –Winners Bill Champlin –Runaway Peter Frampton –Breaking All the Rules Bee Gees –Living Eyes Living Eyes ", "Soldiers", "Cryin' Every Day"Char –U.S.J (1981)Christopher Cross – "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) " (1981);Another Page Rendezvous (1992)Randy Crawford –Secret Combination Windsong (1982);Nightline (1983)Al Jarreau –Breakin' Away Night Shift Jarreau Mornin' ", "Step by Step", "Black and Blues"Amii Ozaki –Hot Baby Greg Lake –Greg Lake Sarah Vaughan –Songs of the Beatles Crosby, Stills & Nash –Daylight Again Allies Eye to Eye –Eye to Eye (1982)Michael Jackson –Thriller The Girl is Mine ", "Beat It ", "Human Nature ", "The Lady in My Life";Dangerous Heal the World "Donna Summer –Donna Summer Protection "Elton John –Jump Up! Melissa Manchester –Hey Ricky You Should Hear How She Talks About You "Donald Fagen –The Nightfly Bill LaBounty –Bill LaBounty (1982)Herbie Hancock –Lite Me Up Don Henley –I Can't Stand Still Dirty Laundry ";The End of the Innocence New York Minute "Michael McDonald –If That's What It Takes I Keep Forgettin' ";No Lookin' Back Take It to Heart The Imperials –Stand By The Power (1982)George Benson –In Your Eyes Lady Love Me (One More Time) "James Newton Howard –James Newton Howard and Friends [ 17] Lionel Richie –Can't Slow Down Running with the Night ";Louder Than Words Paul Simon –Hearts and Bones Train in the Distance "Randy Newman –Trouble in Paradise I Love L.A. "Russ Taff –Walls of Glass Russ Taft (1987) – "I Still Believe"Chicago –Chicago 17 Stay the Night "David Gilmour –About Face The Jacksons –Victory Torture ", "Wait";2300 Jackson Street Paul McCartney –Give My Regards to Broad Street Silly Love Songs "Joe Walsh –The Confessor Eric Clapton –Behind the Sun Forever Man "Peter Cetera –Solitude/Solitaire Earth, Wind & Fire –Touch the World Fra Lippo Lippi –Light and Shade (1987)Roger Hodgson –Hai Hai David Benoit –Freedom at Midnight Shadows Jon Anderson –In the City of Angels Luis Miguel –Busca Una Mujer Love and Money –Strange Kind of Love Patti Austin –The Real Me Love Is Gonna Getcha Dr. John –In a Sentimental Mood Nik Kershaw –The Works Walkabout "Poco –Legacy Clair Marlo –Let It Go (1989)Celine Dion –Have a Heart (1989)Natalie Cole –Good to Be Back Benny Hester –Perfect Madonna –Like a Prayer Cherish ";I'm Breathless Hanky Panky "Jude Cole –A View from 3rd Street Start the Car Tell the Truth "Sandi Patty – "Another Time...Another Place" (1990)Bruce Springsteen – "Viva Las Vegas" (1990, included in the collective albumThe Last Temptation of Elvis and featured in the movieHoneymoon in Vegas Human Touch Bryan Duncan –Anonymous Confessions of a Lunatic Friend (1990)Emily Remler –This Is Me Cher –Mermaids The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) ";Love Hurts Could've Been You "Michael Bolton –Time, Love & Tenderness When a Man Loves a Woman "Dire Straits –On Every Street Heavy Fuel " & "Planet of New Orleans ")Richard Marx –Rush Street Paid Vacation Bonnie Raitt –Luck of the Draw Rod Stewart –Vagabond Heart The Motown Song "Curtis Stigers –Curtis Stigers Ricky Gianco –E' rock & roll Paul Brady –Trick or Treat B-52s –Good Stuff Go West –Indian Summer 10cc –...Meanwhile Sergio Mendes –Brasileiro Bruce Springsteen –Human Touch Roger Waters –Amused to Death Paul Young –The Crossing David Crosby –Thousand Roads Patti Scialfa –Rumble Doll Steve Porcaro –Someday/Somehow ^ "Freedrumlessons.com" . Freeodrumlessons.com. Archived fromthe original on January 9, 2016. RetrievedDecember 9, 2010 .^a b Ruhlmann, William."Jeff Porcaro" . AllMusic. RetrievedOctober 24, 2011 . ^ "Modern Drummer's Readers Poll Archive, 1979–2014" .Modern Drummer . RetrievedAugust 10, 2015 .^ "Joe Porcaro Percussionista Made in Italy" . Il Volo Srl Editore. RetrievedNovember 10, 2016 .^ "Joseph Porcaro Obituary (2020) – Hartford, CT – Los Angeles Times" .Legacy.com . RetrievedJanuary 20, 2025 .^ "Obituary: Jeff Porcaro" .The Independent . August 14, 1992.^ "Jeff Porcaro Throwback Thursday from the MI Vault" . Musicians Institute. January 29, 2015.Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. RetrievedMarch 13, 2015 .^ "Jeff Porcaro's official discography" . Toto99.com. RetrievedDecember 9, 2010 .^ Nate Brown."Jeff Porcaro – Rosanna Shuffle" . OnlineDrummer.com. Archived fromthe original on September 24, 2015. RetrievedNovember 1, 2015 . ^ Vhs Vault & Restoring (March 22, 2022).Starlicks Jeff Porcaro Instructional Video For Drumming 1988 . RetrievedJanuary 20, 2025 – via YouTube. ^ Theme from SWAT superseventies.com Retrieved 9 April 2025^ "liner notes "Paid vacation", see quote about "One man" . Geocities.jp. Archived fromthe original on October 22, 2012. RetrievedDecember 9, 2010 .^a b "The tragic real life story of Toto" .grunge.com . August 22, 2019.^ Tamaki, Julie (September 4, 1992)."Drummer's Death Linked to Cocaine, Coroner Says: Autopsy: Report finds no evidence to support earlier belief that Toto's Jeff Porcaro died of an allergic reaction to a pesticide" .Los Angeles Times . ^ "Band History" .toto99.com . Toto. August 5, 1992. RetrievedOctober 24, 2011 .^ "TOLUCA LAKE: 1200 Attend Funeral of Toto Drummer Porcaro" .Los Angeles Times . August 11, 1992.^ "James Newton Howard & Friends" .Sheffieldlab.com . Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. RetrievedJune 27, 2016 .
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