In tune with Toto
Posted By www.BoyAbunda.net on March 23, 2008
In the ’80s, Toto invaded the musical consciousness of millions worldwide through a string of hit songs distinguished by an exquisite sound and style that helped set the trend for the evolving new wave in rock music during that era. Rosanna, together with another single, Africa, became a runaway bestseller, ushering in the band’s most successful era in its career.
The song Rosanna with other big hits became a powerful magnet that attracted local music enthusiasts to attend Toto’s concert at the Folk Arts Theater (FAT) 16 years ago. The same breathtaking experience is expected to take place when Toto returns this summer for a major concert on April 3 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Dubbed as Toto Live In Manila!, the musical event to be mounted by Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions will climax the two-night Philippine tour by the legendary group which will kick off on April 2 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
Toto started when keyboardist David Paich, who rose to fame after having co-written and produced Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees album, began to seriously discuss with drummer Jeff Porcaro the possibility of forming their own band. They eventually brought in bassist David Hungate, guitarist Steve Lukather, Jeff’s brother Steve Porcaro (keyboards) and vocalist Bobby Kimball to join the team.
In 1977, production began on the band’s self-titled debut album. However, production of the record was already completed, yet the band was still without a name and the album, still without a title.
It was then that Hungate, after reading the word “toto” that Porcaro wrote on the demo tapes to distinguish them from those of other bands in the studio, explained that “toto” in Latin means “all-encompassing.” And since the band members had played on a wide, all-encompassing variety of records and musical genres, they agreed that “toto” would be very apt and descriptive of their music that they ultimately decided to adopt it as their name. They also titled their album, Toto. Toto immediately broke into the charts, earning great popularity with the hit single, Hold The Line, as well as Georgy Porgy and I’ll Supply The Love.
The year 1982 ushered in Toto’s most successful era, starting with the release of the smash hit album, Toto IV, one of the most commercially successful records of the ’80s and which featured the hits, Africa and Rosanna. Rosanna earned multiple Grammy Awards nominations, paving the way for the band to gain new audiences worldwide. Toto IV was awarded six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for Rosanna, Album of the Year for Toto IV and Producer of the Year.
Several major personnel changes and movements took place within the band before and after the Toto IV release and tour, but few have had a bigger impact than the sudden and untimely death of drummer Jeff Porcaro on Aug. 5, 1992, that left the band with the bleak prospect of a tour without a drummer. The imminent break-up of the band was averted, however, when Simon Phillips was tapped to replace Jeff. Simon joined the group and went on a tour it dedicated to the memory of Jeff. The following year, it released a live album titled Absolutely Live.
At the end of the tour, the band performed in a Tribute to Jeff Porcaro Concert in Los Angeles which headlined Toto and featured Don Henley, Eddie Van Halen, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Boz Scaggs, James Newton Howard, Michael McDonald, Richard Marx and many more, with the special appearance of George Harrison of The Beatles.
The band went on an extensive 2007 tour — to support the release of its 2006 album, Falling In Between that featured Leland Sklar filling in temporarily for Mike Porcaro on bass due to Mike’s hand injury. Toto also performed at the 2007 Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota, during which former vocalists Fergie Frederiksen and Joseph Williams made guest appearances with the group.
Although the band had announced its plan to take a break and not tour the US anymore after the end of the Falling In Between Tour last year, it had obviously made an exception in the case of Asia, including the Philippines, where, together with Europe, Toto has a greater fan base.
Members of Toto’s 2007-2008 tour are Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips and Leland Sklar, Tony Spinner and Greg Phillinganes. Other big hits by Toto include 99, I’ll Be Over You and Can’t You Hear What I’m Saying.
(Tickets for the Big Dome concert are priced at P4,200, P3,700, P2,700, P1,700, P800 and P500 and are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket office. For details, call 911-5555.)
Source: DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Philippine Star
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