Toto

Toto is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 1976 by Jeff Porcaro (drums) and David Paich (keyboards), joined by Steve Lukather (guitar), Steve Porcaro (keyboards), David Hungate (bass) and Bobby Kimball (vocals). After a promising start, the group achieved acclaim in the 1980s with its album Toto IV. In 1982, Mike Porcaro replaced David Hungate on bass. In less than ten years, Toto changed its lead singer several times, engaging Fergie Frederiksen, Joseph Williams and then Jean-Michel Byron. In August 1992, Toto had to face the death of its co-founding member, Jeff Porcaro, who was replaced by Simon Phillips.

In the 2000s, the group underwent another change in its ranks with the return of Bobby Kimball on vocals, the departure of David Paich, who was replaced by Greg Phillinganes, and the forced departure of Mike Porcaro, who was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The line-up split briefly in 2008, before reforming in 2010 to support its bassist, whose care was becoming increasingly costly. He died from the disease in 2015. The same year, the group released the album Toto XIV, marking the return of Joseph Williams on vocals and David Hungate on bass. Meanwhile, Simon Phillips left the group, to be replaced by Keith Carlock and then by Shannon Forrest.

In 2018, the group celebrated forty years since its first studio album. A final international tour was planned until October 2019, at which point guitarist Steve Lukather announced the dissolution of the group in its last form following a legal dispute with the Porcaro family. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams resumed the group's repertoire under the name The Dogz Of Oz, with new musicians.

Between 1978 and 2019, Toto recorded fourteen studio albums, which sold forty million copies, and six live albums. The group also won seven Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Toto's music evolved over its four decades of career. The group blended musical genres such as rock, pop and jazz fusion. Songs such as Hold the Line, Africa and Rosanna have become classics of the group and contributed to its international renown.