Jeff Porcaro

Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (April 1, 1954 â€" August 5, 1992) was a highly regarded session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto.

He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the eldest son of a famous Los Angeles session percussionist Joe Porcaro. His brothers Mike Porcaro and Steve Porcaro, are both still active session musicians. He also has a younger sister, Joleen.

Besides his work with Toto, he also performed with artists such as Bee Gees, Sonny and Cher, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson, Roger Waters, Paul Anka, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, Earth, Wind & Fire and Bruce Springsteen, and also had relations to Van Halen. Richard Marx dedicated the song "One Man" to him and said Jeff was the best drummer he had ever worked with. Jeff was considered to be one of the most innovative drummers at the time, and was a pattern for other drummers for how they should play different music styles. He obtained the talents of Curt Bisquera (Mick Jagger, Elton John), and inspired drummers like Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Sting) and Jason Rullo (Symphony X).

Jeff began playing seriously at the age of seven. Lessons came from papa Joe Porcaro, followed by further studies with Bob Zimmitti and Rich Lapore. From the start of his career, Jeff Porcaro was viewed as one of the music industry's top drummers. Porcaro possessed an impeccable sense of rhythm as well as a versatility that bridged virtually every style.

Jeff was no stranger to the L.A. music scene growing up, and when he was seventeen, he got his first professional job playing in Sonny and Cher's touring band. From there, he went on to play on several Steely Dan albums before starting Toto with childhood friends Steve Lukather and David Paich

Although Jeff was proficient in many styles, he is perhaps most remembered for his innovative shuffle pattern in the Toto song "Rosanna". This pattern involved "ghost notes" played by lightly bouncing the stick on the snare between backbeats. This was not an original technique, but Jeff's mastery of it brought it to the forefront.

Jeff Porcaro suffered a heart attack and died in a bizarre gardening accident on August 5, 1992 at the age of 38. He was using a pesticide in his yard and an allergic reaction to the substance triggered the attack. An autopsy revealed a serious heart condition that had been previously undiagnosed. A report issued by the office of the Los Angeles County Coroner a month later also mentioned that a minute trace of cocaine was found in his body. Although traces of cocaine can remain in a body for years, the media latched on to the drug reference and widely reported that cocaine abuse was the cause of death. Unfortunately this rumor persists, in spite of repeated statements by those who knew him well that he had not used the drug for many years.

Jeff's funeral, attended by an estimated 1500 people, was held August 10th in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery, where he was buried. The Jeff Porcaro Memorial Fund was established to benefit the music and art departments of Grant High School in Los Angeles where Jeff was a student in the early 70s. It also provides four scholarships each year to Grant High School seniors. A memorial concert took place at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles on December 14th, with an all-star line up that included Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Eddie Van Halen, and, of course, Toto. The proceeds of the concert were used to establish an educational trust fund for Jeff's sons.

Jeff was survived by his parents Joe and Eileen, brothers Mike and Steve, sister Joleen, wife Susan, and sons Christopher, Miles and Nico.

External links

* Official Toto website (Flash intro) - includes a section dedicated to Jeffrey: memories of Jeff, discography, drum patterns, equipment
* Jeff Porcaro Session Tracks - A Continuing Project: an attempt to list every released track that Jeff was involved with
* Find A Grave - see photos, leave "virtual flowers" for Jeff. Includes burial information: map, plot location, cemetery contact
* Povlab.org, Jeff Porcaro - Undoubtedly the best site about Jeff, includes almost everything you may need to know about the man and the musician. A must-see

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