Biography
Steve Lukather had already cultivated respect from fellow musicians long before audiences recognized him as a founding member of Toto. Renowned for his technical command and adaptability on guitar, he ranked among the most in-demand session musicians throughout the 1980s and 1990s, lending his playing to projects by Michael Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and countless others, all while maintaining his commitments to Toto’s recordings and tours, where his skills as a singer and composer steadily developed. His solo path began with the 1989 album Lukather; the 2001 release No Substitutions: Live in Osaka captured his live prowess alongside Larry Carlton; the 2010 effort All’s Well That Ends Well blended rock, pop, and blues; and both I Found the Sun Again in 2021 and Bridges in 2023 showcased him alongside longtime musical associates.
Born October 21, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, Steve Lukather first encountered rock music through the Beatles, much like countless American children of the 1960s. At age seven his father presented him with a guitar and a copy of Meet the Beatles, prompting immediate self-instruction. He independently mastered guitar, keyboards, and drums before seeking guidance from older peers on guitar techniques. Formal lessons came from musician and educator Jimmy Wyble, and through high school he connected with drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, siblings already performing professionally. By twenty he was actively recording sessions, and when the Porcaro brothers formed a band they recruited him; that group, Toto, issued its self-titled debut in 1978, which included the hit single “Hold the Line” and climbed into the Top Ten, establishing Lukather as a rock star.
Although Toto achieved swift commercial traction, Lukather continued session contributions, appearing on albums by Boz Scaggs, the Pointer Sisters, Leo Sayer, Cher, and Alice Cooper. Toto’s subsequent releases, 1979’s Hydra and 1981’s Turn Back, achieved only modest results, yet 1982’s Toto IV marked a major triumph with the massive singles “Rosanna” and “Africa.” Lukather expanded his creative input by writing or co-writing four tracks on Toto IV and supplying vocals. He and several bandmates also supported Michael Jackson on the 1982 blockbuster Thriller, which became a cultural landmark.
While balancing session dates and Toto obligations, Lukather grew determined to pursue independent projects. His debut solo album, Lukather, arrived in 1989 featuring guest appearances by Eddie Van Halen, Steve Stevens, and Richard Marx. That same year Los Lobotomys, a side project with David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Will Lee, released its first record. Following lineup shifts, Lukather assumed lead vocal duties for Toto in 1991; he also contributed to noted jazz guitarist Jeff Richman’s album The Way In. His second solo outing, 1994’s Candyman, originated as a Los Lobotomys project issued domestically under the band name and internationally under his own. The 1997 album Luke contained two tracks co-written with Fee Waybill of the Tubes, who had co-authored the hits “Talk to Ya Later” and “She’s a Beauty.”
A 1998 Japanese tour with jazz guitarist Larry Carlton led to a recorded performance in Osaka, later distilled into the 2001 album No Substitutions: Live in Osaka, which earned the pair a 2002 Grammy. The 2003 release Santamental united Lukather with Steve Vai, Edgar Winter, and Slash for distinctive interpretations of Christmas material. Amid continued work with Toto and Boz Scaggs plus extensive session activity, he completed the reflective Ever Changing Times in 2008. All’s Well That Ends Well followed in 2010 just as his calendar intensified; Joe Satriani and Steve Vai enlisted him for the 2012 G3 Tour, and he joined Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band for live dates that year. In 2013 he juggled tours with Starr, Toto, and Peter Frampton alongside his own headline shows while finishing Transition.
Session and live commitments with Toto and Starr occupied much of the ensuing period, yet Los Lobotomys issued its third studio album, 3.0, in 2018, and a circle of collaborators including Greg Bissonnette, David Paich, and John Pierce joined him for the live-in-studio recording I Found the Sun Again in 2020, completed with most tracks captured in two takes or fewer. His ninth solo album, Bridges, appeared in June 2023 and again drew on Toto associates such as Paich, singer Joseph Williams, drummer Simon Phillips, and others.
Born October 21, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, Steve Lukather first encountered rock music through the Beatles, much like countless American children of the 1960s. At age seven his father presented him with a guitar and a copy of Meet the Beatles, prompting immediate self-instruction. He independently mastered guitar, keyboards, and drums before seeking guidance from older peers on guitar techniques. Formal lessons came from musician and educator Jimmy Wyble, and through high school he connected with drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, siblings already performing professionally. By twenty he was actively recording sessions, and when the Porcaro brothers formed a band they recruited him; that group, Toto, issued its self-titled debut in 1978, which included the hit single “Hold the Line” and climbed into the Top Ten, establishing Lukather as a rock star.
Although Toto achieved swift commercial traction, Lukather continued session contributions, appearing on albums by Boz Scaggs, the Pointer Sisters, Leo Sayer, Cher, and Alice Cooper. Toto’s subsequent releases, 1979’s Hydra and 1981’s Turn Back, achieved only modest results, yet 1982’s Toto IV marked a major triumph with the massive singles “Rosanna” and “Africa.” Lukather expanded his creative input by writing or co-writing four tracks on Toto IV and supplying vocals. He and several bandmates also supported Michael Jackson on the 1982 blockbuster Thriller, which became a cultural landmark.
While balancing session dates and Toto obligations, Lukather grew determined to pursue independent projects. His debut solo album, Lukather, arrived in 1989 featuring guest appearances by Eddie Van Halen, Steve Stevens, and Richard Marx. That same year Los Lobotomys, a side project with David Garfield, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Will Lee, released its first record. Following lineup shifts, Lukather assumed lead vocal duties for Toto in 1991; he also contributed to noted jazz guitarist Jeff Richman’s album The Way In. His second solo outing, 1994’s Candyman, originated as a Los Lobotomys project issued domestically under the band name and internationally under his own. The 1997 album Luke contained two tracks co-written with Fee Waybill of the Tubes, who had co-authored the hits “Talk to Ya Later” and “She’s a Beauty.”
A 1998 Japanese tour with jazz guitarist Larry Carlton led to a recorded performance in Osaka, later distilled into the 2001 album No Substitutions: Live in Osaka, which earned the pair a 2002 Grammy. The 2003 release Santamental united Lukather with Steve Vai, Edgar Winter, and Slash for distinctive interpretations of Christmas material. Amid continued work with Toto and Boz Scaggs plus extensive session activity, he completed the reflective Ever Changing Times in 2008. All’s Well That Ends Well followed in 2010 just as his calendar intensified; Joe Satriani and Steve Vai enlisted him for the 2012 G3 Tour, and he joined Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band for live dates that year. In 2013 he juggled tours with Starr, Toto, and Peter Frampton alongside his own headline shows while finishing Transition.
Session and live commitments with Toto and Starr occupied much of the ensuing period, yet Los Lobotomys issued its third studio album, 3.0, in 2018, and a circle of collaborators including Greg Bissonnette, David Paich, and John Pierce joined him for the live-in-studio recording I Found the Sun Again in 2020, completed with most tracks captured in two takes or fewer. His ninth solo album, Bridges, appeared in June 2023 and again drew on Toto associates such as Paich, singer Joseph Williams, drummer Simon Phillips, and others.
Albums
Bridges
2023
I Found The Sun Again
2021
Transition
2013
All's Well That Ends Well
2010
No Substitutions: Live in Osaka
2001
No Substitutions: Live In Osaka
2001
Singles
