JEFF PORCARO
Name: Jeff Porcaro
Birth name: Jeffery Thomas Porcaro
Born: 1 April 1954 Hartford, Connecticut
Died: 5 August 1992 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (April 1, 1954 - August 5, 1992) was a highly regarded
session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. In
his career he played with hundreds of artists and was featured on countless
recordings. He continues to be one of the most heard drummers in history.
Jeff was born on April 1, 1954, in Hartford, Connecticut, the eldest son of a
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.
On October 22, 1983, Jeff married Susan Norris, a Los Angeles television
newscaster. They had three sons, Christopher Joseph (born July 3, 1984), Miles
Edwin Crawford (born June 12, 1986), and Nico Hendrix (born December 26, 1991).
Jeff began playing at the age of seven. Lessons came from his father Joe Porcaro,
followed by further studies with Bob Zimmitti and Rich Lapore. From the very
start of his career, Jeff was viewed as one of the music industry's top drummers,
possessing 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 just
seventeen, he got his first professional gig playing in Sonny and Cher's touring
band. From there he went on to play on several Steely Dan albums before co-founding
Toto with childhood friends Steve Lukather and David Paich.
Jeff is thought of today as one of the most innovative drummers of his
generation, and an example to other musicians who seek to absorb and blend a
wide array of musical styles. Besides his work with Toto, he also performed with
artists such as Tommy Bolin, Jacksons, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer,
Bee Gees, Sonny and Cher, Paul McCartney, Willy DeVille, Steely Dan, Jackson
Browne, Donald Fagen, Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt,
Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Boz Scaggs, Roger Waters,
Paul Anka, Eric Clapton, The B-52's, Joe Walsh, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind &
Fire, Burton Cummings and Bruce Springsteen, Larry Carlton. He also had
connections 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 Porcaro suffered a fatal and unexpected heart attack 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.
Jeff's funeral, attended by an estimated 1,500 people, was
held August 10 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 1970s. 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 14, with an all-star line up that included Boz Scaggs,
Donald Fagen, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, George Harrison, 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 is survived by his wife, Susan, sons, Christopher, Miles, and Nico, parents
Joe and Eileen, brothers Mike and Steve, and sister Joleen.
Name: Jeff Porcaro
Birth name: Jeffery Thomas Porcaro
Born: 1 April 1954 Hartford, Connecticut
Died: 5 August 1992 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (April 1, 1954 - August 5, 1992) was a highly regarded
session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. In
his career he played with hundreds of artists and was featured on countless
recordings. He continues to be one of the most heard drummers in history.
Jeff was born on April 1, 1954, in Hartford, Connecticut, the eldest son of a
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.
On October 22, 1983, Jeff married Susan Norris, a Los Angeles television
newscaster. They had three sons, Christopher Joseph (born July 3, 1984), Miles
Edwin Crawford (born June 12, 1986), and Nico Hendrix (born December 26, 1991).
Jeff began playing at the age of seven. Lessons came from his father Joe Porcaro,
followed by further studies with Bob Zimmitti and Rich Lapore. From the very
start of his career, Jeff was viewed as one of the music industry's top drummers,
possessing 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 just
seventeen, he got his first professional gig playing in Sonny and Cher's touring
band. From there he went on to play on several Steely Dan albums before co-founding
Toto with childhood friends Steve Lukather and David Paich.
Jeff is thought of today as one of the most innovative drummers of his
generation, and an example to other musicians who seek to absorb and blend a
wide array of musical styles. Besides his work with Toto, he also performed with
artists such as Tommy Bolin, Jacksons, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer,
Bee Gees, Sonny and Cher, Paul McCartney, Willy DeVille, Steely Dan, Jackson
Browne, Donald Fagen, Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt,
Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Boz Scaggs, Roger Waters,
Paul Anka, Eric Clapton, The B-52's, Joe Walsh, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind &
Fire, Burton Cummings and Bruce Springsteen, Larry Carlton. He also had
connections 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 Porcaro suffered a fatal and unexpected heart attack 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.
Jeff's funeral, attended by an estimated 1,500 people, was
held August 10 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 1970s. 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 14, with an all-star line up that included Boz Scaggs,
Donald Fagen, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, George Harrison, 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 is survived by his wife, Susan, sons, Christopher, Miles, and Nico, parents
Joe and Eileen, brothers Mike and Steve, and sister Joleen.