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 38 years of life he played with hundreds of world-class artists and was featured on countless records. Image File history File links Porcaro. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Hartford County, Connecticut Coordinates: , Country United States State Connecticut NECTA Hartford Region Capitol Region Named 1637 Incorporated (city) 1784 Consolidated 1896 Government  - Type Mayor-council  - Mayor Eddie Perez Area  - City  18. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... A drummer in Action A drummer is a person who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sideman. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... The Bee Gees were a singing trio of brothers — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb — that became one of the most successful musical acts of all time. ... Sonny and Cher were an American rock and roll duo, made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award- and Grammy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Steely Dan is a Grammy-Award winning American rock band centered on core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. ... Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948 in Passaic, New Jersey) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist with the jazz-rock band Steely Dan. ... Bonnie Raitt, (born November 8, 1949) is an American Blues-R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE, D.Mus. ... David Jon Gilmour CBE (born March 6, 1946 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known as a member of the band Pink Floyd. ... Boz Scaggs album cover Boz Scaggs (born William Royce Scaggs, June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... George Roger Waters (born September 9, 1943) is an English rock musician; singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and composer. ... Paul Albert Anka, OC (born July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born March 30, 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century,[1] garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Earth, Wind & Fire is a world-renowned American band which fuses different genres of music, formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 and is led and founded by Maurice White. ... Burton Cummings, OM, D.Mus (born December 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician and songwriter. ... Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Van Halen is an American rock band formed in the 1970s. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sideman. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Life

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. Nickname: Location in Hartford County, Connecticut Coordinates: , Country United States State Connecticut NECTA Hartford Region Capitol Region Named 1637 Incorporated (city) 1784 Consolidated 1896 Government  - Type Mayor-council  - Mayor Eddie Perez Area  - City  18. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Joe Porcaro (currently resident in Los Angeles) is an American jazz drummer. ... Michael Joseph Porcaro is the bass player in the Grammy award-winning band Toto. ... Steve Porcaro is a keyboardist and composer who was an original member of the rock/pop band, Toto. ...

Career

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. Joe Porcaro (currently resident in Los Angeles) is an American jazz drummer. ...

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. Sonny and Cher were an American rock and roll duo, made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Steely Dan is a Grammy-Award winning American rock band centered on core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Steve Luke Lukather (born Steven Lee Lukather on October 21, 1957 in San Fernando Valley, California, USA) is an American Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and guitar player, best known for his work with the rock band Toto. ... David Paich (born David Frank Paich on June 25, 1954 in Los Angeles, California) is a session musician from the 1980s, keyboard player, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles based rock/pop band Toto. ...

Jeff was considered to be one of the most innovative drummers of his generation, setting an example for other musicians who sought to absorb and blend a wide array of musical styles. Besides his work with Toto, he also performed with artists such as Bee Gees, Sonny and Cher, Paul McCartney, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Boz Scaggs, Roger Waters, Paul Anka, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh,Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire, Burton Cummings and Bruce Springsteen, and also had connections to Van Halen. The Bee Gees were a singing trio of brothers — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb — that became one of the most successful musical acts of all time. ... Sonny and Cher were an American rock and roll duo, made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award- and Grammy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Steely Dan is a Grammy-Award winning American rock band centered on core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. ... Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948 in Passaic, New Jersey) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist with the jazz-rock band Steely Dan. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ... Bonnie Raitt, (born November 8, 1949) is an American Blues-R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE, D.Mus. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde progressive rock music. ... David Jon Gilmour CBE (born March 6, 1946 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known as a member of the band Pink Floyd. ... Boz Scaggs album cover Boz Scaggs (born William Royce Scaggs, June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. ... George Roger Waters (born September 9, 1943) is an English rock musician; singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and composer. ... Paul Albert Anka, OC (born July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born March 30, 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century,[1] garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. ... Earth, Wind & Fire is a world-renowned American band which fuses different genres of music, formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 and is led and founded by Maurice White. ... Burton Cummings, OM, D.Mus (born December 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician and songwriter. ... Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Van Halen is an American rock band formed in the 1970s. ...

Richard Marx dedicated the song "One Man" to him and said Jeff was the best drummer he had ever worked with. Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963 in Winnetka, Illinois) is an adult contemporary singer, songwriter and record producer. ...

Death

Jeff Porcaro suffered a fatal 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. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), more commonly known as a heart attack, is a disease state that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted. ... A cropduster spreading pesticide. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

Jeff's funeral, attended by an estimated 1,500 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 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 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. Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, California, on the south edge of the San Fernando Valley by Burbank (and on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood). ... Ulysses S. Grant High School is a secondary school in the east side of the San Fernando Valley in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles, California [1]. It is part of District 2 of the Los Angeles Unified School District. ... The Gibson Amphitheatre (formerly Universal Amphitheatre) is a theater located in Universal City, California, USA. It was originally built in 1972 as an outdoor venue, but was remodeled and converted into an indoor theater in 1982. ... Boz Scaggs album cover Boz Scaggs (born William Royce Scaggs, June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. ... Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948 in Passaic, New Jersey) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist with the jazz-rock band Steely Dan. ... Donald Hugh Don Henley (born July 22, 1947 in Gilmer, Texas) is an American rock musician who is the drummer and one of the lead singers and songwriters of the band the Eagles. ... A different person also named Michael McDonald is a co-founder of ATO Records. ... Edward Van Halen (born Edward Lodewijk van Halen on January 26, 1955[1] in Nijmegen, Netherlands), is a guitarist, songwriter and producer most famous for being leader and a co-founder of the hard rock band, Van Halen. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Jeff was survived by his parents Joe and Eileen, brothers Mike and Steve, sister Joleen, wife Susan, and sons Christopher, Miles and Nico. The subject of this article may not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ...

Trivia

• Although Jeff was proficient in many styles, he is perhaps most remembered for the 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 (made famous originally by Bernard Purdie and John Bonham), but Jeff's mastery of it brought it to the forefront.

In music, a swung note or shuffle note is the rhythmic device in which the duration of the initial note in a pair is augmented and that of the second is diminished. ... Bernard Pretty Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is a session drummer from Maryland, United States, who claims to be the most recorded drummer in history, working on over 3000 albums. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• A dedication to Jeff Porcaro
• 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 - fan site.
• http://www.carlocavallini.it/files/jeffporcaro.jpg