Toto - Africa

4.55 min. | 4.94065 user rating | 20534177 views




(1982) Toto was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by David Paich (b. June 21, 1954, Los Angeles; keyboards, vocals), Steve Lukather (b. October 21, 1957, Los Angeles; guitar, vocals), Bobby Kimball (b. Robert Toteaux, March 29, 1947, Vinton, LA; vocals), Steve Porcaro (b. September 2, 1957, Connecticut; keyboards), David Hungate (b. Texas; bass), and Jeff Porcaro (b. April 1, 1954, Hartford, CT; d. August 5, 1992, Hidden Hills, CA; drums). Paich was the son of arranger Marty Paich; the Porcaros were the sons of percussionist Joe Porcaro. The bandmembers had met in high school and at studio sessions in the 1970s, when they became some of the busiest session musicians in the music business. Paich, Hungate, and Jeff Porcaro wrote songs for and performed on Silk Degrees, the multi-million-selling 1976 album that combined pop, rock, and disco elements into a slick combination which heavily influenced mainstream pop music. Toto released its self-titled debut album in October 1978, and it hit the Top Ten, sold two-million copies, and spawned the gold Top Ten single "Hold the Line." The gold-selling Hydra (October 1979) and Turn Back (January 1981) were less successful, but Toto IV (April 1982) was a multi-platinum Top Ten hit, featuring the number-one hit "Africa" and the Top Tens "Rosanna" (about Lukather's girlfriend, movie star Rosanna Arquette) and "I Won't Hold You Back." At the 1982 Grammys, "Rosanna" won awards for Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Instrumental Arrangement With Vocal; and Toto IV won awards for Album of the Year, Best Engineered Recording, and Best Producer (the group). In 1984, a third Porcaro brother, Mike (b. May 29, 1955), joined the group on bass, replacing Hungate. Then lead singer Kimball quit and was replaced by Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen (b. May 15, 1951, Wyoming, MI). Toto's fifth album, Isolation (November 1984), went gold, but was a commercial disappointment. Frederiksen was replaced by Joseph Williams (b. Santa Monica), the son of the conductor/composer John Williams, for Fahrenheit (August 1986). Steve Porcaro quit in 1988, prior to the release of The Seventh One. In 1990, Jean-Michel Byron replaced Williams for the new recordings on Past to Present 1977-1990, then left, as Lukather became the group's lead singer. Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack in 1992, but was featured on the group's next album, Kingdom of Desire. By this time, Toto was far more popular in Japan and Europe than at home. The group added British drummer Simon Phillips. Tambu, released in Europe in the late fall of 1995, appeared in the U.S. in June 1996. For 1999's Mindfields, Bobby Kimball returned to the lineup after a 15-year absence. The group members continued to do session work during the band's tenure, contributing significantly to the sound of mainstream pop/rock in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide funny cartoon about this song (thanks to my viewers for the tip) http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1735

Not available in your country.....I'm sorry I thought this was America Great song but poor audio quality and some of the start and end of song cut off! Wish i could give it 5 stars!!! why can't I play this video Family Guy :D lol just saw this on top gear aha Top gear ;) Here. have a medal for being so special. I came here because I miss the rains down in Africa. Thumbs up if you came here because you freaking felt like it. i want to go to freakin' Africa. If this song and the episode of the Simpsons has taught me anything- and it hasen't- it's that it's always an adventure in Africa. (unless you are on the wrong side of a rebellion) like if Top Gear brought you here! I just saw the episode of Family Guy with this song in it! She is my new favorite female singer watch?v=TCnlGhlXXBw hey you are a retart if you so good at literature than you would know a wise man doesn't face back or the opponent is superior also listen to the dam song you like a dike marriage wondering whos dildo is better You do know you're not impressing anybody right? I'm actually a high school level of writing and english comprehension,and just because I forgot one meaning of the word will make me a complete jackass? Wow you sir are truly one hardcore douchebag. Please,my Intelligent Quotient is 20? nice fucking comeback tell me,what's yours? either the same or lower.Does that answer your question of comeback. What you're cumback? HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! Lets see: I'm smarter than you. I'm smarter than you. Oh wait...what was I going to say?...oh yea...I'm smarter than you. Gta vice city brought me here @mike thomas Dafuq?! PORN STAR MICHELL TUCKER BROUGHT ME HERE Like if Family Guy Brought you here ..i can't get over how heavy those bananas were... Nah the good tunes where out before GTA and all that but I am glad it has got people into decent stuff! Family Guy brought me here. who needs a computer when you have this music?