1. Michael Joseph Porcaro was an American bass player known for his work with the rock band Toto.
17 Facts About Mike Porcaro
1. 2.
Mike Porcaro retired from touring in 2007 as a result of being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
3.
Mike Porcaro was the middle brother of Toto members Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro.
4.
Mike Porcaro is the second of the three Porcaro brothers.
5.
Jeff said that he himself wasn't the best drummer, adding that Mike Porcaro was a better player than him before he switched to bass, while Steve later took up piano before they moved to California.
6.
Jeff explained that when the brothers took guitar lessons, Mike Porcaro took off at the instrument while Jeff gave up after three lessons, and since the family had only one drum kit and one bass, Mike Porcaro was assigned the bass.
7.
Mike Porcaro first began his career in bands he was a member of while in high school, one of them was alongside his brother Jeff Mike Porcaro and other future members of Toto.
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Mike Porcaro worked as a session bass player throughout the mid and late 1970s for numerous musicians and bands before replacing Toto original bass player David Hungate in 1982 shortly after the band completed recording the Toto IV album.
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Mike Porcaro played cello on a track for the album and subsequently appeared in the band's videos and performed as a full band member on the world tour in support of the album.
10.
Mike Porcaro then toured with Seals and Crofts, Larry Carlton, and Boz Scaggs.
11.
Mike Porcaro appears in the video for the song "JoJo" by Scaggs.
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Mike Porcaro stopped performing with Toto in 2007 after experiencing a growing weakness in his fingers that was making it increasingly difficult for him to play.
13.
Mike Porcaro was replaced by Leland Sklar for the remainder of the tour and Toto disbanded in 2008.
14.
In February 2010, it was announced that Mike Porcaro was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and that former band members of Toto, including Steve Mike Porcaro, would reform and do a short tour through Europe in support of him in the summer of 2010.
15.
Mike Porcaro died at his Los Angeles home on March 15,2015, at the age of 59 with his family at his side from complications of ALS.
16.
Mike Porcaro was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.
17.
Mike Porcaro left behind his wife Cheryl, whom he married in 1987, and their three children.