Jeff Porcaro

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. His legacy is carried on, as he continues to be one of the most inspiring and heard drummers in history.

Death

Jeff Porcaro suffered a fatal and completely 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, and this is disputed to this day (many close to him felt he had not used the drug in years, if at all). However, many on both sides of the argument state it was not a big factor in the death of Porcaro.

However, it is noted that in bassist Guy Pratt's book "My Bass and Other Animals," Pratt describes Porcaro offering him "a line at 10 AM," which Pratt describes as being "a bit full on, even for me." The event described was during sessions for Madonna's "I'm Breathless" album putting its timeframe at 1988 or 1989.

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.

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Jeff Porcaro drum technique (Rosanna)



Toto - Rosanna - Live 1982



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