TOTO Bandmates Lukather & Williams Celebrate The Success Of Their Solo Albums / TOTO Live Album Due Out June 25th

Los Angeles, CA — On February 26^th, Steve Lukather a.k.a. Luke and Joseph Williams presented solo albums via The Players Club / Mascot Label Group. Both releases charted in multiple territories across the globe, and have subsequently been streamed millions and millions of times. Additionally, three videos from both artists have been screened a couple of million times cumulatively. Both artists made significant contributions to the other’s recordings. Additionally, David Paich performed on select tracks on Luke’s I Found The Sun Again and Williams’ Denizen Tenant. The titles were released on LP, CD and a limited-edition deluxe edition with the two releases bundled together which are available here: https://smarturl.it/Steve-Lukather and https://smarturl.it/JosephWilliams.

Luke shares, “The approach for this album was simply to make as honest a record as I could in 2020 with 1970’s inspiration. Creatively revisiting a time when recording values and techniques were essentially capturing performances with a pureness that’s largely lost with modern technology.  I’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm shared by the fans across The World, the kind words from the press across the globe, and all of the support from Mascot and the industry.  I never anticipated this response to the level that’s been shared, and for that I could not be more thankful. Thank You all.” Joseph Williams offers, “Denizen Tenant is really my first opportunity in ages to show my true sound.  The album is an eclectic collection of songs, but they stand together in delivering the experience I wanted the listener to have at their fingertips. Like Luke, I am blown away by the love and support that’s been steady and consistent since we first began sharing the songs. Like all careers, you ebb and flow, reach heights and endure challenges. At the moment, this outpouring of positive sentiments shared sure offers a moment to celebrate.”

TOTO will release With A Little Help From My Friends, via The Players Club / Mascot Label Group on June 25. The release captures a performance staged for the band’s global audience on November 21, 2020 when Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams and David Paich appeared with the new line-up of Toto for the first time from Los Angeles, CA.  Joining Lukather, Williams and Paich for this next chapter in Toto’s indelible history are new band members bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Ghost-Note / Snarky Puppy), and keyboardist / background vocalist Steve Maggiora (Robert Jon & The Wreck). Keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note) and multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) segued over continuing their tenure in the ensemble. This marks the fifteenth incarnation of the Toto line-up in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited. To watch the performance of “Till The End” click here: https://youtu.be/vB7qFkhwaY8. The pre-order is live here: https://smarturl.it/TOTO-MLG .  Alongside LP pressings of the audio only, both a CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray package are available. The track listing features “Till The End,” “Hold The Line,” “Pamela,” “Kingdom of Desire,” “White Sister,” “You Are The Flower,” “I Won’t Hold You Back,” “Stop Loving You,” “Home Of The Brave,” “Rosanna,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” In the DVD and Blu-ray releases, a documentary is featured alongside the performance, featuring thoughts from all members of the band that appeared that evening.

Steve Lukather a.k.a. Luke shares, “When the music is performed by great musicians it honors Toto. The documentary featured on the DVD offers great insights in to our thoughts looking forward. David, who stands with us, alongside Joe and myself, desire to keep this music alive.  And Paich could pop in any time for a show as a special surprise. When it came to plan this specific set list, we picked an eclectic group of songs for this one night only show. Looking forward, we’ll be selecting a broader mix from the Toto catalog that includes deep cuts, the hits, and tunes from Joe and my recently released solo albums. Both of us could not be more thrilled with the global response to these records.  They charted all over the world, and integrating some of the music in to the new Toto set brings a fresh spice to the Toto: The Dogz of Oz World Tour when we head back out to begin staging shows.  Simply, both of us aim to bring the past Toto to the present and beyond, and this first look at the new line-up sets the stage for a chapter in our history we can’t wait to write.”

Joe Williams offers, “It’s always a complete joy to perform a Toto show, but this one was special. Joining me, Luke and David last November were three new top level, virtuoso musicians as well as a few returning geniuses. The show itself was born out of the need to play after being on Covid lockdown, but also served as the reason to build this new band.  Right out of the gate this group gelled and dug deep into the new and old Toto material.  Among some of the deeper cuts is one of my all-time favorite songs, ‘You Are The Flower’ by the original – Bobby Kimball. Being a massive fan (and a good friend), I dedicate the performance to him. Also back are a few of my favorite things, ‘Till The End’ and ‘Pamela.’  Played to perfection by the new cats. I have the best job in the band because when I’m not singing, I get to watch the most incredible players work! The Toto model holds strong and true.  A band of the very best musicians and singers writing and performing all manner of cool songs. That’s how it began, and that’s how it continues.”  He continues, “This documentary explores that concept by talking with David, Luke, Warren, Dominic X, John Pierce, Robert ‘Sput’ Searight, and Steve Maggiora about their experiences as players, and also about being a part of the Toto legacy. And, of course discussion about the show as well. I think I’m in there too, saying how much I love these guys!  Soon we’ll to get back out to you, on stage, in the flesh expanding our set with some even deeper ‘legacy’ cuts as well as some new stuff from Luke’s and my new records. We can’t wait! In the meantime, enjoy a little Toto history and current events.  Xo Joe.”

With A Little Help From My Friends was Produced by Joseph Williams, who also edited the accompanying long-form video.  The band’s long-time front of house engineer Ken Freeman mixed and captured the sound that evening.

Toto will return to the road in 2022. Plans will be announced as detail is confirmed. For the time being, performances have been announced in:

Over the past several years, TOTO have had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career.  Their 40th anniversary in 2018 was marked by them releasing a brand-new Greatest Hits album (40 Trips Around The Sun) and embarking on their most successful worldwide tour to date.   Few ensembles in the history of recorded music have individually or collectively had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of TOTO.  As individuals, the band members can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a half a billion albums.  Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with more than 200 Grammy nominations.

Collectively TOTO has over two billion streams worldwide on all streaming services.  Just last year one of their biggest hits “Africa” went from being a Platinum single to being recently recertified 6X Platinum.  The band has found a new generation of fans.  With now 40+ years together and literally thousands of credits, including the biggest selling album of all time: Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and accolades to their names, TOTO remains one of the top selling touring and recording acts in the world. They are the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire music community, being simply synonymous with musical credibility.  They are pop culture, and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles continuing to remain relevant while enjoying their multi-generational global fan base.

Over the course of five decades Steve Lukather has placed an indelible stamp on pop culture. Alongside his tenure as the only member of Toto to never take a hiatus from the band, he has performed on thousands of albums as a session musician. Amongst these musical contributions are some of the most successful, influential and enduring records of all-time including Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Additionally, he released a memoir titled The Gospel According To Luke which was a global best-seller. He continues to be Toto’s band leader, a member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band, and a solo artist performing with multiple ensembles which include Nerve Bundle and Toxic Monkey.

Toto has enjoyed a celebrated resurgence over the last several years tied to the band’s 40^th Anniversary, wherein over a thirty-month period they performed for millions of fans across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.  The band’s repertoire has been streamed over a billion times, while album sales exceed 40 million copies. Simply, Toto is one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles, and 45 years in to a career enjoy a multi-generational fan base.

For a complete discography, and more information click here: http://www.stevelukather.com/

At age fifteen, Williams began his career as a radio and television commercial singer.  Joseph also achieved success as a television and film composer in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.  He fronted Toto as a lead vocalist from 1986 to 1988, and was featured on the albums Fahrenheit (1986) and The Seventh One (1988).  He also appeared on the 2006 release Falling in Between, sharing lead vocals with Luke on “Bottom of Your Soul.”  In 2010 he returned to the band, becoming front man and lead vocalist, a tenure that continues through today.  He has released ten solo albums, and is an Emmy Award nominated film composer. His career as a session vocalist has placed his voice indelibly in pop culture through the dozens of performances in the medium of film, amongst which is his role as the adult Simba on The Lion King. Williams’s voice is featured on “Hakuna Matata” alongside “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”  He is the son of film composer John Williams and actress Barbera Ruick. For broader detail on his credits click here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930990/ and here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234334/http://www.gsamusic.com/PDF/Williams_Joseph.pdf

KEY LINKS:

Lukather: http://mlgpress.com/steve-lukather/I-found-the-sun-again

Williams: http://mlgpress.com/joseph-williams/denizen-tenant

Williams – https://smarturl.it/JosephWilliams

Lukather – https://smarturl.it/Steve-Lukather