"Papa" Joe Porcaro is originally from Hartford, Connecticut, and now resides in Los Angeles where he is one of the most recorded percussionist/drummers on the music scene. His musical spectrum ranges from Jazz and Rock to Opera and Symphonic.

In the Jazz field, Joe has recorded with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Freddie Hubbard, and Don Ellis. He has also made albums with Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Natalie Cole, Toto, and Madonna.

In the Operatic and Symphonic area, Joe Porcaro recorded with Luciano Pavarotti, Rise Stevens, Lily Pons, Andre Kostelanitz, Pierre Boulez, and the L.A. Philharmonic and Hartford Symphony Orchestras.

Joe Porcaro has also played on many Hollywood film scores with many top composers such as James Newton Howard, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Danny Elfman, and Steve Porcaro.

Joe Porcaro was co-director of drum studies at the LA Music Academy in Pasadena, and is one of the most highly regarded drum and percussion teachers in the world.

Joe recorded with Natalie Cole, Don Ellis, Stan Getz, Freddie Hubbard, Gladys Knight, Madonna, The Monkees, Gerry Mulligan, Pink Floyd, Howard Roberts, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, and Sarah Vaughan. He performed film scores with James Newton Howard, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Danny Elfman, John Frizzell and his son Steve Porcaro.

With educator and drummer Ralph Humphrey, he was one of the founders of the Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA) in Pasadena, California, which is now called the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM).

His three sons were in the rock band Toto: drummer Jeff Porcaro (1954–1992), bassist Mike Porcaro (1955–2015), and keyboardist Steve Porcaro. Joe contributed additional percussion to every Toto album from 'Turn Back' through 'Kingdom of Desire'. He has a daughter, Joleen Porcaro Duddy whose children, Chase and Paige Duddy, also known as XYLØ.