A founding member of the Grammy award winning rock band Toto, Steve Porcaro will release his first ever solo album, Someday / Somehow, on June 10th. Porcaro’s first album has actually been in the making since 1983. With “Back To You” first being worked on by Toto in 83’ and “More Than I Can Take” being the most recent track he finished. “I’ve always been writing and recording over the years, hoping to find homes for these songs with other artists,” Porcaro remarked. “Lately, I’ve been reminded repeatedly how short life is, and I think it’s finally sinking in and with the encouragement of my band, family and fans, I decided it was time to remove my excuses, throw down, let go and finish these songs the way I hear them.” The album features Steve Porcaro on lead vocals for seven tracks and Michael McDonald on “Swing Street,” and “Night Of Our Own.” Jamie Kimmett on “She’s So Shy,” and “Face Of A Girl,” Michael Sherwood on “Make Up” and Mabvuto Carpenter on “Painting By Numbers.” Longtime collaborator Marc Bonilla along with fellow current Toto colleagues Steve Lukather, Lenny Castro and Shannon Forrest make appearances on the album as well.
The thirteen track album, features material Steve Porcaro has been tinkering with for quite some time. “Back To You” was originally recorded with Toto back in 1983, however Porcaro never got around to finishing it himself until last year. The track features both of Steve’s departed brothers: Jeff and Mike.
The first single from the album, “Ready Or Not” is quite personal to Porcaro.
“Ready Or Not was written for my kids,” Porcaro adds. “The first verse describes the day my oldest, Heather was born, but the song’s a love letter to all my kids, and to anyone who travels with kids at home.” An American keyboardist, songwriter and composer Porcaro written or co-authored music on each of Toto’s first six albums, with the exception of Isolation and most recently, performed on the band’s highly acclaimed 2015 album Toto XIV, also co-writing and singing lead on “The Little Things” and “Bend” which is featured on the Japan edition of that release. Porcaro continues to perform in Toto continues to play to sold-out audiences in Europe, US and Japan. Also known for his prolific session work, Steve co-wrote “Human Nature” on Michael Jackson’s Grammy-winning album Thriller, solidifying his individual mark on the music industry. A sought-after session musician, Steve has worked extensively with music producer icons Quincy Jones and David Foster and many of music’s most successful artists including Don Henley, YES, Elton John, Boz Scaggs and many others. Highly respected for his film and television scores, Steve composed the music for the award-winning FX show Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant.
Steve Porcaro’s touring career began at the age of 17 with Gary Wright, in support of Wright’s hit album, The Dream Weaver and then with Boz Scaggs along with the other original members of Toto, prior to that band’s 1977 inception. Steve’s older brothers, Mike Porcaro (bassist) and Jeff Porcaro (drummer), also members of Toto were highly respected session musicians and their father Joe Porcaro is regarded was one of the world’s most influential session percussionists and educators. In 2010, Steve toured with Toto when the decision was made to reform the band in support of his brother Mike, during Mike’s lengthy battle with ALS.
Along with his work on “Human Nature”, Steve Porcaro performed other Thriller tracks including “Beat It” and “The Girl Is Mine” and composed the song “For All Time”, which was included on the Thriller “25th Anniversary” Edition. A testament to his compositional influence, “Human Nature” has been covered and/or sampled by many artists including Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, SWV, Nas, and Chris Brown.
Tracks
1 Ready Or Not (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 5:16 2 Loved By A Fool (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 4:19 3 Someday Somehow (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 4:31 4 Swing Street (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 4:47 5 She’s So Shy (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood, Jamie Kimmett) 3:48 6 Back To You (Steve Porcaro) 4:00 7 Face Of A Girl (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood, Jamie Kimmett) 4:29 8 To No One (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 4:27 9 Make Up (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 4:19 10 She’s The One (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood) 3:20 11 Night Of Our Own (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood, Jamie Kimmett) 3:33 12 Painting By Numbers (Steve Porcaro, Michael Sherwood, Julius Robinson) 4:30 13 More Than I Can Take (Steve Porcaro) 4:03
Musicians
Keyboards - Steve Porcaro Synthesizer - Steve Porcaro
Violin - Songa Lee Violin - Marisa Kuney Viola - Darrin McCann Cello - Timothy Loo Trumpet - Carl Saunders Trombone - Scott Whitfield Sax - Chuck Manning
Other Musicians
1 Ready Or Not
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Shannon Forrest Guitar - Marc Bonilla Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
2 Loved By A Fool
Drums - Robin DiMaggio Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
3 Someday Somehow
Bass - Sam Porcaro Guitar - Jimmy Haun Clarinet - Don Markese Percussion - Lenny Castro Percussion - Robin DiMaggio Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
4 Swing Street
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Toss Panos Guitar - Steve Lukather Guitar - Jimmy Haun Clarinet - Carl Saunders Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Michael McDonald
5 She’s So Shy
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Shannon Forrest Loop (Drum) - Mike Biardi Guitar - Marc Bonilla Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Steve Porcaro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Jamie Kimmett
6 Back To You
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Jeffrey Porcaro Penny Whistle - Don Markese Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
7 Face Of A Girl
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Robin DiMaggio Loop (Drum) - Mike Biardi Guitar - Marc Bonilla Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Steve Porcaro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Jamie Kimmett
8 To No One
Guitar - Jimmy Haun Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
9 Make Up
Bass - Mike Porcaro Guitar - Jimmy Haun Flute - Don Markese Percussion - Robin DiMaggio Background Vocals - Steve Porcaro Vocals - Michael Sherwood
10 She’s The One
Drums - Shannon Forrest Guitar - Steve Lukather Flute - Don Markese Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Vocals - Steve Porcaro
11 Night Of Our Own
Drums - Rick Marotta Guitar - Steve Lukather Acoustic Guitar - Jimmy Haun Synthesizer - John van Tongeren Background Vocals - Steve Porcaro Background Vocals - Jamie Kimmett Vocals - Michael McDonald
12 Painting By Numbers
Drums - Robin DiMaggio Guitar - Steve Lukather Percussion - Lenny Castro Percussion - Robin DiMaggio Background Vocals - Steve Porcaro Background Vocals - Michael Sherwood Background Vocals - Jamie Kimmett Vocals - Mabvuto Carpenter
13 More Than I Can Take
Piano - Steve Porcaro Vocals - Steve Porcaro
Liner Notes
Producer – Steve Porcaro Co-producer – Michael Sherwood Engineer – Forrest Riege, Mike Ging, Ryan Johnson Mastered By – John Paterno Mixed By – John Paterno Recorded By – David DavisPhotography – Heather PorcaroRecorded At Porcara Musica Recorded At TudorTones Studio Recorded At The Metal Building Recorded At The Blue Corner Recorded At The Village Recorder Recorded At Tossimo’s Recorded At Record One, Los Angeles Recorded At Capitol Studios Recorded At Vineyard West Phonographic Copyright Porcara Musica Copyright Porcara Musica
