Founding members Steve Lukather and David Paich, and longtime singer Joseph Williams, talk about a song that became a worldwide sensation – one of a string of hits that Toto has had over the last 40+ years.
It’s been 40 years since the song “Africa” unexpectedly became a worldwide sensation. It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Toto, the band that gave “Africa” life, did not think they had a hit. They nearly left it off the album. Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz asked Steve Lukather, one of Toto’s founding members, “Did you say that if ‘Africa’ is a hit, you’ll run down Hollywood Boulevard naked?”
“I did say that!” he smiled. “I really did say that.”
“Sunday Morning” met up with Lukather and David Paich, another of Toto’s founding members, along with longtime singer Joseph Williams – serious musicians who don’t take themselves too seriously. Williams said, “There was always several lead singers in the group. Dave was always singing lead vocals.”
Paich said, “We finally got a lead singer, or a high singer.”
Lukather interjected: “What are you talking about? We were all high!”
But the critics weren’t high on them. Lukather recalled, “They said our music sounded like a tangerine leisure suit.”
These guys are getting the last laugh. With packed shows, 40 million albums sold, and a string of hits spanning decades, Toto may be the coolest “uncool” band in history.
“Just wouldn’t give up, man”, Lukather said. “Didn’t want to give it up.”
It began in Los Angeles, with high school-age pals Paich, Lukather, and brothers Jeff and Steve Porcaro sending demos out to record companies. They needed a name. One of them was watching “The Wizard of Oz” late one night, and Dorothy’s dog became a temporary solution… or so they thought.
