Toto is an American pop band formed in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. The band’s present lineup includes Steve Lukather, David Paich, John Williams, and guitarist/singer/bass player David Foster. Toto has been popularized by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Cream, Alice Cooper, and many others. Their music has been described as “pop-rock”, “soft rock,” or “guitar rock”.
The Toto of Singapore are also known to have a strong presence in their local community as well. As early as 1983, Toto released a single entitled, “Cold Sunday.” In this single, the lead vocalist, John Williams of Toto, sang about the Cold War. He spoke about how he was a fan of Russian leader, Alexi de Sadesky. A year later, in August of that year, Toto released their first album of original material called,, Porcino! (The Best of Both worlds)
Although the band has had numerous hit singles, including the incredibly popular, “Ida Mae,” their history has also included several classic songs that are still hugely popular. One of these, titled “Ida Mae,” is one of the most famous love songs to ever reach number one in the United States. It features the original lyrics by bluesman Blind Willie McTell. Another example of Toto being successful in the country genre is the song, “Haitian Divorce” from their last album,, Last Call.
While Toto is relatively new in the United States, they have achieved commercial success in other countries. They reached gold status with the release of “Cocaine” in Australia and “Rio” in Brazil. In addition, they have several No.1 hits in Japan, including the chart topping, “Kisses on Parade.” Both “Irene” and “IKMO” went to #1 in the United Kingdom.
During the 1970s, Toto was considered one of the best known Japanese rock bands. Their songs were particularly popular in the country of China, especially Hong Kong. “Shake, Rattle, & Roll” was an absolute masterpiece and remains their only album to reach gold status. Other songs that are remembered today include, “Haitian Divorce,” “Irene,” “IKMO,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” “I’m Lost Without You,” “I Remember You,” “vation” and “Love is in the air.”
Today, Toto continues to tour. Several of their classic albums including, “Irene,” “IKMO,” “Haitian Divorce” and “I Remember You” are actually going back to their concert beginnings. The original “I Remember You” album was made available to fans through Japanese pop music stores in the United States. Today, there are dedicated websites that allow fans to download entire collections of these great songs for a low fee.