Steve Lukather

Reading the amount of huge hits that Steve played in his career is incredible and also being the lead guitarist with Toto as well.

Some of the songs he plays guitar, bass or other instruments.

Olvia Newton John: "Physical
Michael Jackson: "Beat It"
Chicago: "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
Christopher Cross: "Arthurs Theme"
Don Henley "Dirty Laundry"
Lionel Richie "Say You Say Me"
Toto: "Africa"

 

Yes, this guy has been a musical power house for decades and he still is an incredible guitar player.

 

When I was 19 I had the chance to be a stage hand for a Toto
concert. They were on the Hydra tour. I was there for the entire
process, early morning to late at night. A great experience to see
how a touring band operates. The highlight for me was setting up
Steve's two Marshall amp stacks and standing beside him when he
did his afternoon soundcheck. That was a sound I won't forget.

 

That's why, in Japan, Sony released compilations of his session works....

 

Some of the songs I listed are some of the biggest hits in the 1980's. I really didn't know this until I started reading about his career.

 

He was the epitome of the LA session musician during the hey day of studio session musicians. Toto was also a great band I thought. Still are. It's hard to point out one particular record as there are so many. I have a soft spot for those 80's Toto records as I listened to them a lot as a kid. I "assume" those record represent the real him playing what he wants to play in a band. A lot of great riffs and solo parts to be found on those Toto records.

 

I do like him on here:

 

He's indeed a great player with a unique style and sound. I'm not the biggest Toto fan around, but they are my brother's favorite band, so I have learned to appreciate them more than I would have. They were an interesting mélange of prog and AOR, especially in the early days. I love his solo on "Tale of A Man".

I met him once. He wasn't very nice to me, and it was quite undeserved. Turns out he was in a terrible place at the time, so no hard feelings. He certainly looks a lot better now compared to when I met him!

 

Such a fantastic player!

 

I've been fortunate to see Lukather a few times -- twice at Slim's [a small club in San Francisco]: one was as a co-leader of a band with Larry Carlton, and the other was with Toto in 1999. The show with Toto was incredible -- the band had just completed a tour of Europe playing large venues, so to see the band in a small club, down front and center (leaning on the stage) was amazing. The most recent was when I saw Lukather playing with Ringo's All-Starrs, a reserved seat front and center in a beautiful Art Deco theater.

Here's some Steve Lukather that almost all won't be familiar with -- a track from Shogo Hamada. The entire album in Japanese and only released in Japan, but it was recorded in LA with LA session guys.

 

Coincidentally, I was just listening to the Boz Scaggs album Down Two, Then Left which has solos by Lukather on two songs. I think this was his first notable recording credit, before Toto.

 

He's one of the greats for me. Outstanding guitarist, singer and songwriter.

 

And I wonder, yet again, why the Japanese market gets all the cool ****.

 

I typically just catch his Monday morning shows. I also buy my dog's earplugs at the same Petco Steve frequents-

 

Steve with Zakk Wylde. Hauntingly beautiful.

 

I was listening to AM580 out of Windsor Canada yesterday and they played an artist and song I wasn't familiar with. Before the guitar solo was finished I was convinced it was Lukather on guitar. Discogs confirmed it. He certainly has an identifiable style.

David Roberts - Never Gonna Let You Go

 

That David Roberts album - All Dressed Up - is excellent. Great songs and terrific musicianship. Alongside Steve, it also features the Porcaro brothers on bass & drums.

David finally got round to releasing a follow-up, the appositely titled Better Late Than Never, in 2008 but there's been nothing since.

 

A good one

 

Just so you know, there are 2 CDs for Jeff Porcaro's sessions works as well....



I think the Japanese music fans have a real appreciation of American pop music. There's why, even now, you can still see older catalog titles of American pop/rock/R&B on CD being reissued in Japan.

 

He's the best around.

If i would have to choose examples for collaborations with the mentioned artists i would rather take

• Christopher Cross: All Right
• Lionel Richie: Running With The Night (the story to this solo is unbelievable)
• Michael Jackson: Human Nature (Rhythm Guitar)

The guitar solo of Rosanna is the one i never get tired of. Check out the episode of "What makes this song great" on YT.

...and i love his solo on "I'll be over you" on the live Video from 1990 in Paris.

The photo in my avatar i shot on the Fahrenheit-Tour in 1987.

 

I only like him when he is in his jazz-fusion mode.

He plays my local jazz club, The Baked Potato quite often throughout the year. He has other world class fusion musicians with him.

I love the looks on people's faces, who think they are going to hear Toto songs, when the band plays a set of intense, fiery fusion. They are not happy.

Often a Mahavishnu Orhcestra song makes it into the set.

 

1983 Grammy winner for best R&B song

George Benson - Turn Your Love Around

 

Yeah, those are three of the absolute best.
There was about a 50% chance between 1981 and 1984 that the guitar solo you were hearing on a pop song was played by Luke.

He even played the solo on Cheap Trick's "Voices".... unbeknownest to Rick Neilsen, who didn't even realize it wasn't him for a long while! (Apparently the producer wasn't happy with Rick's solo and asked Luke to come in and cut a new one, which he did... reluctantly.... As he was friends with Rick....)

 

Simply check out his sessionography...

Steve Lukather | Sessiondays

Outstanding musician!