March 16--Mike Porcaro, a bass player who performed along with his two brothers in the rock group Toto, died Sunday at his Los Angeles home. He was 59.
Porcaro had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
His death was announced in a Facebook post by his brother Steve, a former keyboardist for the Grammy-winning band.
A third Porcaro brother, Jeff, was Toto's drummer. He died of a heart attack at his Hidden Hills home in 1992.
The sons of studio session percussionist Joe Porcaro, the brothers attended Grant High School in Van Nuys and honed their skills in a garage their family had transformed into a rehearsal and recording studio.
Jeff, Steve and four other musicians formed Toto in 1978. Mike joined after David Hungate, the group's original bass player, left in 1982.
In 1983, Toto won a best-album Grammy for "Toto IV," a best-song Grammy for "Rosanna" and several other Grammy awards. On that February evening in the Shrine Auditorium, Joe Porcaro performed in the pit orchestra as his sons collected their music industry honors.
Born May 29, 1955, in Hartford, Conn., Michael Joseph Porcaro performed with Seals and Crofts, Boz Scaggs and other groups before signing on with Toto.
When he was 50, he noticed a puzzling weakness in his hands and fingers. Doctors diagnosed him with ALS in 2006 and he retired the following year.
Toto went on hiatus in 2008 but returned two years later, staging a summer tour to benefit Porcaro and draw attention to ALS.
steve.chawkins@latimes.com
