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Steve Lukather
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steve Lukather | |
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| Born | October 21, 1957 (age 49) San Fernando Valley, California, USA |
| Genre(s) | Rock Progressive Rock Pop rock Jazz fusion |
| Affiliation(s) | Toto |
| Notable guitars | Music Man "Luke" Valley Arts "Custom Pro" Valley Arts "Robot" |
| Years active | 1975-present |
| Official site | http://www.stevelukather.net/ |
Steve "Luke" Lukather (born Steven Lee Lukather on October 21, 1957 in San Fernando Valley, California, USA) is an American Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and guitar player, best known for his work with the rock band Toto. In addition to his work with Toto, Lukather has released several solo albums and has arranged, composed, and recorded on over 800 number one albums [1].
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At an early age, Lukather learned how to play keyboards and drums. But when he got a copy of Meet The Beatles at seven years old, he wanted to to become a guitar player.
Lukather made himself famous (along with high school friend Michael Landau) for being one of the most sought-after session guitarists in Los Angeles in the 1970s and 1980s. He would walk into a studio at the last minute and lay down perfect tracks in the first take, in whatever style required.
Famous sessions include: Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and "Human Nature" (co-written by Toto member Steve Porcaro), Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry", Lionel Richie's "Running with the night" and Richard Marx's Repeat Offender. Besides sessions, Lukather also wrote hits for George Benson ("Turn Your Love Around") and The Tubes ("She's A Beauty" and "Talk To Ya Later").
When not working with Toto, Lukather has side projects which show his versatile style: playing jams with other session musicians in El Grupo, touring with Edgar Winter and with Larry Carlton amongst others.
With Larry Carlton he recorded the album No substitutions, which resulted in a Grammy award. In 2001, Lukather appeared on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's Inertia, which Lukather stated "...is probably my best recorded work in my whole career." [2] Lukather also appeared on Sherinian's Black Utopia (2003) and Mythology (2004).
Known to his friends as "Luke," he still records and tours with Toto and continues to be an in-demand studio player and producer.
Influenced by the blues-rock pioneers such as Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, jazz guitarists such as Larry Carlton, and jazz fusion virtuosos such as Al Di Meola, Lukather's style is unique. He is known for fast, melodic, yet bluesy lines. His vibrato is very pronounced and steady. Lukather differs from most rock guitarists in that he can follow chord charts and changes, much like a jazz musician can. In interviews, he explains how he thinks of the guitar in a 'chordal cluster' format, and not the typical linear 'scale format'.
In addition to his playing ability he has built one of the largest effects rack of any rock guitarist.[citation needed] His tone is very 'signature', with a smooth overdrive/distortion, deep stereo delay, and all sorts of various effects on tap. Lukather has had a long association with Bob Bradshaw of Custom Audio Electronics who has not only designed and manufactured key elements of his rack but is a great friend and has toured extensively over the years.
He is one of the few official endorsers of EMG pickups having collaborated on his own Lukather signature "SL20" replacement set.
He is the only member of Toto who has never missed a gig with the band.
In September 2006, Lukather announced plans to record two solo albums, one of which will be instrumental.
- 1989 Los Lobotomys (Maxus)
- 1989 Lukather (CBS)
- 1994 Candyman (Columbia)
- 1996 Live Around the U.S.A together with Meat Loaf (Tommy Gun)
- 1997 Luke (Columbia)
- 2001 No substitutions together with Larry Carlton (Favored Nations)
- 2000 Doves of Fire live (Bootarmed)
- 2003 Santamental (ulfTone Music)
- 2005 El Grupo Live (El Grupo Music)
- Steve Lukather official website
- Steve Lukather at the Internet Movie Database
| Toto |
| Steve Lukather | Bobby Kimball | Mike Porcaro | Simon Phillips | David Paich | Greg Phillinganes |
| David Hungate | Jeff Porcaro | Steve Porcaro | Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen | Joseph Williams | Jean-Michel Byron |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio Albums: Toto | Hydra | Turn Back | Toto IV | Isolation | Fahrenheit | The Seventh One | Kingdom of Desire | Tambu | Mindfields | Through the Looking Glass | Falling In Between |
| Compilations, live albums, & soundtracks: Dune | Past to Present 1977-1990 | Absolutely Live | Toto XX | Livefields | Live in Amsterdam | The Essential Toto |
| Famous singles: Hold the Line | Rosanna | Africa | I'll Be Over You | Mushanga | Bottom of Your Soul |