Outstanding drummer, percussion player and one of the most renowned educators, Joe Porcaro, passed away yesterday. As an instrumentalist, the list of his collaborations includes the likes of Don Ellis, Stan Getz, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra and Sarah Vaughn. He played on numerous cinema and TV scores (e.g. Lalo Schifrin’s Mission Impossible). Mr. Porcaro was a teacher at Musicians Institute and (with educator and drummer Ralph Humphrey) one of the founders of the Los Angeles Music Academy (now called the Los Angeles College of Music) in Pasadena, California. Joe Porcaro was the father of three outstanding musicians: Jeff, Mike and Steve, all associated with the band TOTO.
A statement posted on Steve Porcaro’s Facebook profile reads:
The Porcaro Family is heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Patriarch, Joe Porcaro. Surrounded by his wife Eileen and his family, Joe passed peacefully in his sleep on July 6 at 11:37 PM.
Please allow a few days before reaching out with phone calls and texts. Given the enormous amount of people who Joe considered family and whose lives Joe has impacted, it would be overwhelming to respond just now. Please know that we so appreciate your love, thoughts, friendship and can’t wait to celebrate his amazing life with all of you.
Joe Porcaro was 90 years old.
