Mike Porcaro, Toto Bassist, Dies at 59 After Years-Long Battle With ALS

Mike Porcaro, the bass player for rock band Toto, died Sunday morning after a years-long battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 59.

Steve Porcaro, Toto's keyboardist and Porcaro's brother, broke the news on Facebook.



That same day, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather expressed his condolences on Twitter.

My brother Mike Porcaro is now now at peace. I will miss him more than I could ever put into words. My deepest love to the family. God Bless

— Steve Lukather (@stevelukather) March 15, 2015

Rolling Stone reported that Porcaro replaced the band's original bassist, David Hungate, before the release of the band's megahit album, "Toto IV" (1982).

He played for the band for the ensuing two decades, and was replaced by Leland Sklar in 2007 due to his declining health. Around that same time he was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Toto is known for singles that include "Africa" and "Rosanna," and the band was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2009. The band will release "Toto XIV" on March 24.

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