Steve Lukather Quick Info | |
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Height | 5 ft 8½ in |
Weight | 79 kg |
Date of Birth | October 21, 1957 |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Eye Color | Blue |
Steve Lukather is considered as one of the most prolific session guitarists. His skills have helped him collaborate with leading music artists across multiple music genres. Although his work with rock band Toto has been underrated and underpraised, he still has managed to achieve tremendous commercial success with the band. His work with the band has also helped him win multiple Grammy awards including one as a producer. His storied success as a musician was recognized in 2009 after he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
Born Name
Steven Lee Lukather
Nick Name
Steve, Luke
Sun Sign
Libra
Born Place
San Fernando Valley, California, United States
Residence
Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality
Education
Steve Lukather went to the Ulysses S. Grant High School in her hometown of San Fernando Valley.
Occupation
Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Arranger, Record Producer
Family
- Father – Bill Lukather
- Mother – Kathy Lukather
- Others – William Lee Lukather (Paternal Grandfather), Phyllis Pinto (Paternal Grandmother), William Elof Johnson (Maternal Grandfather), Jean Schrom Myles (Maternal Grandmother)
Manager
Unknown
Genre
Rock, jazz fusion, yacht rock, progressive rock
Instruments
Guitars, Vocals
Labels
Mascot Records
Build
Average
Height
5 ft 8½ in or 174 cm
Weight
79 kg or 174 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Steve Lukather has dated –
- Marie Currie (1980-1990) – Steve started going out with singer and songwriter Marie Currie in the early months of 1980. In February 1980, it was revealed that she was living with Steve at his Studio City home. In November 1981, they got married in an intimate wedding ceremony. In May 1985, she gave birth to daughter Cristina Marie Lukather. They welcomed their son, Trevor Lee Lukather, into their family in May 1987. They reportedly got divorced in 1990.
- Shawn Batten (2002-2010) – In 2002, Steve got married to actress Shawn Batten. They had been dating for quite some time. In 2007, she gave birth to their daughter, Lily Rose. In 2010, she gave birth to their son, Bodhi. However, their marriage didn’t last long after the birth of their son as they officially got divorced the same year.
Race / Ethnicity
White
He has Sephardi Jewish, Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, English, Scottish, and Swedish ancestry.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Curly messy hair
- French beard
- Wears an earring
Brand Endorsements
Steve Lukather has done endorsement work for Music Man guitars. He especially endorses his signature model named “Luke”. Music Man has made several customizations to the model to make it better suited to Lukather’s playing style.
Best Known For
- Being the guitarist and vocalist of the American rock band, Toto. The band has managed to sell over 40 million records and have won a series of Grammy awards as well. They are best known for the popularity of their studio album, Toto IV, which won 6 Grammy Awards in 1983.
- Having contributed as a guitarist to more than 1,500 albums across several music genres
- Having collaborated with noted musicians such as Eddie Van Halen, Richard Marx, Jan Hammer, Slash, and Steve Stevens
First Album
In 1978, his music band released their first studio album, Toto, which went on to sell over 4.5 million albums and was certified as twice platinum in the US.
In 1989, he released his first solo album, Lukather.
First TV Show
In October 1999, Steve Lukather made his first TV show appearance as himself on the game show, BingoLotto.
Steve Lukather Favorite Things
- Music Albums – Meet the Beatles by The Beatles, Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Disraeli Gears by Cream, Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop by Jeff Beck, The Wall by Pink Floyd, Van Halen by Van Halen, The Royal Scam by Steely Dan, Believe It by The New Tony Williams Lifetime, and Live From The Royal Albert Hall by Joe Bonamassa
- Guitarist –Â Jeff Beck
- Influences –Â Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Â John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, and Jimmy Page
Source – Music Radar, IMDb, Wikipedia
Steve Lukather Facts
- Before he started playing guitar, he used to play drums and keyboard.
- He started playing guitar at the age of 7 after his father gave him a copy of the Beatles album Meet the Beatles and Kay Acoustic Guitar. He would later claim that the album changed his life.
- He met his future Toto bandmates David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Mike Porcaro, and Steve Porcaro, in the high school.
- In his teens, he started taking formal lessons from legendary jazz guitarist, Jimmy Wyble. Wyble helped him expand his understanding of music. It was while studying with Wyble, Lukather became interested in becoming a session musician, which would help him work with several artists in the future.
- In 1976, he was invited by Paich and Jeff Porcaro to join their new band, Toto. By then, Jeff was already working with him as his mentor.
- He assumed more of a leadership role within Toto after Jeff Porcaro passed away in August 1992 because of a heart failure. He also started contributing more as a songwriter.
- By 2008, Lukather remained the only original member of Toto. Although Bobby Kimball was still with the band, he had been missing for some time in the band’s early days.
- In June 2008, he announced that he was leaving the band, which led to band officially disbanding soon after. The band toured on the limited basis in 2011 and 2012 as the band members reunited to support bassist Mike Porcaro, who was battling the Lou Gehrig’s disease.
- The Gibson Guitar Corporation has included him in their list featuring top 10 session guitarists of all time.
- Lukather and Jeff Porcaro contributed heavily to the recording of Michael Jackson‘s iconic and landmark studio album, Thriller.
- Visit his official website @ stevelukather.com.
- Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+.
Featured Image by Magnushk / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0