# Born 69 Years Ago Today in the Golden State, the Founding Member of a Grammy-Winning 80s Rock Band Who Played Guitar on Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/born-69-years-ago-today-in-the-golden-state-the-founding-member-of-a-grammy-winning-80s-rock-band-who-played-guitar-on-michael-jacksons-thriller/
- Published: 2026-10-21T22:20:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T23:41:40+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/born-69-years-ago-today-in-the-golden-state-the-founding-member-of-a-grammy-winning-80s-rock-band-who-played-guitar-on-michael-jacksons-thriller/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Steve Lukather turns 69, celebrated for Toto and extensive session work.
- He played on several tracks from Michael Jackson’s *Thriller*.
- Toto’s *Toto IV* won six Grammy Awards.

## Summary

Steve Lukather, born in California on 21 October 1957, is best known as the sole continuous founding member of Toto and a prolific session guitarist. His work spans more than 1,500 albums, including several tracks on Michael Jackson’s *Thriller*, showing how his career reached well beyond the band.

Lukather joined Toto at 19 after meeting future bandmates David Paich and the Porcaro brothers at school. The band’s *Toto IV* earned six Grammy Awards, while Lukather also played on recordings by artists including Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and Don Henley; he has released nine solo albums, most recently *Bridges* in 2023.

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