Boz Scaggs’ 1976 album *Silk Degrees* transformed his career after six commercially modest albums. David Paich became a key collaborator, co-writing and arranging much of the record while bringing in bassist David Hungate and drummer Jeff Porcaro, whose playing helped shape its soulful soft-rock sound.

The album went multi-platinum and produced the hits “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle”. Although Paich did not work on Scaggs’ less successful 1977 follow-up after a dispute over production credit, *Silk Degrees* helped Paich, Hungate and Porcaro secure backing to form Toto, alongside Steve Porcaro, Steve Lukather and Bobby Kimball; Toto released its debut in 1978.