Steve Lukather: podcast appearances and interviews

Steven Lee Lukather, born on October 21, 1957, is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer. He is best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. Throughout his career, Lukather established a reputation as a skilled guitarist, which led to a steady stream of session work beginning in the 1970s. He has recorded guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums across a wide range of artists and genres. In addition to his work as a session musician, he has contributed as a songwriter, arranger, and producer, notably playing guitar on Boz Scaggs's albums Down Two Then Left and Middle Man, and being a prominent contributor to Michael Jackson's Thriller. Lukather has released nine solo albums, with his most recent titled Bridges, released in June 2023. His musical influences include blues-rock guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, as well as jazz fusion players like Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin. Known for a melodic and intense playing style, he is also recognized for his efficiency in the studio, often recording tracks in one take with minimal sound processing. While he once employed numerous guitar effects, he now favors cleaner tones and minimal studio processing. Lukather primarily plays a signature electric guitar by Ernie Ball Music Man called Luke, and also uses Yamaha and Ovation Adamas series acoustic–electric guitars.