Rock and pop fans along the Alabama Gulf Coast will get a dose of classic radio staples next week when Toto headlines a show at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The band, known for hits like “Africa,” “Rosanna” and “Hold The Line,” will share the bill with Christopher Cross, famous for “Ride Like The Wind,” and The Romantics, the group behind “What I Like About You.”
The concert is part of a growing summer lineup at The Wharf, the outdoor entertainment venue and shopping complex situated along the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach that has become one of Baldwin County’s most popular stops for touring musical acts. Doors are set to open ahead of a 6:45 p.m. start, with tickets beginning at $50 through Ticketmaster.com.
A Band Riding a Wave of Renewed Popularity
Toto’s music is arguably reaching more listeners now than at any point since the band’s 1980s heyday. “Africa,” the second single from the group’s 1982 album “IV,” has found a new generation of fans thanks to placements in television shows including “Stranger Things” and “The Goldbergs,” along with a memorable comedic performance by Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” The song has also racked up billions of streams on platforms like Spotify and YouTube.
According to Spotify data, Toto draws nearly 30 million streams a month, with other well-known songs such as “Rosanna,” “Hold The Line,” “I Won’t Hold You Back” and “I’ll Be Over You” continuing to resonate with listeners decades after their release.
From Los Angeles Session Musicians to Rock Radio Staples
Toto formed in Los Angeles in 1977, built around a core of elite session musicians, several of whom had known each other since childhood. The band’s founding lineup included guitarist Steve Lukather, keyboardist David Paich, drummer Jeff Porcaro, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and vocalist Bobby Kimball. Toto released its self-titled debut album in 1978, launching a career that has now spanned nearly five decades.
The band’s roster has changed considerably over the years. Drummer Jeff Porcaro and his brother, bassist Mike Porcaro, have both died, and founding members Steve Porcaro and David Paich no longer tour with the group. That has left guitarist Steve Lukather and longtime vocalist Joseph Williams to lead Toto forward. Williams first joined the band in 1986 and has been a permanent member since 2010.
Building a Set List From Five Decades of Music
With such a deep catalog to draw from, Williams said putting together a set list is a careful, layered process. “We always have more songs prepared to play in the set than we actually play, so if we want to switch one out, we can,” he said. “Building a set is like three little piles of songs. The first pile is a handful of songs that we absolutely have to play — ‘Africa,’ ‘Hold The Line,’ ‘Rosanna’ — you have to play them, it’s a given. The next pile is a batch of songs you really should play, which are the secondary hits like ‘Georgy Porgy,’ ‘I’ll Be Over You,’ which is a big ballad, ‘I’ll Supply The Love,’ those kinds of songs that people may not know precisely by the title but as soon as they hear it, they go, ‘Oh yeah.’ The last little pile is songs that we really want to do. We’ve got this huge library of music in the years that Toto has been around.”
Preparing for the Gulf Coast Heat
Anyone who has attended a summer show at The Wharf Amphitheater knows the venue can stay warm well after sunset, a reality performers have to plan around just as much as concertgoers do. Williams said years of touring outdoor amphitheaters in the summer have taught him how to condition his voice for hot, humid climates like South Alabama’s. “It’s different for a singer than, say, a drummer,” Williams said. “For a singer, you want a little bit of heat and a little bit of moisture in the air. Really sweltering heat can be difficult. You just work out a little bit so that your stamina is up.”
Looking Ahead to a 50th Anniversary
While Toto’s self-titled debut album wasn’t released until 1978, the recording sessions for it took place in 1977, meaning the band will mark 50 years since making that first record in 2027. Williams said Toto is already planning an extensive return to touring to mark the milestone. “Next year, we are going to hit hard, and we’re going to hit every territory on the planet that knows and wants this band,” he said.
Why It Matters for Local Fans
For Gulf Shores and Orange Beach residents, as well as the many visitors who flock to Baldwin County’s beaches each summer, The Wharf Amphitheater has increasingly become a destination in its own right, bringing legacy acts with decades of chart history within easy driving distance of the coast. Shows like this one give longtime fans a chance to hear songs they grew up with performed live, without the added cost and travel of a big-city arena tour stop.
Despite performing many of the same songs night after night across a touring career that has lasted decades, Williams said the connection with the crowd keeps the material feeling fresh. “Each time we go out and do the songs we’ve been doing for years, it doesn’t get old for me,” he said. “The real reason is that the audience responds to the songs they know. ‘Africa’ is an example. Everybody is on their feet, and they all have huge smiles on their faces, and they are singing along with you… It’s a gift and a privilege to sing the songs that are that well-loved.”
If You Go
Toto, Christopher Cross and The Romantics perform Tuesday, Aug. 4, at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach. The show is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m., and tickets start at $50 through Ticketmaster.com.