Known best as the guitarist for '80s prog-pop band Toto, Steve Lukather has enjoyed a reputation as one of rock's best session men. In the '80s, he earned a long resume playing with Elton John, Herb Alpert, Warren Zevon, Chicago, Lionel Ritchie, Joni Mitchell and Neil Diamond, among others. He played a major role in writing songs for Toto, though he started out slowly at first, being the youngest member of the band, and gradually wielded more of a say in the band's creative direction.

Lukather grew up in Los Angeles, and was introduced to music through his father, who bought him a copy of Meet the Beatles. He started playing keyboards and drums, but eventually found his calling in the guitar. During his high school years, he was friends with Steve and Jeff Porcaro, the two brothers that served respectively as keyboardist and drummer for Toto. Porcaro was working with Steely Dan at the time, and the stories about living a rocker's life on the road were enchanting to the budding young musician. After graduation, Lukather was performing in Toto with the band, riding the crest of their meteoric rise to success.

The band would release a string of hit albums and songs throughout the late '70s and early '80s, developing their prog/pop/funk influences and transforming them into chart-toppers. They famously composed the soundtrack to the David Lynch-directed adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune, immortalizing their sound with what would become a cult sci-fi film. When he wasn't performing with the band, Lukather was recording with artists like Alice Cooper, Boz Scaggs, Barbara Streisand, Cher and Cheap Trick.

By the mid-'80s, internal disagreements, shifting desires from music listeners and a barrage of ill will from critics (who always pegged the band as being too radio-friendly for its own good) cause the band's popularity to flag. Lukather embarked on his own solo career in 1989, and has released five solo records as of 2008.