One billion streams & counting. Toto bringing legendary song to Mississippi Coast Coliseum

For Toto guitarist, songwriter, and sometimes singer Steve Lukather, the ongoing popularity of one of the band’s biggest hits is perplexing.

“I’m baffled,” Lukather said. “This was a song that we thought was a throw-away album cut. We never thought it would be so popular.”

The song is “Africa,” the last track on Toto’s groundbreaking 1982 release “Toto IV.” Written by Toto members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, Africa” was released as a single in 1983. It became the band’s first No. 1 hit, eclipsing the album’s first single, “Rosanna,” which peaked at No. 2 on the charts.

Fans of Toto (Lukather, vocalist Joseph Williams, bassist John Pierce, percussionist and horn player Warren Ham, keyboardist Steve Maggiora and drummer Shannon Forrest) will have the chance to see them perform “Africa” and other hits, such as “Hold The Line” when they join Journey at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“This is the first show we are playing with Journey in 2024,” Lukather said. “We are kicking off the tour in Biloxi. This is a new configuration of the Toto boys. Greg Phillinganes came back and Shannon Forest is back – it sounds even more ‘Toto-sounding’ than ever.”

And part of the “Toto sound” is that third single from “Toto IV.”

“Out of all the hundreds of songs in our catalog and our music, for (“Africa”) to become our golden carrot, it’s almost laughable,” he said. “I never thought it would be a hit.”

Lukather has an extensive knowledge of what makes a hit song, as he has had a hand in writing hundreds, if not thousands, of songs.

His hits include The Tubes’ “She’s a Beauty,” which he wrote with David Foster and Tunes singer Fee Waybill. The song, on which Lukather also plays the iconic guitar riff, was a Top 10 pop hit and went to number one on the rock charts. He also co-wrote the George Benson hit “Turn Your Love Around,” a Billboard Top 5 hit and a number 1 hit on the R&B charts.

Part of the success of “Africa” is its presence in American pop culture. It was one of the first songs used in the first season of the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things.” It plays prominently on shows such as “Scrubs,” “Family Guy,” “The Goldbergs,” and “New Girl,” was a singalong with Shaquille O’Neal on his “Carpool Karaoke” episode and was part of a skit featuring Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.”

The seemingly nonstop exposure of the song has generated over one billion streams on the music streaming service Spotify.

“It’s given us a third act, and not many people who do what we do don’t get a third act,” he said. “We are playing to people who may have not had the chance to see us before. While I crack up about ‘Africa,’ I appreciate it,” Lukather said. “If that’s what it takes to put the people in the seats, then so be it. They come, hear the other stuff, and are like. ‘Wow. They sing that, too!” I’m grateful to get this third act with Toto.”

If you go

What: Journey: The Freedom Tour 2024, featuring Toto

When: Friday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Mississippi Coast Coliseum

Tickets: Available at Tickemaster.com; Coliseum parking is $10

For more information: https://www.mscoastcoliseum.com/events/20