The 1976 Album That Accidentally Created TOTO
The 1976 Album That Accidentally Created TOTO: The Story of Silk Degrees
In September 1975, singer Bos Skaggs entered a North Hollywood recording studio with a clear goal: create one perfect album after six commercial failures. He hired three unknown session musicians to help him achieve this sound. The resulting record, Silk Degrees, became a massive success and unexpectedly launched the career of the legendary rock band TOTO.
The Formation of Silk Degrees Skaggs sought musicians known only to industry peers rather than the public. He hired keyboardist David Page, bassist David Hungate, and drummer Jeff Porcaro. Producer Joe Wissert encouraged Skaggs and Page to collaborate, leading to a weekend writing session that produced the track Lowdown. The recording took place at Davelin Sound and Hollywood Sound Recorders in September and October 1975. The final lineup included additional guitarists, percussionists, and a horn section featuring Tom Scott and Plas Johnson. The resulting sound blended soul music warmth with jazz session precision, marking a departure from the blues and San Francisco rock sounds Skaggs previously played. Page co-wrote five songs on the record, including Lido Shuffle and Jump Street, establishing himself as a true co-author rather than a hired hand. The album reached number two on the Billboard chart and remained there for 115 weeks before earning a five times platinum certification.
From Studio Session to TOTO When Silk Degrees achieved commercial success, Skaggs needed a touring band and invited Page, Hungate, and Porcaro to join him on the road. The extended touring transformed the hired session players into a cohesive unit. Record label executives attended these performances and recognized the musicians behind Skaggs. In 1977, Columbia Records signed the group without auditions. The newly formed band, TOTO, included Page, Jeff Porcaro, Hungate, Steve Porcaro, Steve Lather, and vocalist Bobby Kimble. Their chemistry and shared musical shorthand allowed them to transition seamlessly from studio support to independent artists. TOTO eventually released fourteen studio albums and sold more than forty million records worldwide.
Key Facts
- Silk Degrees was released on February 18, 1976, on Columbia Records and sold five million copies.
- The track Lowdown won the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song, co-written by Skaggs and Page.
- TOTO formed in 1977 after Columbia Records signed the touring musicians without auditions.
- The band's 1982 song Africa surpassed one billion streams on Spotify and YouTube by 2024.
- Bos Skaggs continued his solo career, releasing twenty albums including Detour in October 2025.
FAQs Q: How did the session musicians on Silk Degrees become the band TOTO? A: After the album's success, Skaggs hired them for touring. Their extended time on the road built a strong musical chemistry, which caught the attention of label executives who signed them as a group in 1977 without auditions.
Q: Did Bos Skaggs continue his music career after TOTO formed? A: Yes. Skaggs released several platinum albums in the late 1970s and 1980s, continued collaborating with David Page, and released his twentieth album, Detour, in October 2025.
Conclusion The creation of Silk Degrees demonstrates how a single recording session can reshape the music industry. Skaggs intended to craft one perfect record, but instead assembled a group that would produce decades of global hits. The album remains a testament to the power of collaborative musicianship.