The Porcaro family is, on the paternal side, originally from San Luca, an Aspromonte village in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Joe Porcaro, a well-known jazz drummer and percussionist, born in Hartford, Connecticut to Mike, an Italian immigrant from San Luca, Calabria, and a mother from Caserta, Campania.
Grandfather Mike was himself a percussionist who played with numerous Italian bands based in the U.S., and it is with him that the family musical tradition began, passed on to his son Joe and then to his three famous grandchildren.
Joe's three sons were in the rock band Toto: drummer Jeff (1954–1992); bassist Mike (1955–2015); and keyboardist Steve (b.
Porcaro led a group with Emil Richards, a native of Hartford who played vibraphone and collected percussion instruments from around the world.