David Paich, Toto’s co-founder and former singer, joined the group on stage during a recent performance in Sacramento.

“We’ve got a little special surprise for you all tonight,” the band's guitarist and frontman Steve Lukather announced to the crowd. “The guy who started this band with brother Jeffrey [drummer Jeff Porcaro], the guy who’s taught me everything I know, has come out of a little hiatus to come jam with us tonight.”

Lukather then welcomed Paich on stage, referring to him as “the guy that started it all.”

After a warm greeting from the audience, Paich took a seat behind the keyboard and joined Toto for four songs: "Home of the Brave," a cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Rosanna" and "Africa."

Fan-shot footage from the concert can be found below.

Paich – who wrote or co-wrote much of Toto's original material – retired from the road in 2018 due to health concerns.

“He had some sort of a seizure or something like that,” Lukather later recalled. “We went home and he had to retire from touring because of his health. Apparently, he pushed himself a little too hard.”

Though Paich removed himself from the group, he has remained within its orbit, serving as musical director and making the rare on-stage appearance. Prior to the Sacramento set, Paich’s last live concert performance with the band took place Oct. 20, 2019, at the conclusion of the band’s 40 Trips Around the Sun tour. He also joined Toto for a pair of songs during their live-streamed performance from SIR Studios on Nov. 21, 2020.

Toto is currently out on tour opening for Journey, with performances scheduled through May. The band will then head overseas for a run of summer European dates.

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