The music of Toto is probably more popular than ever as the band has become firmly etched into American pop culture, with its songs enjoying a remarkable resurgence decades after they first topped the charts.

The band's song "Africa," which was the second single from the 1982 album "IV," has been prominently featured in TV shows such as "Stranger Things" and "The Goldbergs." And who can forget Jimmy Fallon and Just Timberlake singing it during a summer camp sketch on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon?" It's also been streamed billions of times on Spotify and YouTube. In fact, Toto has almost 30 million streams a month according to Spotify data, with other hits such as "Rosanna," "Hold The Line," "I Won't Hold You Back" and "I'll Be Over You" still resonating with music fans.

Toto will bring their hits to The Wharf Amphitheater on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Christopher Cross ("Ride Like The Wind") and The Romantics ("What I Like About You") are also on the bill. Tickets to the show, which starts at 6:45 p.m., begin at $50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1977, Toto brought together a group of elite session musicians, some of whom had been friends since childhood. Founded by guitarist Steve Lukather, keyboardist David Paich, drummer Jeff Porcaro, bassist David Hungate, keyboardist Steve Porcaro and vocalist Bobby Kimball, Toto released its self-titled debut album in 1978.

The band has undergone many changes since then, including the deaths of drummer Jeff Porcaro and his brother, bassist Mike Porcaro. Steve Porcaro and Paich no longer tour with the band, leaving Lukather and his longtime friend, Toto vocalist Joseph Williams, to carry the band forward. Williams first joined Toto in 1986 and has been a permanent member of the group since 2010.

And with a career that spans almost five decades, Williams said the band is always prepared when they hit the stage.

"We always have more songs prepared to play in the set than we actually play, so if we want to switch one out, we can," he said. "Building a set is like three little piles of songs. The first pile is a handful of songs that we absolutely have to play — 'Africa,' 'Hold The Line,' 'Rosanna' — you have to play them, it's a given. The next pile is a batch of songs you really should play, which are the secondary hits like 'Georgy Porgy,' 'I'll Be Over You,' which is a big ballad, 'I'll Supply The Love,' those kinds of songs that people may not know precisely by the title but as soon as they hear it, they go, 'Oh yeah.' The last little pile is songs that we really want to do. We've got this huge library of music in the years that Toto has been around. We talk about the ones we've never done and would love to try or the songs we haven't done in ages that we want to bring back. We pick a few of what we call 'deep cuts' that our diehard fans will know and remember, and the casual fans maybe not so much. But we try to pick ones that are entertaining so that the pace of the show doesn't drop."

If there's one thing Alabama Gulf Coast residents know, it's that it gets hot at The Wharf Amphitheater, even at night. Williams said he's conditioned his voice to adapt to the climates that come with touring amphitheaters in the summer months.

"It's different for a singer than, say, a drummer," Williams said. "For a singer, you want a little bit of heat and a little bit of moisture in the air. Really sweltering heat can be difficult. You just work out a little bit so that your stamina is up. You sweat. It's like a huge workout. If it's sweltering, you want to dress with a little less on you so you aren't getting heat stroke."

Toto will celebrate 50 years of the recording of the debut album in 2027. Although it was released in 1978, "Toto" was recorded in 1977. Williams said the band is making plans to hit the road again in 2027.

"Next year, we are going to hit hard, and we're going to hit every territory on the planet that knows and wants this band," he said. "That cycle will probably take us into 2028, as well."

Although it can get tiresome for some acts to play the hits night after night, Williams said it brings him great joy to sing the songs that make Toto fans happy.

"Each time we go out and do the songs we've been doing for years, it doesn't get old for me," he said. "I really love it. The real reason is that the audience responds to the songs they know. 'Africa' is an example. Everybody is on their feet, and they all have huge smiles on their faces, and they are singing along with you, and you get to the chorus, which is already anthemic, and the crowds are sometimes deafening singing it with you. You can get help but get a little joy when that happens. It's a gift and a privilege to sing the songs that are that well-loved."

For more of the interview with Joseph Williams, check out the ClarkCast Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.