Drummer Dies After Heart Attack : Fatality: Jeff Porcaro, who was a founder of the Grammy-winning rock band Toto, may have had an allergic reaction to pesticide in his yard.

The drummer for the Grammy-winning rock band Toto suffered a heart attack and died Wednesday night after a possible allergic reaction to a pesticide he was spraying in the yard at his Hidden Hills home, authorities said.

An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine what caused the death of Jeff Porcaro, 38, who helped found the group that sold millions of records during the 1970s and ‘80s. He was also a highly respected session drummer who played for such musicians as Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Paul McCartney, said Toto’s longtime co-manager, Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said he was told by doctors that the heart attack may have been triggered by an allergic reaction. It is not known what kind of spray Porcaro was using.

Los Angeles County Coroner spokesman Bob Dambacher said autopsy results may not be released for several days. “We have it as a possible inhalation of spray,” he said.

Paramedics were called to Porcaro’s home in the exclusive gated community in the southwestern San Fernando Valley about 6:30 p.m., Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Dennis Vlach said. Witnesses told paramedics that Porcaro complained that he felt sick while doing yardwork.

“He was in critical condition when we got there,” Vlach said. “There was no breathing, no pulse. He was in full cardiac arrest.”

Rescue workers managed to briefly revive Porcaro, who was taken by helicopter to Humana Hospital-West Hills, Vlach said. He was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m., hospital spokesman Steven Weiss said.

Porcaro lived with his three children and wife, Susan, who is mayor pro tem of Hidden Hills, Fitzgerald said.

Porcaro’s 20-year music career started while he was a student at Grant High School in Van Nuys, playing in bands with friends who would later earn reputations as top session players and eventually form the nucleus of Toto. Porcaro’s two brothers, Mike and Steve, were also band members.

Toto’s premiere album in 1978 sold more than 4 million copies. In 1983, Toto earned six Grammys for its “Toto IV” album, which contained three Top 40 hits, including the song “Rosanna.”

Porcaro plays on the new Bruce Springsteen album, “Human Touch,” and had recently completed a John Fogerty album, Fitzgerald said. “Jeff was one of the top session players in the world,” Fitzgerald said.

Porcaro had just returned from a family vacation in Florida and the band was scheduled to begin rehearsals for a concert tour supporting its new album.

In addition to his wife, children and brothers, Porcaro is survived by his father, jazz percussionist Joe Porcaro, his mother, Eileen Porcaro, and sister, Joleen.

Funeral arrangements were pending at St. Mel’s Catholic Church, 20870 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.