Bobby Kimball graduated from Vinton High School, where he played football and ran track. He attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and sang with the Levee Band and other regional acts before moving to Los Angeles in 1974 to pursue music full-time.

 

In L.A., he helped form S.S. Fools with three former members of Three Dog Night. Although the group dissolved quickly, Kimball’s powerful, high-range vocals stood out. David Paich and Jeff Porcaro soon invited him to join a new band they were forming with some of the top session musicians in the industry—a lineup that became Toto. For his audition, Kimball submitted an original composition, “You Are the Flower,” which the band liked so much that they included it on their 1978 debut album.

 

Kimball sang on Toto’s first four studio albums and provided the unmistakable lead vocals on standout hits like “Rosanna” and “Africa.” During this period the band released several major albums, including Toto (double platinum), Hydra (gold), Turn Back, and Toto IV, which earned six Grammy Awards in 1983, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Paich later credited Kimball’s vocal stamina and tone as pivotal to the band’s early sound, particularly in the studio, where Kimball was known for nailing difficult takes in just a few passes.

 

After leaving Toto in the mid-1980s, Kimball became an in-demand vocalist overseas, especially in Germany, where he developed a strong fan following. He released several solo projects, including Rise Up and All I Ever Needed, and collaborated with a number of European rock and AOR artists. He was also a frequent guest at international classic-rock festivals, often performing Toto’s hits with symphony orchestras.

 

Kimball returned to Toto in 1998, recording vocals for Mindfields and touring extensively with the band until 2008. His voice is featured on live releases such as Livefields and Live in Amsterdam, which introduced the band’s classic sound to a new generation.

 

Beyond his work with Toto, Kimball contributed vocals to projects involving Michael McDonald, Richard Marx, Jeff Lorber, and the German progressive-rock group Far Corporation. He also performed on humanitarian and charity recordings, including sessions for United Nations music initiatives.

 

Although no longer touring full-time, Kimball remains a respected figure among rock vocalists. His soaring tenor, expressive phrasing, and ability to bridge pop, rock, and soul have made him a defining voice of the late 20th-century AOR sound.