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 groups before moving to Los Angeles in 1974.
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He subsequently formed a new band, S.S. Fools, with three members of Three Dog Night. The new band folded after a short time, and Kimball was asked by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro to join five session musicians to form Toto. Kimball submitted a self-penned audition song for the band, "You Are the Flower,” which was included on their debut album.
 
Kimball performed on the first four studio albums by Toto and sang on the smash Billboard hits "Rosanna" and "Africa." Toto’s albums include Toto (double platinum record), Hydra (gold record), and Toto IV (triple platinum record). After being asked to leave the band, he rejoined the band in 1998 until the band split up in 2008. Since that time, Kimball would often tour with many of his friends' bands in subsequent years.