Bobby Kimball

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Bobby Kimball

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Img_capt =
Img_size = 180
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Robert Troy Kimball
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1947|3|29
Orange, Texas, U.S.
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Vocals, Keyboards
Genre = Rock, adult contemporary
Occupation =
Years_active = 1973–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Toto
URL = [http://www.bobbykimball.com www.bobbykimball.com]
Notable_instruments =

Bobby Kimball (born 29 March 1947, [ [http://www.toto99.com/features/encyclopedia/kimball.shtml Bobby Kimball Encyclopedia] ] in Orange, Texas) [ [http://www.toto99.com/features/encyclopedia/kimball.shtml Bobby Kimball Encyclopedia] ] is an American singer best known for being a member of the rock band Toto. [ [http://www.toto99.com/features/encyclopedia/kimball.shtml Bobby Kimball Encyclopedia] ]

Early life

Robert (Bobby) Troy Kimball was born in Orange, Texas, but was raised in nearby Vinton, Louisiana as Vinton did not have a hospital (thus, he was born across the state line). Bobby started singing as a child dabbling on voice and piano in a musical household throughout his youth. Throughout the 1970s, Kimball performed as a vocalist in various New Orleans area bands, including The Levee Band which would later beome Le Roux after Kimball left. In 1976, Bobby joined S.S. Fools in which he was the lead vocalist as well as keyboard player. That same year, the band released their self titled album. The band broke up during its first tour.

Tenure in Toto

In 1977, Bobby Kimball left Louisiana and moved to Los Angeles where he joined five session musicians and formed Toto. He submitted a self-penned audition song for the band, "You are the Flower," [ [http://www.bobbykimball.com/qa/qaarchive1.html Bobby Kimball Q&A] ] which was included on their debut album. [ [http://www.bobbykimball.com/qa/qaarchive1.html Bobby Kimball Q&A] ] A popular rumor is that the name of the band came from Bobby Kimball's "true" last name, 'Toteaux,' this rumor was in fact only a joke popularized by former bassist David Hungate. [ [http://hem.passagen.se/robertk/toto/history.htm Robert's Toto Homepage] ] He recorded the first four studio albums for Toto, before drug and personal issues began to cause conflicts among the other members of the band. He was released from the band in 1984 during sessions for "Isolation", their follow-up studio album to 1982's Grammy Award-winning "Toto IV". [ [http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/stevelukather04.html Steve Lukather interview 2004] ]

After Toto

After leaving Toto, Bobby Kimball relocated to Germany for a solo career under Producer Frank Farian of the Far Corporation [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ] (infamously noted as the creator behind ill-fated lip-sync act Milli Vanilli). He also continued to work as a session singer, singing background vocals for various artists. Bobby Kimball briefly returned to Toto during 1989-1990 to record songs for the band's greatest hits album, "Past to Present 1977-1990", only to be replaced by South African singer Jean Michel-Byron (a decision said to have derived from Sony, the band's record company at the time, and the label's desire to go in a new direction). [ [http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/stevelukather04.html Steve Lukather interview 2004] ] Byron was let go shortly thereafter, and guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather took over Toto's primary lead vocal duties from 1991 to 1999. [ [http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/stevelukather04.html Steve Lukather interview 2004] ] After leaving the band again, he released a live album "Classic Toto Hits" in late 1990, in which he performed various Toto hits from over the years. [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ] He recorded the album with the Frankfurt Rock Orchestra. [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ] In 1994, Bobby Kimball released his first solo album "Rise Up" [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ] featuring the single "Woodstock". [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ]

Return to Toto

In 1998, Bobby and Toto made amends and he rejoined Toto as lead vocalist. The band then returned to the studio to record "Mindfields", their first album with Bobby since 1982's Toto IV. Now with Bobby back in the band, Toto toured in support of Mindfields throughout 1999 and 2000. In late 1999, the band released the live album Livefields showcasing Bobby's return. In 2000, Bobby released his second solo album "All I Ever Needed" with the single "Kristine" being released. [ [http://www.bluedesert.dk/bobbykimball.html Bobby Kimball Discography] ] In 2002, Toto released a covers album "Through the Looking Glass". In February 2006, Toto released "Falling In Between", their first studio album of new material since 1999, however, it was announced in June 2008 that the band has broken up. Bobby is currently hosting his own website where he offers vocal advice to aspiring singers. [ [http://www.bobbykimball.com Bobby Kimball Official Site] ]

Other appearances

Kimball joined Dutch band Kayak during their 2003 tour of Merlin - Bard of the Unseen singing the role of Lancelot.

References

[http://www.ivtoto.com IV TOTO - Worldwide TOTO Fans Anthem]

External links

* [http://www.bobbykimball.com Official website]
*imdb name|id=2219079|name=Bobby Kimball
* [http://www.myspace.com/ssfools S.S. Fools Myspace Page]