Roosevelt Toston was born May 7, 1942 and raised in Epps, Louisiana, He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 15 to live with his brother after his father's death. He graduated from Las Vegas High School and the first jobs he held were at the Fremont Hotel and the Nevada Test Site.

Gertrude Toston was born May 09, 1947 in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Austin, Texas. Her parents moved to Seattle, Washington, to provide more opportunities for their children but ended up separating. Toston’s mother brought the children to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 to have the support of her sister while she divorced. Her sister's husband, Reverend Coleman, was the pastor of Second Baptist Church, and the family became very involved in church activities.