Toploader

United Kingdom, 1997–now

English band from Eastbourne, formed in 1997 around Joseph Washbourne's keyboards and gravelly voice. Their debut Onka's Big Moka sold over a million copies on the strength of a soul-rock revivalism, and their cover of King Harvest's 'Dancing in the Moonlight' became a lasting British radio standard.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Toploader and 0 artists Toploader influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Toploader?

• Stevie Wonder — The infectious 1970s funk of Stevie Wonder is the clearest source of Toploader's soul-rock, and of Washbourne's keyboard-led arrangements.
• The Rolling Stones — The loose, honky-tonk swing of the Rolling Stones runs through Onka's Big Moka.
• Elton John — Early Elton John's soul-inflected piano rock is the model for Washbourne's role as a singing keyboard player at the front of a rock band.