Gorilla Tophat

Best friends since an early age, Frontman Jacob Snow and Bassist Alex Deuzeman broke away from a previous band and decided to form the ALL CANADIAN duo that is Gorilla Tophat.  Snow grew up singing and performing in the Pentecostal Church while Alex took a more traditional approach with formal education at Mohawk College.  Alex introduced funk music to Snow, helping him perfect his falsetto, Snow took to the groove immediately.  The pair decided to showcase the lost art of funk and bring their own modern spin to the genre. 

Their debut album was well received winning nominations in the category of Best Funk Fusion Song (IMA), Best Funk Fusion Album (IMA), Best Funk Album (Acadamia) and Best Jazz Vocal (TIMA). The pair played several shows across Ontario including the infamous Burlington Music Festival. 

After taking some time off to write music, the band teamed up with legendary Producer Mark Berry and released a new Single titled Mayday featuring Firechild in 2019 and a video in October 2020. The band also has several single releases pending but production was affected by the global pandemic.

Gorilla Tophat has recently made some changes to their Artistic lineup with the exit of Bassist Alex Deuzeman in May 2022. Frontman Snow vows to continue pushing the envelope taking the band's sound towards the world of modern Disco; of course supported by the bass driven style that gained the band it's popularity.

Their music is bringing back the smooth, soulful magic of Funk and mixing in a little Rock, Reggae and Pop. Overall they are defined by infinitely groovy bass lines and thought provoking lyrics, complimented with horns, piano, percussion, rock & funk vocals. 

They site their influences as widespread and include Artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jamiroquai, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye, and Curtis Mayfield.

They have also been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to bring you collaborations with the following talented Artists and more: Firechild, Katisse Buckingham, Brian Doherty (Big Wreck), Kevin Cadogan (Cadogan Salazar, Formely Third Eye Blind), Tom Teasley (Drummie Percussionist of 2016).

Katisse Buckingham 

Katisse has performed and/or recorded with Yellowjackets, Prince, Billy Childs, Dr. Dre, Herbie Hancock, Roy Ayers, Andy Summers, Zawinul Legacy Band, Airto & Flora Purim, LA Guitar Quartet, Brian Auger, Amos Lee, Strunz & Farah, Colin Hay, Poncho Sanchez, Don Grusin, Lionel Richie, Pete Yorn, and Vanessa Paradis, among many others. He has played on numerous films including the "Jazz Flute" scene for the Will Ferrell film, Anchorman- The Legend of Ron Burgundy, the Golden Globe winning score to the Robert Redford film, All Is Lost, and is a featured soloist on the Universal Pictures animated film, Minions. 

Brian Doherty 

As co-founder of Big Wreck, he has been signed to Atlantic, Warner Canada and, currently, Anthem Records. He has co-written and played on all four Big Wreck albums. He played guitar, mandolin, lap steel and sang background vocals on the Big Wreck classics. He has toured extensively with the Canadian Platinum Record winning Big Wreck throughout North America. In the last few years, the band has recieved Juno Award nominations for Rock Album of the Year! 

Kevin Cadogan 

Signed to Elektra Records in 1996 as "Third Eye Blind", Kevin Cadogan went on to write and record several top ten hits including "How's it going to Be," "Jumper" and "Losing a Whole Year". As the primary guitarist for Third Eye Blind from 1993-2000, Kevin was nominated for three CMA awards for Outstanding Guitarist, recorded two multi-platinum albums and was honored with numerous BMI music awards. 

Tom Teasley 

Tom has just been awarded the Drummie Award by Drum! Magazine for 2016 World Percussionist of the Year. He was also awarded first runner-up for Percussion Clinician of the Year!  Tom was just nominated by WAMA (Washington Area Music Association) for 2015 World Music Instrumentalist of the Year. His recent CD, Dreams of India was also nominated for World Music Recording. Tom was also just nominated for his 5th Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Sound Design for his work with Constellation Theatre's production of The Fire and the Rain!