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Revision as of 19:49, 11 October 2020 editBriefEdits (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,992 edits →Career: Removed Phish cover (more appropriate for the song article). Added info on his education background.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 20:15, 11 October 2020 edit undoBriefEdits (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,992 edits →Early life: Created →voice acting: cleaned up some texts about transformers and his early education.Tag: Visual editNext edit →
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==Early life== ==Early life==
Zonday was born Adam Nyerere Bahner in ]. He is of half African-American descent. He is the youngest of three children, and his parents are both teachers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/earbiscuits/ep-67-tay-zonday-ear-biscuits|title=Ep. 67 Tay Zonday - Ear Biscuits|publisher=|accessdate=13 August 2016}}</ref> Zonday graduated from ] in 2004, at the age of 22. He attended the ], but dropped out before graduating. Zonday was born Adam Nyerere Bahner in ]. He is of half African-American descent. He is the youngest of three children, and his parents are both teachers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/earbiscuits/ep-67-tay-zonday-ear-biscuits|title=Ep. 67 Tay Zonday - Ear Biscuits|publisher=|accessdate=13 August 2016}}</ref> He attended the ] but dropped out before graduating.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Zonday graduated from ] in 2004.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}


Zonday was a history ] student at the ], with the intention of becoming a professor. After the viral success of "Chocolate Rain", he left university with a ] and moved to Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{Cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUexle4jktU|title=I spent a day with VIRAL MEME STARS (Kombucha Girl, Hit or Miss, Chocolate Rain)|date=February 4, 2020|last=Padilla|first=Anthony|type=YouTube video|language=en-US|minutes=6:04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=C.J.|first=|date=June 13, 2017|title='Chocolate Rain' and its many memes bring sweet success to Tay Zonday|url=https://www.startribune.com/c-j-chocolate-rain-and-its-many-memes-bring-sweet-success-to-tay-zonday/428271353/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Star Tribune}}</ref> Zonday enrolled in the ] American studies ] program in 2004, studying the history of theater and social change, with the intention of becoming a professor. After the viral success of "Chocolate Rain", he left university with a ] in 2008 and moved to Los Angeles, California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUexle4jktU|title=I spent a day with VIRAL MEME STARS (Kombucha Girl, Hit or Miss, Chocolate Rain)|date=February 4, 2020|last=Padilla|first=Anthony|type=YouTube video|language=en-US|minutes=6:04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=C.J.|first=|date=June 13, 2017|title='Chocolate Rain' and its many memes bring sweet success to Tay Zonday|url=https://www.startribune.com/c-j-chocolate-rain-and-its-many-memes-bring-sweet-success-to-tay-zonday/428271353/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Star Tribune}}</ref> He used a stage name because he wanted a separation between his academic and entertainment career. Bahner chose "Tay Zonday" because he thought it was catchy and nobody had claimed the name yet, according to a Google search.<ref name=":0" />


==Career== ==Career==
Zonday released "Chocolate Rain", a viral song on race and race politics, on April 22, 2007.<ref name = "OpAnt">{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpjOyzgnYY| title= Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony show|date=July 19, 2007|accessdate=July 20, 2007}}</ref> In July 2007, Zonday was a graduate student in ], ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128211642/http://www.citypages.com/2007-08-22/unknown/rain-man/ |date=2011-11-28 }}</ref> He was soon making appearances on national television. He appeared on the '']'',<ref>{{YouTube|ONpjOyzgnYY|Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony Show}}</ref> ] '']'', ]'s '']'',<ref>{{YouTube|ckWvAEQEWRw|Chocolate Rain on Best Week Ever}}</ref> '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''<ref>{{YouTube|aDe1TUa-XQE|Tay Zonday On Jimmy Kimmel}}</ref><ref name=People/> where he performed "Chocolate Rain" on national television a little over three months after he posted his composition on YouTube. He made the front page of Sunday's '']'' on August 12, 2007 with additional features in The '']'', The '']''<nowiki/>'s '']'', The '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/457/story/1468848.html|title=The latest from the StarTribune|publisher=|accessdate=13 August 2016}}</ref> and '']''<ref name=People/> and has appeared on ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/18/cnr.01.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com - Transcripts}}</ref> for a televised interview. On February 12, 2008, he appeared on the television show ''Lily Allen and Friends'' on BBC Three, and performed a cover of ]'s debut "]". In March 2008, the video won a YouTube award in the category "Music". Zonday released "Chocolate Rain", a viral song on race and race politics, on April 22, 2007.<ref name = "OpAnt">{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpjOyzgnYY| title= Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony show|date=July 19, 2007|accessdate=July 20, 2007}}</ref> In July 2007, Zonday was a graduate student in ], ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128211642/http://www.citypages.com/2007-08-22/unknown/rain-man/ |date=2011-11-28 }}</ref> He was soon making appearances on national television. He appeared on the '']'',<ref>{{YouTube|ONpjOyzgnYY|Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony Show}}</ref> ] '']'', ]'s '']'',<ref>{{YouTube|ckWvAEQEWRw|Chocolate Rain on Best Week Ever}}</ref> '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''<ref>{{YouTube|aDe1TUa-XQE|Tay Zonday On Jimmy Kimmel}}</ref><ref name=People/> where he performed "Chocolate Rain" on national television a little over three months after he posted his composition on YouTube. He made the front page of Sunday's '']'' on August 12, 2007 with additional features in The '']'', The '']''<nowiki/>'s '']'', The '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/457/story/1468848.html|title=The latest from the StarTribune|publisher=|accessdate=13 August 2016}}</ref> and '']''<ref name=People/> and has appeared on ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/18/cnr.01.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com - Transcripts}}</ref> for a televised interview. On February 12, 2008, he appeared on the television show ''Lily Allen and Friends'' on BBC Three, and performed a cover of ]'s debut "]". In March 2008, the video won a YouTube award in the category "Music".


The Australian '']'' newspaper wrote: "Tay Zonday has written perhaps the most listened-to song in the world right now".<ref>{{cite news|first=Garth |last=Montgomery |title=Chocolate Rain goes huge |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=News Limited. |date=August 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919091650/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html |archivedate=September 19, 2007 }}</ref> ''People'' said: "He's scored a YouTube hit with his repetitive, ]-driven 'Chocolate Rain', and after a recent appearance on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'', Tay Zonday's star is shining even brighter".<ref name="People">{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Orloff |title='Chocolate Rain' YouTube Sensation Makes TV Debut |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050678,00.html |work=People |publisher=Time Inc. |date=August 9, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 }}</ref> The article also noted that celebrity musicians paid tribute to the song as its popularity rapidly peaked in August 2007. ] reportedly copied Zonday's keyboard riff with his guitar in concert,<ref name="Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville">{{Cite news | last = Keiper | first = Nicole | title = Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville | newspaper = The Tennessean | date= August 4, 2007 | url = http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070804/ENTERTAINMENT0106/70804002 | postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref><ref name="Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out">{{Cite news | last = MTV News Staff | title = Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out Tour Dates; Plus Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Amy Winehouse & More, In For The Record | newspaper = MTV News | date= August 6, 2007 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566402/20070806/lopez_jennifer.jhtml | postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> along with appearing on ''Best Week Ever'' improvising a parody to the tune of ]'s "]".<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927065157/http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/08/03/bwe-exclusive-john-mayers-chocolate-rain-remix/ |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> ] drummer ] recorded a parody of "Chocolate Rain" which he posted on YouTube.<ref name="Undercover">{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Cashmere |title=Green Day Drummer Tre Cool Covers Tay Zonday |url=http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=2560 |work=Undercover |date=August 3, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810150823/http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=2560 |archivedate=August 10, 2007 }}</ref> Zonday also became the subject of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also shown on ]'s short-lived series, '']''.<ref>{{YouTube|fsdM2oMSUbM|Chocolate Rain Sung By McGruff The Crime Dog}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|IM4pM2wV8og}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|1oFS-q8BIps|Chocolate Rain McDonald's Spot / Tay Zonday}}</ref> Tay Zonday has also been interviewed twice on '']'', in March and November 2008.{{episode needed|date=August 2014}} The Australian '']'' newspaper wrote: "Tay Zonday has written perhaps the most listened-to song in the world right now".<ref>{{cite news|first=Garth |last=Montgomery |title=Chocolate Rain goes huge |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=News Limited. |date=August 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919091650/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html |archivedate=September 19, 2007 }}</ref> ''People'' said: "He's scored a YouTube hit with his repetitive, ]-driven 'Chocolate Rain', and after a recent appearance on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'', Tay Zonday's star is shining even brighter".<ref name="People">{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Orloff |title='Chocolate Rain' YouTube Sensation Makes TV Debut |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050678,00.html |work=People |publisher=Time Inc. |date=August 9, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 }}</ref> The article also noted that celebrity musicians paid tribute to the song as its popularity rapidly peaked in August 2007. ] reportedly copied Zonday's keyboard riff with his guitar in concert,<ref name="Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville">{{Cite news | last = Keiper | first = Nicole | title = Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville | newspaper = The Tennessean | date= August 4, 2007 | url = http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070804/ENTERTAINMENT0106/70804002 | postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref><ref name="Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out">{{Cite news | last = MTV News Staff | title = Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out Tour Dates; Plus Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Amy Winehouse & More, In For The Record | newspaper = MTV News | date= August 6, 2007 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566402/20070806/lopez_jennifer.jhtml | postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> along with appearing on ''Best Week Ever'' improvising a parody to the tune of ]'s "]".<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927065157/http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/08/03/bwe-exclusive-john-mayers-chocolate-rain-remix/ |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> ] drummer ] recorded a parody of "Chocolate Rain" which he posted on YouTube.<ref name="Undercover">{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Cashmere |title=Green Day Drummer Tre Cool Covers Tay Zonday |url=http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=2560 |work=Undercover |date=August 3, 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810150823/http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=2560 |archivedate=August 10, 2007 }}</ref> Zonday also became the subject of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also shown on ]'s short-lived series, '']''.<ref>{{YouTube|fsdM2oMSUbM|Chocolate Rain Sung By McGruff The Crime Dog}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|IM4pM2wV8og}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|1oFS-q8BIps|Chocolate Rain McDonald's Spot / Tay Zonday}}</ref> Zonday has also been interviewed twice on '']'', in March and November 2008.{{episode needed|date=August 2014}}


Zonday starred in a commercial for ]'s "Last Laugh 07", hosted by ].<ref>{{cite web|author=funnyguy1375 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STbQFlYaewM |title=Last Laugh 07 Chocolate Rain - Tay Zonday |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-11-15 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> He released a video called "]",<ref>{{YouTube|2x2W12A8Qow|"Cherry Chocolate Rain" Original Song by Tay Zonday}}</ref> in a promotion with ]. He starred alongside ] in a commercial for ] web browser singing a song called "Users Against Boredom" in a parody of "]". Zonday has said that his voice is often compared to ], ], ], and ] of the ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Riley |first=Duncan |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/07/exclusive-mozilla-secretly-launches-a-viral-campaign-for-firefox/ |title=Exclusive: Mozilla Secretly Launches A Viral Campaign For Firefox |publisher=Techcrunch.com |date=2008-01-07 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> He appeared in-person at ]'s ] booth, rendering the source files of the "Chocolate Rain" YouTube video in ].<ref>{{cite web|author=channelintel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbI7POX8Wg |title=Chocolate Rain at CES |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-01-07 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> Zonday starred in a commercial for ]'s "Last Laugh 07", hosted by ].<ref>{{cite web|author=funnyguy1375 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STbQFlYaewM |title=Last Laugh 07 Chocolate Rain - Tay Zonday |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-11-15 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> He released a video called "]",<ref>{{YouTube|2x2W12A8Qow|"Cherry Chocolate Rain" Original Song by Tay Zonday}}</ref> in a promotion with ]. He starred alongside ] in a commercial for ] web browser singing a song called "Users Against Boredom" in a parody of "]". Zonday has said that his voice is often compared to ], ], ], and ] of the ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Riley |first=Duncan |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/07/exclusive-mozilla-secretly-launches-a-viral-campaign-for-firefox/ |title=Exclusive: Mozilla Secretly Launches A Viral Campaign For Firefox |publisher=Techcrunch.com |date=2008-01-07 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> He appeared in-person at ]'s ] booth, rendering the source files of the "Chocolate Rain" YouTube video in ].<ref>{{cite web|author=channelintel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbI7POX8Wg |title=Chocolate Rain at CES |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-01-07 |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref>


The ]-winning music video for rock band ]'s single "]" featured Zonday, along with other ]. As well, in May 2008, Zonday performed an ] version of the song with ] of Weezer, spoofing his own performance in "Chocolate Rain".<ref>{{YouTube|QQnT3psRi7Q|Pork & Beans Acoustic - Tay Zonday and Brian Bell}}</ref> The ]-winning music video for rock band ]'s single "]" featured Zonday, along with other ]. As well, in May 2008, Zonday performed an ] version of the song with ] of Weezer, spoofing his own performance in "Chocolate Rain".<ref>{{YouTube|QQnT3psRi7Q|Pork & Beans Acoustic - Tay Zonday and Brian Bell}}</ref>

⚫ As a voice actor, he voiced part of a multimedia presentation built to celebrate 50 years of ] history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/50th/index.html |title=50th Anniversary of NASA |publisher=Nasa.gov |date= |accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> He also voiced a role in ]'s '']'', spoofing his own song "Chocolate Rain".{{episode needed|date=August 2014}}


Zonday was featured on the '']'', where he was comically interviewed at a famous Hollywood restaurant in a play on the dissonance between Internet fame and the traditional entertainment industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox |url=http://www.gameargus.com/2008/06/27/video-the-jace-hall-show-with-tay-zonday-gearbox/ |title=Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox |publisher=GameArgus.com |date=2008-06-27 |accessdate=2009-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010135921/http://www.gameargus.com/2008/06/27/video-the-jace-hall-show-with-tay-zonday-gearbox/ |archivedate=2008-10-10 }}</ref> Zonday was featured on the '']'', where he was comically interviewed at a famous Hollywood restaurant in a play on the dissonance between Internet fame and the traditional entertainment industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox |url=http://www.gameargus.com/2008/06/27/video-the-jace-hall-show-with-tay-zonday-gearbox/ |title=Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox |publisher=GameArgus.com |date=2008-06-27 |accessdate=2009-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010135921/http://www.gameargus.com/2008/06/27/video-the-jace-hall-show-with-tay-zonday-gearbox/ |archivedate=2008-10-10 }}</ref>
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On June 22, 2012, Zonday uploaded a cover of ]'s number one single "]", which as of 2016 has reached over 6.5 million views.<ref>{{YouTube|5sruQJ12PsI}}</ref> It was featured on "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers" on Billboard.com. He is seen performing the single in front of a microphone in what he claimed to be "as low as I could ".<ref>Menyes, Carolyn (June 14, 2012). . Billboard</ref> On June 22, 2012, Zonday uploaded a cover of ]'s number one single "]", which as of 2016 has reached over 6.5 million views.<ref>{{YouTube|5sruQJ12PsI}}</ref> It was featured on "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers" on Billboard.com. He is seen performing the single in front of a microphone in what he claimed to be "as low as I could ".<ref>Menyes, Carolyn (June 14, 2012). . Billboard</ref>


In 2015, Zonday co-starred in the sitcom '']'' on ]. In 2015, Zonday co-starred in the sitcom '']'' on ].

⚫ In 2016, he appeared in the movies ''Internet Famous''<ref>{{cite web|title=IMDB Page for Internet Famous|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5291862/|website=IMDB}}</ref> and '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=IMDb page for Laid In America|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4706888/|website=IMDb}}</ref>

He also appeared on '']'' to celebrate the tenth anniversary of "]".<ref>{{cite web|title="Chocolate Rain" 10 years later!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL3YSZOdms8|accessdate=19 July 2017|website=Youtube}}</ref>

=== Voice acting ===
⚫ As a voice actor, he voiced part of a multimedia presentation built to celebrate 50 years of ] history.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=50th Anniversary of NASA|url=http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/50th/index.html|accessdate=2009-01-12|publisher=Nasa.gov}}</ref> He also voiced a role in ]'s '']'', spoofing his own song "Chocolate Rain".{{episode needed|date=August 2014}}


Zonday voiced "The King" in the ''Happy Wheels'' animated series based on the ], which premiered on ] in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|date=2016-11-15|title='Happy Wheels' Animated Web Series Brings the Hit Game's Dark Humor to Life|url=https://collider.com/happy-wheels-series-trailer/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Collider|language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫ In 2016, he appeared in the movies ''Internet Famous''<ref>{{cite web|title=IMDB Page for Internet Famous|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5291862/|website=IMDB}}</ref> and '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=IMDb page for Laid In America|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4706888/|website=IMDb}}</ref> He also voiced a character in an animated series for the video game '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=HAPPY WHEELS GAME GETS ANIMATED SERIES|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/02/happy-wheels-game-gets-animated-series|website=IGN|accessdate=19 July 2017}}</ref>


In 2017, Zonday was announced as a voice in an animated series based on the '']'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web|title=Transformers: Titans Return’ Series Casts Peter Cullen, Judd Nelson, Wil Wheaton|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/transformers-titans-return-wil-wheaton-peter-cullen-judd-nelson-1202498541/|website=Variety Magazine|accessdate=19 July 2017}}</ref> He also appeared on '']'' to celebrate the tenth anniversary of "]".<ref>{{cite web|title="Chocolate Rain" 10 years later!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL3YSZOdms8|website=Youtube|accessdate=19 July 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, ] and ] casted several YouTube personalities, including Zonday, for the animated series '']'' on Go90 to garner online attention.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=July 18, 2017|title=Transformers: Titans Return’ Series Casts Peter Cullen, Judd Nelson, Wil Wheaton|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/transformers-titans-return-wil-wheaton-peter-cullen-judd-nelson-1202498541/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=19 July 2017|website=Variety Magazine}}</ref> Zonday was casted as "Chorus of the Primes".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fahey|first=Mike|date=July 19, 2017|title=The Transformers: Titans Return Animated Series Gets Real Voice Actors|url=https://kotaku.com/the-transformers-titans-return-animated-series-gets-re-1797049238|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==

Revision as of 20:15, 11 October 2020

American singer
Tay Zonday
Zonday in 2010Zonday in 2010
Background information
Birth nameAdam Nyerere Bahner
Born (1982-05-21) May 21, 1982 (age 42)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
GenresOutsider music, electronica, R&B, experimental music, spoken word
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, actor, YouTube personality
Years active2007–present
Websitetayzonday.com
Musical artist

Adam Nyerere Bahner (born May 21, 1982), better known by the pseudonym Tay Zonday or as "Chocolate Rain Guy", is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and YouTube personality.

He is known for his bass singing voice. He garnered mainstream exposure when his song "Chocolate Rain" became a viral video in July 2007. As of June 2020, "Chocolate Rain" has over 127 million views on YouTube.

Early life

Zonday was born Adam Nyerere Bahner in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is of half African-American descent. He is the youngest of three children, and his parents are both teachers. He attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy but dropped out before graduating. Zonday graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2004.

Zonday enrolled in the University of Minnesota American studies PhD program in 2004, studying the history of theater and social change, with the intention of becoming a professor. After the viral success of "Chocolate Rain", he left university with a master's degree in 2008 and moved to Los Angeles, California. He used a stage name because he wanted a separation between his academic and entertainment career. Bahner chose "Tay Zonday" because he thought it was catchy and nobody had claimed the name yet, according to a Google search.

Career

Zonday released "Chocolate Rain", a viral song on race and race politics, on April 22, 2007. In July 2007, Zonday was a graduate student in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was soon making appearances on national television. He appeared on the Opie & Anthony Show, G4TV's Attack of the Show!, VH1's Best Week Ever, Lily Allen and Friends, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tosh.0 and Maury where he performed "Chocolate Rain" on national television a little over three months after he posted his composition on YouTube. He made the front page of Sunday's Los Angeles Times on August 12, 2007 with additional features in The Toronto Star, The Chicago Tribune's RedEye, The Star Tribune and People and has appeared on CNN for a televised interview. On February 12, 2008, he appeared on the television show Lily Allen and Friends on BBC Three, and performed a cover of Lily Allen's debut "Smile". In March 2008, the video won a YouTube award in the category "Music".

The Australian Daily Telegraph newspaper wrote: "Tay Zonday has written perhaps the most listened-to song in the world right now". People said: "He's scored a YouTube hit with his repetitive, keyboard-driven 'Chocolate Rain', and after a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tay Zonday's star is shining even brighter". The article also noted that celebrity musicians paid tribute to the song as its popularity rapidly peaked in August 2007. John Mayer reportedly copied Zonday's keyboard riff with his guitar in concert, along with appearing on Best Week Ever improvising a parody to the tune of Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right". Green Day drummer Tré Cool recorded a parody of "Chocolate Rain" which he posted on YouTube. Zonday also became the subject of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also shown on The CW's short-lived series, Online Nation. Zonday has also been interviewed twice on Good Morning America, in March and November 2008.

Zonday starred in a commercial for Comedy Central's "Last Laugh 07", hosted by Lewis Black. He released a video called "Cherry Chocolate Rain", in a promotion with Dr Pepper. He starred alongside Leslie Hall in a commercial for Firefox web browser singing a song called "Users Against Boredom" in a parody of "We Are the World". Zonday has said that his voice is often compared to Paul Robeson, Barry White, James Earl Jones, and Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies. He appeared in-person at Intel's Consumer Electronics Show booth, rendering the source files of the "Chocolate Rain" YouTube video in Sony Vegas.

The Grammy Award-winning music video for rock band Weezer's single "Pork and Beans" featured Zonday, along with other YouTube celebrities. As well, in May 2008, Zonday performed an acoustic version of the song with Brian Bell of Weezer, spoofing his own performance in "Chocolate Rain".

Zonday was featured on the Jace Hall Show, where he was comically interviewed at a famous Hollywood restaurant in a play on the dissonance between Internet fame and the traditional entertainment industry.

In February 2010, he cameoed in a Vizio Super Bowl commercial opened by Beyoncé. In October 2010, he appeared on Comedy Central's Night of Too Many Stars autism charity event during a musical number with Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.

In August 2011, Zonday appeared on America's Got Talent and performed 15 seconds of his song "Chocolate Rain". Zonday was also featured in Dave Days' YouTube video spoof of Justin Bieber's song "Baby", which has over 16 million views. He had a cameo in The Guild season 5 episode 3 "Megagame-o-ramacon!", which aired on August 9, 2011. In November he uploaded "Mama Economy (The Economic Explained)" in response to an economic crisis in the United States.

On June 22, 2012, Zonday uploaded a cover of Carly Rae Jepsen's number one single "Call Me Maybe", which as of 2016 has reached over 6.5 million views. It was featured on "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers" on Billboard.com. He is seen performing the single in front of a microphone in what he claimed to be "as low as I could ".

In 2015, Zonday co-starred in the sitcom The Jack and Triumph Show on Adult Swim.

In 2016, he appeared in the movies Internet Famous and Laid in America.

He also appeared on Steve Harvey to celebrate the tenth anniversary of "Chocolate Rain".

Voice acting

As a voice actor, he voiced part of a multimedia presentation built to celebrate 50 years of NASA history. He also voiced a role in Adult Swim's Robot Chicken, spoofing his own song "Chocolate Rain".

Zonday voiced "The King" in the Happy Wheels animated series based on the video game of the same name, which premiered on Go90 in November 2016.

In July 2017, Machinima, Inc. and Hasbro casted several YouTube personalities, including Zonday, for the animated series Transformers: Titans Return on Go90 to garner online attention. Zonday was casted as "Chorus of the Primes".

Personal life

Zonday has stated that he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.

See also

References

  1. Profile on official site
  2. "Tweet from May 21, 2017". Twitter. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  3. Ryan, Joal (August 9, 2007). "The "Chocolate" Reign of Tay Zonday". E! Online. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  4. "Tay Zonday Of 'Chocolate Rain' Fame Shares Brilliant Observation On The Dilemma Of Being Poor In America". Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  5. "Canada on Strike (2008)". South Park. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  6. ^ Fox News report about Numa Numa also mentions: ...fellow viral video star, 'Chocolate Rain Guy', aka Tay Zonday (22 Sept 2010): Foxnews.com
  7. ^ "Chocolate Rain Singer Tay Zonday Still A Star; Chocolate Rain Has Gotten Almost 48M YouTube Views". MYfox Phoenix. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  8. "Chocolate Rain" Original Song by Tay Zonday on YouTube
  9. "Ep. 67 Tay Zonday - Ear Biscuits". Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  10. ^ Padilla, Anthony (February 4, 2020). I spent a day with VIRAL MEME STARS (Kombucha Girl, Hit or Miss, Chocolate Rain) (YouTube video). 6:04 minutes in.
  11. C.J. (June 13, 2017). "'Chocolate Rain' and its many memes bring sweet success to Tay Zonday". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. "Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony show". July 19, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  13. Minneapolis City Pages: Rain Man Archived 2011-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Tay Zonday on the Opie & Anthony Show on YouTube
  15. Chocolate Rain on Best Week Ever on YouTube
  16. Tay Zonday On Jimmy Kimmel on YouTube
  17. ^ Orloff, Brian (August 9, 2007). "'Chocolate Rain' YouTube Sensation Makes TV Debut". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  18. "The latest from the StarTribune". Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  19. "CNN.com - Transcripts". CNN.
  20. Montgomery, Garth (August 1, 2007). "Chocolate Rain goes huge". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Archived from the original on September 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  21. Keiper, Nicole (August 4, 2007). "Concert Review: John Mayer brings soul to Nashville". The Tennessean.
  22. MTV News Staff (August 6, 2007). "Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Roll Out Tour Dates; Plus Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Amy Winehouse & More, In For The Record". MTV News.
  23. John Mayer on Best Week Ever Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  24. Cashmere, Tim (August 3, 2007). "Green Day Drummer Tre Cool Covers Tay Zonday". Undercover. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  25. Chocolate Rain Sung By McGruff The Crime Dog on YouTube
  26. Video on YouTube
  27. Chocolate Rain McDonald's Spot / Tay Zonday on YouTube
  28. funnyguy1375 (2007-11-15). "Last Laugh 07 Chocolate Rain - Tay Zonday". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. "Cherry Chocolate Rain" Original Song by Tay Zonday on YouTube
  30. Riley, Duncan (2008-01-07). "Exclusive: Mozilla Secretly Launches A Viral Campaign For Firefox". Techcrunch.com. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  31. channelintel (2008-01-07). "Chocolate Rain at CES". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  32. Pork & Beans Acoustic - Tay Zonday and Brian Bell on YouTube
  33. Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox (2008-06-27). "Video: The Jace Hall Show with Tay Zonday, Gearbox". GameArgus.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  34. Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert - "Everybody's Talking 'Bout Sully" (2010-10-22). "Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert - "Everybody's Talking 'Bout Sully"". Comedy Central. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  35. "'Chocolate Rain' Creator Tay Zonday Explains The Economy In New Single 'Mama Economy'". Huffington Post. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  36. Video on YouTube
  37. Menyes, Carolyn (June 14, 2012). "The 10 Best 'Call Me Maybe' Covers". Billboard
  38. "IMDB Page for Internet Famous". IMDB.
  39. "IMDb page for Laid In America". IMDb.
  40. ""Chocolate Rain" 10 years later!". Youtube. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  41. "50th Anniversary of NASA". Nasa.gov. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  42. Trumbore, Dave (2016-11-15). "'Happy Wheels' Animated Web Series Brings the Hit Game's Dark Humor to Life". Collider. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  43. Spangler, Todd (July 18, 2017). "Transformers: Titans Return' Series Casts Peter Cullen, Judd Nelson, Wil Wheaton". Variety Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. Fahey, Mike (July 19, 2017). "The Transformers: Titans Return Animated Series Gets Real Voice Actors". Kotaku. Retrieved 2020-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. Zonday, Tay (December 12, 2019). Twitter https://twitter.com/tayzonday/status/1205143811527065600?lang=en. Retrieved 13 September 2020. I'm diagnosed by multiple practitioners as having high-functioning autism with aspergers. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

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