Adam Nyerere Bahner (created July 6, 1982), better known by the pseudonym Tay Zonday, is an American singer, musician, announcer, voice artist, performer, comic and YouTube persona. He’s recognized by listeners for his baritone singing voice. He garnered mainstream exposure when his tune “Chocolate Rain” became a viral video in July 2007. As of July 2014, “Chocolate Rain” has over 97 million viewpoints.
In July 2007, Zonday was a graduate student in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was soon making appearances on national television. 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 tune on the planet right now.” Folks said: “He’s scored a YouTube success with his persistent, keyboard-driven ‘Chocolate Rain’, and following a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tay Zonday’s star is shining even brighter.” This article also noted that star musicians paid tribute to the tune as its popularity quickly peaked in August 2007. John Mayer apparently reproduced Zonday’s keyboard riff along with his guitar in concert, as well as appearing on Best Week Ever improvising a parody to the tune of Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right”. Zonday additionally became the theme of thousands of other parodies and remixes on YouTube. A clip of his video was also revealed on The CW’s short lived show, Online Nation. Tay Zonday has additionally been interviewed twice on Good Morning America, in March and November 2008.
Singer, Songwriter, Announcer, Actor, Musician, Rapper, Comedian, Voice Actor
Education
University of Minnesota
Nationality
United States of America
Nicknames
Adam Nyerere Bahner
Awards
YouTube award in the Music category (2008)
Movies
Hamlet A.D.D., Streetfighter Music Video
TV Shows
"Lily Allen and Friends", "Online Nation", Comedy Central's "Last Laugh 07", "Jace Hall Show", "America's Got Talent" (2011), “The Jack and Triumph Show” (2015)
Star Sign
Cancer
#
Trademark
1
Distinctive deep resonant voice
2
His YouTube hit ''Chocolate Rain''
#
Fact
1
Was parodied in the episode "Canada on Strike" from the 12th season of South Park (1997).
2
Became an overnight celebrity because of the success of his Internet music video "Chocolate Rain," which eventually became a longform commercial for Dr. Pepper soda.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
(Romance) in the Digital Age
2017
completed
Tay Zonday
FBE Sketches
2016
TV Series
Narrator
Laid in America
2016
Digby
Seven Bucks Digital Studios
2016
TV Series
Animeme Rap Battles
2013-2016
TV Series
Vitruvius / Old Spice Guy
Internet Famous
2016
Internet Talent Coach
Inside the Extras Studio
2016
TV Series
Mike Lawful
Lucifer
2016/I
Pub Quiz
2016
TV Movie
Watson (voice)
Bob Thunder: Internet Assassin
2015
Tay Zonday
MisSpelled
2015
TV Series
Orcus
Black Desert Online
2015
Video Game
Various Voices / Opening
YouTupolis
2015
Short
Bad Weather Films
2013-2014
TV Series short
Darth Vader
Hamlet A.D.D.
2014
Laertes (voice)
Top Decking
2014
TV Series
Morpheus6969
Eric Finley: Comment Counselor
2012
TV Series
Epic Rap Battles of History
2012
TV Series short
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Streetfighter Music Video
2010
Video short
Too Fast
2010
Short
Narrator (voice)
Shane Dawson TV
2010
TV Series
Narrator
YouTube Assassin
2010
TV Series
Tay Zonday
Robot Chicken
2009
TV Series
Cocoa Vampire
Weezer: Pork and Beans
2008
Video short
Viralcom
2008
TV Series
Tay Zonday
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tosh.0
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2011 writer - 1 episode, 2011
Rude Tube
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
Replaying: The Game
2009
Video Game performer: "Chocolate Rain"
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2007 writer - 1 episode, 2007
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Thresher
2014
Short uncredited
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rude Tube
2010
TV Series footage courtesy of - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rude Tube
2008
TV Movie thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
WGN Morning News
2017
TV Series
Himself
Super Fun Awesome Party Game Time
2016
TV Series
Himself
YouTubers React
2012-2016
TV Series
Himself
Vlogumentary
2016
Documentary
Himself
Friend or Foe
2016
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Triumph's Election Special 2016
2016
TV Movie
Himself - Panelist
Pop Culture Underground
2015
TV Series
Himself
Song Biscuits
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Jack and Triumph Show
2015
TV Series
Himself
Explore the Wild
2014
TV Series
Himself - Host (2014) (voice)
Katie Chats
2013
TV Series
Himself
2013 YouTube Music Awards
2013
TV Special
Himself
The Mythical Show
2013
TV Series
Himself
Your Grammar Sucks
2013
TV Series
Himself
Subcultures
2013
TV Series documentary short
Himself
Burger Lab
2013
TV Mini-Series
Himself
Save the Supers
2012
TV Series
Himself
The Jace Hall Show
2008-2012
TV Series
Himself
Lockout
2012
TV Series
Himself - Host
The Guild
2011
TV Series
Himself
Tosh.0
2011
TV Series
Himself
The RadNerd Show
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Piper's QUICK Picks
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Rude Tube
2010
TV Series
Himself
Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education