Tay Zonday Biography: Age, Net Worth, Wife, Height, Real Name, Chocolate Rain, YouTube

Tay Zonday distinguishes himself as an innovative American singer-songwriter, voice actor, and YouTube trailblazer, immortalized by his 2007 viral phenomenon “Chocolate Rain,” which amassed over 140 million views and ignited a discourse on racial inequities.

Profile

• Full Name: Adam Nyerere Bahner
• Stage Name: Tay Zonday
• Born: May 21, 1982
• Age: 43 years old
• Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Singer-Songwriter, Voice Actor, and YouTube Personality
• Height: 5 feet 8 inches
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Bahner
• Siblings: Two older siblings
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $800,000 USD

Early Life and Education

Tay Zonday, a distinguished singer-songwriter, voice actor, and YouTube personality, was born on May 21, 1982, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nurtured in an academic household by his teacher parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bahner, he grew up as the youngest of three children, fostering a profound appreciation for music and theater amid a biracial heritage.

He attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy but departed prior to completion, later earning a degree from The Evergreen State College in 2004.

Pursuing advanced studies, he entered the University of Minnesota’s American Studies PhD program in 2004, focusing on theater’s societal role, yet paused with a master’s in 2008 to embrace emerging opportunities.

His ethnic background blends African-American and Caucasian influences, and he follows Christianity.

Career

Tay Zonday embarked on his path with local open-mic appearances at Minneapolis’s Balls Cabaret and Southern Theater in the mid-2000s, while balancing graduate studies.

Launching his YouTube channel in January 2007, he uploaded “Chocolate Rain” on April 22—a poignant keyboard-driven track on racial injustice—that exploded virally by July, topping Digg and 4chan charts, inspiring parodies from Green Day’s Tré Cool to South Park, and securing mainstream spots on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Good Morning America.

This propelled collaborations, including a Dr Pepper “Cherry Chocolate Rain” promo and a Firefox parody with Leslie Hall.

Relocating to Los Angeles in 2008, he expanded into voice work, featuring in Weezer’s Grammy-winning “Pork and Beans” video (2008), voicing Chorus of the Primes in Transformers: Titans Return (2017), and contributing to Robot Chicken (2010).

Television credits encompass America’s Got Talent (2008), Tosh.0, and BBC’s Lily Allen and Friends, alongside commercials for Intel, TurboTax, and Geico.

He initiated the interactive “Ask Tay Zonday” series in 2014, sustaining engagement, and continues original music releases while consulting on digital media.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @tayzonday
• Facebook Handle: Tay Zonday
• Twitter Handle: @tayzonday
• YouTube Channel: Tay Zonday

Personal Life

Tay Zonday, a distinguished singer-songwriter, voice actor, and YouTube personality, now 43, upholds a discreet personal sphere, remaining single with no spouse or children.

At 5 feet 8 inches, he has disclosed no prior relationships, channeling focus toward professional growth and self-reflection.

Diagnosed with high-functioning autism at 15—later refined to autism spectrum disorder—and contending with hyperacusis since 2021, he advocates for neurodiversity, crediting therapy resumed at 37 for clarity.

Based in Los Angeles since 2008, he cherishes ties to his Minneapolis roots and family, viewing them as anchors amid fame’s unpredictability.

Filmography (Selected)

• Tay Zonday: Chocolate Rain (Video Short, 2007) – Himself
• YouTube Assassin (TV Movie, 2010) – Himself
• Robot Chicken (TV Series, 2010) – Parody Self (Voice)
• Transformers: Titans Return (TV Series, 2017) – Chorus of the Primes (Voice)

Net Worth

Tay Zonday, a distinguished singer-songwriter, voice actor, and YouTube personality, sustains an estimated net worth of $800 thousand USD.

Primary sources encompass YouTube ad revenue from enduring virals exceeding 140 million views, voiceover contracts with entities like Hasbro and Toyota, brand endorsements from Dr Pepper to Vizio, and residuals from television appearances and animations.