better known by the pseudonym Tay Zonday,[1] is an American YouTube Award winning, Webby Award winning, People's Choice Award nominated musician, voice actor, film actor, and social commentator.[1] [2]

His composition "Chocolate Rain" and accompanying video on YouTube[2] became a popular Internet meme in July 2007. It currently counts over 30 million views. This led to extensive mainstream exposure.

Within a month of releasing "Chocolate rain", Zonday went from grad student in Minneapolis[3] to appearances on national television. He appeared on the Opie & Anthony Show,[4] G4TV's Attack of the Show!, VH1’s Best Week Ever,[5], Lily Allen and Friends, and Jimmy Kimmel Live,[6][7] 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[8] and People[7] and has appeared on CNN[9] for a televised interview. He also has appeared on Foxnews. 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 hit "Smile". In March 2008 this popular video won a YouTube-award in the category "Music", and he was also spoofed in the South Park episode "Canada on Strike".