Mark Gormley

Mark Donan Gormley (May 7, 1957 – May 24, 2024) was an American singer-songwriter from Pensacola, Florida, who achieved internet fame for his music videos on YouTube.

As of October 2021, his music videos have been viewed more than 7.9 million times.

Gormley learned to play the guitar as a teenager and later wrote and recorded a number of original compositions in the 1970s and 80s.

His musical influences included Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Rush, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, and Boston.

During his time enlisted in the Marines, Gormley was stationed in Scotland where he recorded a demo for some of his songs, but he was unable to gain a recording contract on his return to the USA.

Having decided to give up pursuing a career as a musician, Gormley didn't release his music to the public until his first music video was filmed in 2006.

Gormley was given a platform when his music videos appeared on The Uncharted Zone, a weekly public-access television music show that plays original and cover videos by local artists.

The Uncharted Zone is shown on the Blab Television cable station and is based in the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Gormley has since recorded a number of music videos for the show.

The low-budget music videos are produced by Phil Thomas Katt, a local musician and former radio DJ.

The videos are characterized by their frequent use of green screen effects, local scenery and, quite often, comedic or dramatic story lines.

Katt runs The Uncharted Zone with his co-host and longtime friend Tommy Robinetti.

The two can be found introducing each video with quirky commentary and anecdotes about each featured artist.

In addition to the television broadcast, The Uncharted Zone began posting videos on YouTube in 2007.

Gormley's breakthrough music video is for "Without You", released in 2008.

These videos gained popularity during 2009.

Videogum listed the "Little Wings" music video as one of the best viral videos of 2009.

In a 2010 interview, Phil Thomas Katt explained: “The videos had been on YouTube for a while, and then, last year, things really took off.” Thanks to these YouTube videos, Katt became a cult icon to a growing group of fans and fellow musicians, and Gormley was propelled to internet stardom.

In October 2010, Gormley received the first ever The Uncharted Zone 'Youzie Award'.

The award signified Gormley becoming the first artist in The Uncharted Zone's history to have a music video surpass one million views on YouTube.

Gormley's music videos have reached an audience of millions on YouTube.

In an article on Gormley, UK-based newspaper Metro proclaimed "The internet has a new musical hero in the form of singer-songwriter Mark Gormley".

Gormley and his music have been featured on the G4TV television program Attack of the Show!, and later G4TV's Web Soup, where "Weird Al" Yankovic performed an impression of Gormley.

Gormley has been the inspiration for several fan-made videos, including remixes of his songs, cover versions, and parodies of his music videos.

The standing posture adopted by Gormley in several of his music videos, known as the "Power Stance", became an internet meme.

Gormley had been asked to perform by concert bookers and TV shows including the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but he decided to decline the offers.

Gormley avoided the spotlight and was notoriously reclusive.

In an interview conducted by The Uncharted Zone's Michele Carnley, Gormley claimed "I'm just little old me from Pensacola."

When asked about his sudden internet fame, Gormley replied "It's a bit overwhelming. You know, when I did this I just did it for fun. Something to do, something therapeutic."

Gormley's debut music video is for the song "Beginnings", which includes still images of scenery in his native Pensacola.

The music video features an appearance by model Ashton Shane, who is also a VJ for The Uncharted Zone.

Woot found the song "thought-provoking" and noted the profound insights offered by the lyrics.

Gormley considers the song his personal favorite.

The "Little Wings" music video includes footage of seagulls in flight, as Gormley sings in front of ocean scenes.

Gormley and his music video for "Little Wings" were featured on the website of Colorado-based newspaper Westword, who remarked "there's something strangely appealing about Gormley...I have to say that this song is actually pretty great".

As of September 2013, "Little Wings" has received over one million views on YouTube.

In December 2013, "Little Wings" was featured on the ITV2 television show MC Hammer's Big Shot Academy.

"Gray Days" is one of Gormley's darkest songs, that LimeLife referred to as a "moving, Zeppelinesque tribute".

"Gray Days" and "Little Wings" were featured on the website of Seattle-based newspaper The Stranger, who argued that although the quality of Gormley's videos had garnered him much of the initial attention, "what really should be considered is his music, for all the right reasons, as credit is due...his voice and his song writing certainly shoot for the realms of greatness" adding that "his song writing and voice approach the league of rock's finest angelic singers", comparing his vocals to Jon Anderson, Bryan MacLean, and Tim Buckley.

The music video for "Stars" shows Gormley performing the song while backed by footage of the night sky and the beaches of Perdido Key, Florida.