John Baldwin Gourley
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John Baldwin Gourley (born June 12, 1981) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter from
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
. He is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band
Portugal. The Man Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska, currently based in Portland, Oregon. The group consists of John Baldwin Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O'Quin, Jason Sechrist, Eric Howk and Zoe Manville. Gourley and Carothers met a ...
, with the hit song " Feel It Still". Gourley was previously the lead singer in post-hardcore band,
Anatomy of a Ghost Anatomy of a Ghost was an American emo band from Portland, Oregon, some of whose members originally hailed from Alaska. History Anatomy of a Ghost formed early in 2002 and gained popularity through live performances and through internet promotio ...
. Gourley is also a visual artist, who often uses the alias The Fantastic The.


Life and career

Gourley was born in 1981 in Willow, Alaska, to John T. Gourley and Jennifer Van Ingen. He and his two siblings grew up in
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
moving from town to town, wherever their father's contracting business took the family. Gourley's parents both competed in the Iditarod, and for a while the family lived in a remote "off the grid" cabin accessible only by dogsled. He grew up helping to take care of dozens of mushing dogs. He attended Wasilla High School, but dropped out at age 15 to study at home and work in construction with his father. Gourley joined four fellow
Wasilla Wasilla ( Dena'ina: ''Benteh'') is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States and the fourth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the st ...
musicians: his best friend Zach Carothers and the three members of band Nice Guy Eddie (Dewey Halpaus, Joe Simon, and Nick Simon), to form punk band
Anatomy of a Ghost Anatomy of a Ghost was an American emo band from Portland, Oregon, some of whose members originally hailed from Alaska. History Anatomy of a Ghost formed early in 2002 and gained popularity through live performances and through internet promotio ...
in 2002. They toured across the country and released their album '' Evanesce'' in October 2003 on
Fearless Records Fearless Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1994. Fearless is based in Culver City, California, and is best known for its early pop punk moments captured in the ''Fearless Flush Sampler'' and ''Punk Bites'' releas ...
. In the spring of 2003, Gourley recorded vocals for the song "Motelroom.Grandpiano" with the band
Fear Before Fear Before (formerly known as Fear Before the March of Flames) is an experimental rock band formed in Aurora, Colorado. As stated on their Alternative Press podcast, their name originates from a Denver Post newspaper headline about the 2002 H ...
on their first album, '' Odd How People Shake''. The members of Anatomy of a Ghost wanted to pursue their own ideas, however, so the band split up in May 2004. Gourley and bassist Carothers formed
Portugal. The Man Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska, currently based in Portland, Oregon. The group consists of John Baldwin Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O'Quin, Jason Sechrist, Eric Howk and Zoe Manville. Gourley and Carothers met a ...
. Gourley and longtime partner and bandmate Zoe Manville have a daughter born in 2011.


References


Further reading

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gourley, John Musicians from Alaska Living people People from Wasilla, Alaska 1981 births Musicians from Portland, Oregon American male singer-songwriters Grammy Award winners 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers American singer-songwriters