Famous as the frontman and a founding member of the Oregon-based rock band Portugal. The Man, he contributed to a number of U.S. Top 50 rock hits, including "Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue" (from Portugal. The Man's Evil Friends album) and "People Say" (from the 2009 album The Satanic Satanist).
In 2001, he formed a band called Anatomy of a Ghost that became the precursor to Portugal. The Man.
His band Portugal. The Man won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2018 for their song "Feel It Still."
He and his bandmate Zach Carothers met at Wasilla High School in Alaska. Drummer Jason Sechrist and keyboard player Kyle O'Quin later joined the Portugal. The Man band "family."
Gourley's band's seventh album, Evil Friends, was produced by Danger Mouse.