Ray Parker Jr.

Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (born May 1, 1954)<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo performer, he wrote and performed the theme song for the 1984 film Ghostbusters and also sounds from the animated series The Real Ghostbusters. Previously, Parker achieved a US top-5 hit in 1982 with "The Other Woman". He also performed with his band, Raydio, and with Barry White in the Love Unlimited Orchestra.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Early life

Ray Erskine Parker Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan,<ref name="LarkinGE" /> to Venolia Parker and Ray Parker Sr. He attended Angel Elementary School where his music teacher, Alfred T. Kirby, inspired him to be a musician at age six playing the clarinet. He attended Cass Technical High School in the tenth grade.

Parker is a 1971 graduate of Detroit's Northwestern High School. He attended college at Lawrence Institute of Technology.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Music career

File:Ray Parker Jr., 1984.jpg

Parker in 1984

Parker gained recognition during the late 1960s as a member of Bohannon's house band at the 20 Grand nightclub.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> This Detroit hotspot often featured Tamla/Motown acts, one of which, the (Detroit) Spinners, was so impressed by the young guitarist's skills that they added him to their touring group.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> Through the Bohannon relationship, he recorded and co-wrote his first songs at age 16 with Marvin Gaye. Parker was also employed as a studio musician as a teenager for the emergent Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax stable, and his "choppy" style was especially prominent on "Want Ads", a number one single for Honey Cone.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> Parker was later enlisted by Lamont Dozier to appear on his first two albums for ABC Records.

In 1972, Parker was a guest guitarist on Stevie Wonder's soul song "Maybe Your Baby", from Wonder's album Talking Book, an association which prompted a permanent move to Los Angeles.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> He also was the lead guitarist for Wonder when Wonder served as the opening act on the Rolling Stones' 1972 tour. In 1973, he became a sideman in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night as a guitar player in the church picnic scene.

Ray Parker also played guitar for Rhythm Heritage, Wah Wah Watson,<ref>Elementary, AllMusic, Retrieved 29 July 2024</ref> Lee Ritenour, Rufus, Chaka Khan, Jaye P. Morgan (1976),<ref>Jaye P. Morgan, AllMusic, Retrieved 27 July 2024</ref> Aretha Franklin (1975), Leon Haywood, Herbie Hancock, Deniece Williams, Spinners, the Temptations, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.<ref>Ray Parker, Neo-w.com, Retrieved 29 July 2024</ref>

Parker's first bona fide hit as a writer was "You Got the Love", co-written with Chaka Khan and recorded by Rufus. The single hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 11 on the pop charts in December 1974. Parker has stated that he was the original songwriter of Leo Sayer's 1976 hit "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", but that when he submitted the tune as a demo, his accreditation as such was missed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1977, Parker created the R&B group Raydio with Vincent Bonham, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> Raydio scored their first big hit with "Jack and Jill", from their 1978 self-titled album with Arista Records.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> The song reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning a Gold single and Gold album in the process. Their follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That", was released in 1979 from the Rock On album. The song was another Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard chart during the summer and selling a million copies.

In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> The group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981, both Gold albums. In 1981, Parker produced the hard funk single "Sweat (Till You Get Wet)" by Brick. During the 1980s, Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits: "Two Places at the Same Time" (No. 30 in 1980) and "That Old Song" (No. 21 in 1981). Their last and biggest hit, "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)", released in 1981,<ref name="LarkinGE" /> went to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to No. 1 on the R&B Chart for two weeks that year.

Raydio broke up in 1981. Parker continued with his solo career, scoring eight Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop No. 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> "Ghostbusters" peaked at No. 1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at No. 1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984, but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red. Parker's song secured him a 1984 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other hits from this period included "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" (Pop No. 12) and "Jamie" (Pop No. 14).

File:RayParkerJr.-6797.jpg

Parker at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009, Montreux, Switzerland

Parker also played guitar, wrote songs or produced for Cheryl Lynn ("In the Night", "Shake It Up Tonight", 1981),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Henderson (1980), New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man", 1984), Boz Scaggs (1980), Randy Hall (1984), Deniece Williams, and Diana Ross (1983). He performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album. He also sang the theme tune on 1984’s television series Pryor's Place featuring Richard Pryor. In 1989, Run-D.M.C. performed a rap for the movie Ghostbusters II that contained elements of Parker's 1984 hit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 1989 also saw Parker work with actor Jack Wagner (General Hospital) on an album for MCA Records that was eventually shelved and never released. A single from the Wagner sessions, "Wish You Were Mine", featuring an intro rap by Parker, was released on a 1990 MCA promotional sampler CD.

In 2006, Parker released a new CD titled I'm Free. In 2014, he was invited by producer Gerry Gallagher to record with Latin rock musicians El Chicano, as well as Alphonse Mouzon, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Siedah Garrett, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Spencer Davis, Lenny Castro, Vikki Carr, Pete Escovedo, Peter Michael Escovedo, Jessy J, Marcos J. Reyes, Salvador Santana, and David Paich. In July 2016, Parker performed on the ABC network's television show Greatest Hits.Template:Citation needed

Parker is also the founder and owner of the Los Angeles–based recording facility Ameraycan Recording Studios.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Parker received a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2022, Parker competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Sir Bug a Boo". After being eliminated on "Fright Night" alongside the forfeiting of Linda Blair as "Scarecrow", he performed the Ghostbusters theme as an encore.

Ghostbusters theme song lawsuit

In 1984, Huey Lewis sued Columbia Pictures and Parker, stating that the melody to the Ghostbusters theme song infringed on the copyright of the Huey Lewis and the News song "I Want a New Drug", which had been released on their album Sports the previous year. The three parties reached a settlement in 1995 which forbade them from revealing any information that was not included in a press release they jointly issued at the time. In March 2001, Parker filed a suit against Lewis for breaching the part of the settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly.<ref>Vanhorn, Teri (March 23, 2001). "Ray Parker Jr. Suing Huey Lewis Over 'Ghostbusters' Comment". MTV.</ref>

Music videos

Parker was one of the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. In 1978, Hollywood producer Thom Eubank produced several music videos of songs from Raydio's first, eponymous album on Arista Records. The single "Jack & Jill" was the first released to air on Wolfman Jack's Saturday night television show, The Midnight Special. The music videos were also transferred to film and projected in movie theaters all over Europe. He also made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against an outer space background with backup singers.Template:Citation needed Parker's "Ghostbusters" video, helmed by the film's director, Ivan Reitman, was one of the first movie-themed videos to find success on MTV.

Acting

In addition to Uptown Saturday Night, Parker also made acting appearances on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break, 1984 CBS Saturday morning kids' show Pryor's Place (for which Parker appeared in the opening title sequence singing the theme song), two episodes of Berrenger's (1985), Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment (1986) (V) aka Terms of Enrollment (USA: short title), Disorderlies (1987), Enemy Territory (1987). He was also a production assistant for the film Fly by Night (1993). He made guest appearances on 21 Jump Street and Kids Incorporated. In early 2009, Parker appeared in a television advertisement for 118 118, a British directory enquiries provider. This featured Parker singing a 118-specific version of the Ghostbusters theme song.<ref>Template:YouTube</ref>

On April 15, 2009, Parker's 118 theme song was made available as a downloadable ringtone from the 118 118 mobile website. In 2014, Parker appeared in the fifth episode of the first season of NBC's romantic comedy television series A to Z, singing the "Ghostbusters" theme song for a Halloween party. Parker was highlighted on TV One's series Unsung, in the fifth season.Template:Citation needed

Ray Parker Jr. is married. He has been married to Elaine Parker since June 12, 1994. They have four sons together.

Template:AnchorDiscography

For Ray Parker Jr.'s releases with Raydio, see Raydio discography.

Solo studio albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions						Certifications (sales thresholds)	Record label
		US Pop <ref name=Billboard200>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US R&B <ref name=R&BAlbums>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US Jazz <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	US Con. Jazz <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>			AUS <ref name="kent">Template:Cite book</ref>	UK Pop <ref name="uk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1982	The Other Woman	11	1	—	—	27	—	US: Gold <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Arista
1983	Woman Out of Control	45	18	—	—	—	—	—
1985	Sex and the Single Man	65	48	—	—	—	—	—
1987	After Dark	86	27	—	—	—	40	—	Geffen
1991	I Love You Like You Are	—	97	—	—	—	—	—	MCA
2006	I'm Free	—	—	45	25	—	—	—	Raydio Music
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions							Certifications (sales thresholds)	Record label
		US Pop <ref name=Billboard200 />	US R&B <ref name=R&BAlbums />	AUS <ref name="kent" />	CAN <ref name="can">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	NZ <ref name="nz">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	SWE <ref name="swe">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation			CitationClass=web }}</ref>	SWI <ref name="swi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1982	Greatest Hits	51	17	—	—	—	—	—	—	Arista
1984	Chartbusters	60	36	84	89	49	36	16	US: Gold <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1990	The Best of Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1993	Greatest Hits	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998	The Best of Ray Parker Jr.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BMG/Arista
1999	Ghostbusters: The Encore Collection	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BMG
2000	The Heritage Collection	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Arista
2011	S.O.U.L.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Sony Music
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Solo singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions										Album
		US <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	AUS <ref name="kent" /><ref >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	BEL <ref name="bel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	CAN <ref name="can" />	GER <ref name="ger">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	IRE <ref name="ire">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>	NLD <ref name="nld">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	NZ <ref name="nz" />	SWI <ref name="swi" />	UK <ref name="uk" />
1982	"The Other Woman"	4	1	—	7	—	—	—	4	—	—	The Other Woman
	"Let Me Go"	38	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"It's Our Own Affair"	106	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Bad Boy"	35	37	—	22	—	—	—	—	—	—	Greatest Hits
1983	"The People Next Door"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"I Still Can't Get Over Loving You"	12	89	—	26	—	—	—	48	—	—	Woman Out of Control
1984	"Woman Out of Control"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"In the Heat of the Night"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Ghostbusters"	1	2	1	1	4	4	5	2	3	2	Ghostbusters / Chartbusters
	"Jamie"	14	—	—	43	—	—	—	16	—	—	Chartbusters
1985	"I've Been Diggin' You"	—	—	38	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Girls Are More Fun"	34	—	—	32	—	—	—	—	—	46	Sex and the Single Man
	"One Sided Love Affair"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986	"One Sunny Day" / "Dueling Bikes from Quicksilver" (with Helen Terry)	96	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Quicksilver
1987	"I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone"	68	—	—	—	—	18	47	—	—	13	After Dark
	"Over You" (with Natalie Cole)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	65
	"The Past" (with Natalie Cole)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	"All I'm Missing Is You" (credited as Glenn Medeiros featuring Ray Parker Jr.)	32	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Glenn Medeiros
1991	"She Needs to Get Some"	—	145	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	I Love You Like You Are
	"Girl I Saw You"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
1974	Uptown Saturday Night	Guitarist	Appeared in the church picnic scene	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1987	Enemy Territory	Will Jackson	Supporting role in action film	Template:Citation needed

External links

• {{#ifeq: | yes

| https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p112461{{

 #if: 
 | /{{{tab}}}
 }}

| {{#if: p112461

 | {{#if: 
   | {{#if: |[[{{{author-link}}}|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}]]|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}}}. 
   }}[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p112461{{
   #if: 
   | /{{{tab}}}
   }} {{
   #if: 
   | {{{title}}}
   | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
   }}] at AllMusic{{
   #if: 
   | . Retrieved .
   }}

 | {{#if: {{#property:P1728}}
   | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

   | {{#if: {{#property:P1729}}
     | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

     | {{#if: {{#property:P1730}}
       | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

       | {{#if: {{#property:P1994}}
         | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

         | Template:Main other

         }}
       }}
     }}
   }}
 }}

}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0662018

 | name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0662018|2=^nm}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | nm0662018/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
   | name/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
   }}
 }}{{#if: 0662018  {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch: 
 | award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
 }}}} {{#if: 
 | {{{name}}}
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at IMDb{{#if: 0662018{{#property:P345}}
 | Template:EditAtWikidata
 | Template:Main other

}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=0662018|plain=false}}

 | 1 | 3 =  Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
 | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}

• Template:HWOF
• SoulTracks.com profile of Ray Parker Jr.
• Ray Parker Jr. Live interview on Soul Patrol.net Radio Template:Webarchive August 2006
• Ray Parker Jr 2012 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com Template:Webarchive
• Ray Parker Jr. Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2015)