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{{Short description|American musician (born 1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ray Parker Jr.
| image = RayParkerJrHWOFMar2013.jpg
| caption = Parker in 2013
| birth_name = Ray Erskine Parker Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|5|1}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[soul music|soul]]|[[funk]]|[[disco]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|record producer}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}
| years_active = 1963–present
| label = {{hlist|[[Arista Records|Arista]]|[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|Raydio}}
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[Raydio]]}}
| website = {{URL|rayparkerjr.com}}
}}

'''Ray Erskine Parker Jr.''' (born May 1, 1954)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1908}}</ref> is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo performer, he wrote and performed [[Ghostbusters (song)|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 (Ray Parker Jr. song)|The Other Woman]]". He also performed with his band, [[Raydio]], and with [[Barry White]] in [[the Love Unlimited Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kawashima|first1=Dale|title=Special Interview with Ray Parker Jr., Renowned Artist/Writer/Producer of "Ghostbusters" And Many Other Classic Hit Songs| url= http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/ray-parker-jr-interview-2016.htm|website=Songwriter Universe|date=December 18, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Alloway|first1=Meredith|title=Past and Present Combine at the Tribeca Film Fest's Salute to Clive Davis|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/tribeca-film-festival-clive-davis-whitney-houston-jennifer-hudson| magazine=Vanity Fair|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=April 26, 2017}}</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 (Michigan)|Northwestern High School]]. He attended college at [[Lawrence Institute of Technology]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=LeDonne |first=Rob |date=2019-02-09 |title=Grammy in the Schools Live! Fundraiser Trumpets the Importance of Music Education, Showcases the Program's Talented Alumni |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/grammy-in-the-schools-live-fundraiser-recap-8497403/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCollum |first=Brian |title=37 years after 'Ghostbusters,' Ray Parker Jr. has a story to tell in new documentary |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2021/09/19/ray-parker-jr-interview-who-you-gonna-call-documentary-detroit/8384863002/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Music career ==
[[File:Ray Parker Jr., 1984.jpg|thumb|Parker in 1984]]
Parker gained recognition during the late 1960s as a member of [[Hamilton Bohannon|Bohannon]]'s house band at the [[The 20 Grand|20 Grand]] nightclub.<ref name="LarkinGE" /> This Detroit hotspot often featured Tamla/[[Motown]] acts, one of which, the (Detroit) [[The Spinners (American R&B group)|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 Records|Invictus]]/[[Hot Wax Records|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 [[session musician|sideman]] in [[Barry White]]'s [[The Love Unlimited Orchestra|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>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/elementary-mw0000831370 Elementary], ''AllMusic'', Retrieved 29 July 2024</ref> [[Lee Ritenour]], [[Rufus (band)|Rufus]], [[Chaka Khan]], Jaye P. Morgan (1976),<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jaye-p-morgan-mn0000185781 Jaye P. Morgan], ''AllMusic'', Retrieved 27 July 2024</ref> [[Aretha Franklin]] (1975), [[Leon Haywood]], [[Herbie Hancock]], [[Deniece Williams]], [[The Spinners (American R&B group)|Spinners]], [[the Temptations]], and [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]].<ref>[https://www.neo-w.com/english/artist_reviews/musician/ray-parker-jr/ Ray Parker], ''Neo-w.com'', Retrieved 29 July 2024</ref>

Parker's first bona fide hit as a writer was [[You_Got_the_Love_(Rufus_song)|"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>{{cite web|website=Variety.com|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/ray-parker-jr-cheated-out-of-grammy-1234704470/|title=How Ray Parker Jr. Got Cheated Out of a Grammy for a No. 1 Hit|first=Jeremy|last=Helligar|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref>

In 1977, Parker created the [[rhythm and blues|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 (Raydio song)|Jack and Jill]]", from their 1978 [[Raydio (album)|self-titled album]] with [[Arista Records]].<ref name="LarkinGE" /> The song reached No. 8 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''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 (Raydio album)|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 (band)|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 (Ray Parker Jr. song)|The Other Woman]]" (Pop No. 4) in 1982 and "[[Ghostbusters (song)|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 (1984 film)|The Woman in Red]]''. Parker's song secured him a 1984 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Tracks: Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters"|url=http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_ray_parker_jrs/|publisher=Mixonline.com|access-date=August 2, 2012|author=Blair Jackson|date=September 1, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015711/http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_ray_parker_jrs/|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</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|thumb|right|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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheryl-lynn-mn0000108256|title=Cheryl Lynn Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More...|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</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 [[La Toya Jackson (album)|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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/revisiting-run-d-m-c-s-hip-hop-version-of-the-ghostbus-1798249165|title=Revisiting Run-D.M.C.'s hip-hop version of the Ghostbusters theme|website=Avclub.com|date=July 9, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> 1989 also saw Parker work with actor [[Jack Wagner (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 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network's television show ''[[Greatest Hits (TV series)|Greatest Hits]]''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

Parker is also the founder and owner of the Los Angeles–based recording facility Ameraycan Recording Studios.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jackson|first1=Blair|title=Classic Tracks: Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters"|url=http://www.mixonline.com/news/profiles/classic-tracks-ray-parker-jrs-ghostbusters/365695|website=mixonline.com|date=September 2006|publisher=Mix Online|access-date=November 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cole|first1=George|title=The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980–1991|date=2005|publisher=University Of Michigan Press|isbn=0-472-11501-4|page=208|edition=First|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H5r-mzXMJfEC&q=ameraycan+studios+los+angeles+ray+parker%2C+jr.&pg=PA208|access-date=November 30, 2014}}</ref> Parker received a star in the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/ray-parker-jr/|title=Ray Parker Jr|website=Walkoffame.com|date=October 25, 2019|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

In 2022, Parker competed in [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 8|season eight]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|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 (Huey Lewis and the News 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). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090923234818/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1442126/20010323/lewis_huey.jhtml "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 (TV series)|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 [[vampire]]s. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against an outer space background with backup singers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} 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 (film)|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 (UK)|118 118]], a British [[directory enquiries]] provider. This featured Parker singing a 118-specific version of the ''Ghostbusters'' theme song.<ref>{{YouTube|LZw87CSV-o4|118 television commercial}}</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 (TV series)|A to Z]]'', singing the "Ghostbusters" theme song for a Halloween party. Parker was highlighted on [[TV One (U.S. TV network)|TV One]]'s series ''[[Unsung (TV series)|Unsung]]'', in the fifth season.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

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

== {{anchor|Discography}}Discography ==
''For Ray Parker Jr.'s releases with Raydio, see [[Raydio discography]].''

=== Solo studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]] ([[List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds]])
! rowspan="2"| Record label
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US Pop]] <ref name=Billboard200>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/tlp/|title=Ray Parker Jr.: Billboard 200|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|website=billboard.com}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]] <ref name=R&BAlbums>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/blp/|title=Ray Parker Jr.: Billboard Top Soul Albums|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|website=billboard.com}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Top Jazz Albums|US Jazz]] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/jls/|title=Ray Parker Jr.: Billboard Top Jazz Albums|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|website=billboard.com}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Top Jazz Albums|US Con. Jazz]] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/jlp/|title=Ray Parker Jr.: Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|website=billboard.com}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]] <ref name="kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=229}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK Pop]] <ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16277/ray-parker-jr/|title=Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|website=officialcharts.com|date=August 25, 1984 }}</ref>
|-
|| 1982
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[The Other Woman (Ray Parker Jr. album)|The Other Woman]]''
| 11
| 1
| —
| —
| 27
| —
| align=left|
* US: Gold <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Ray+Parker+Jr&ti=The+Other+Woman&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Ray Parker Jr. - The Other Woman|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
| rowspan="3"| [[Arista Records|Arista]]
|-
|| 1983
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Woman Out of Control]]''
| 45
| 18
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|| 1985
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Sex and the Single Man]]''
| 65
| 48
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|| 1987
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[After Dark (Ray Parker Jr. album)|After Dark]]''
| 86
| 27
| —
| —
| —
| 40
| —
|| [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
|-
|| 1991
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[I Love You Like You Are]]''
| —
| 97
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|| [[MCA Records|MCA]]
|-
|| 2006
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[I'm Free (album)|I'm Free]]''
| —
| —
| 45
| 25
| —
| —
| —
|| Raydio Music
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}

=== Compilation albums ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="7"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]] ([[List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds]])
! rowspan="2"| Record label
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard 200|US Pop]] <ref name=Billboard200 />
! width="35"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]] <ref name=R&BAlbums />
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]] <ref name="kent" />
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]] <ref name="can">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Ray+Parker+Jr.&|title=CAN Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]] <ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ray+Parker+Jr%2E|title=NZ Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]] <ref name="swe">{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ray+Parker+Jr%2E|title=SWE Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Swiss Music Charts|SWI]] <ref name="swi">{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ray+Parker+Jr%2E|title=SWI Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Swiss Music Charts]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|| 1982
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Greatest Hits (Ray Parker Jr. album)|Greatest Hits]]
| 51
| 17
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="4"| [[Arista Records|Arista]]
|-
|| 1984
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Chartbusters (Ray Parker Jr. album)|Chartbusters]]
| 60
| 36
| 84
| 89
| 49
| 36
| 16
| align=left|
* US: Gold <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Ray+Parker+Jr&ti=Chartbusters&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Ray Parker Jr. - Chartbusters|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| ''The Best of Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|| 1993
| style="text-align:left;"| ''Greatest Hits''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|| 1998
| style="text-align:left;"| ''The Best of Ray Parker Jr.''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|| [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]/Arista
|-
|| 1999
| style="text-align:left;"| ''Ghostbusters: The Encore Collection''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|| BMG
|-
|| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"| ''The Heritage Collection''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|| Arista
|-
|| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"| ''S.O.U.L.''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|| [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony Music]]
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}

=== Solo singles ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="10"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/hsi/|title=Ray Parker Jr - Billboard Hot 100|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]] <ref name="kent" /><ref >{{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2022/08/week-commencing-19-august-1991.html | title=Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 19, 1991|access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[VRT Top 30|BEL]] <ref name="bel">{{cite web|url=http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/artist-info/2614|title=BEL Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[VRT Top 30]]|access-date=December 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/artist-info/2614|archive-date=April 9, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]] <ref name="can" />
! width="35"| [[Media Control Charts|GER]] <ref name="ger">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=Ray+Parker+Jr.&x=6&y=12&country=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707094810/http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=Ray+Parker+Jr.&x=6&y=12&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2014|title=GER Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Media Control Charts]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]] <ref name="ire">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=IRE Charts Search > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[MegaCharts|NLD]] <ref name="nld">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ray+Parker+Jr%2E|title=NLD Charts > Ray Parker Jr.|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]] <ref name="nz" />
! width="35"| [[Swiss Music Charts|SWI]] <ref name="swi" />
! width="35"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref name="uk" />
|-
| rowspan="4"|1982
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[The Other Woman (Ray Parker Jr. song)|The Other Woman]]"
| 4
| 1
| —
| 7
| —
| —
| —
| 4
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''The Other Woman''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Let Me Go"
| 38
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "It's Our Own Affair"
| 106
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Bad Boy"
| 35
| 37
| —
| 22
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Greatest Hits''
|-
| rowspan="2"|1983
| style="text-align:left;"| "The People Next Door"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[I Still Can't Get Over Loving You]]"
| 12
| 89
| —
| 26
| —
| —
| —
| 48
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Woman Out of Control''
|-
| rowspan="4"|1984
| style="text-align:left;"| "Woman Out of Control"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "In the Heat of the Night"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Ghostbusters (song)|Ghostbusters]]"
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 5
| 2
| 3
| 2
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Ghostbusters#Soundtrack|Ghostbusters]]'' / ''Chartbusters''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Jamie"
| 14
| —
| —
| 43
| —
| —
| —
| 16
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Chartbusters''
|-
| rowspan="3"|1985
| style="text-align:left;"| "I've Been Diggin' You"
| —
| —
| 38
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Girls Are More Fun"
| 34
| —
| —
| 32
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 46
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Sex and the Single Man''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "One Sided Love Affair"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
||1986
| style="text-align:left;"| "One Sunny Day" / "Dueling Bikes from Quicksilver" (with [[Helen Terry]])
| 96
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Quicksilver (film)#Soundtrack|Quicksilver]]''
|-
| rowspan="3"|1987
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone"
| 68
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 18
| 47
| —
| —
| 13
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''After Dark''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Over You" (with [[Natalie Cole]])
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 65
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Past" (with Natalie Cole)
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
||1990
| style="text-align:left;"| "All I'm Missing Is You" (credited as [[Glenn Medeiros]] featuring Ray Parker Jr.)
| 32
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Glenn Medeiros (1990 album)|Glenn Medeiros]]''
|-
| rowspan="2"|1991
| style="text-align:left;"| "She Needs to Get Some"
| —
| 145
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''I Love You Like You Are''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Girl I Saw You"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="18" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes !! Ref.
|-
| 1974 || ''Uptown Saturday Night'' || Guitarist || Appeared in the church picnic scene || <ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Parker Jr. – WBSS Media |url=https://wbssmedia.com/artists/detail/3966 |access-date=May 6, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| 1987 || ''Enemy Territory'' || Will Jackson || Supporting role in action film || {{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ray Parker, Jr.}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p112461}}
* {{IMDb name|0662018}}
* {{HWOF|ray-parker-jr}}
* [http://www.soultracks.com/ray_parker_jr SoulTracks.com profile of Ray Parker Jr.]
* [http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/rayparker.htm Ray Parker Jr. Live interview on Soul Patrol.net Radio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119144506/http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/rayparker.htm |date=November 19, 2008 }} August 2006
* [http://www.soulinterviews.com/ray-parker-jr-2012/ Ray Parker Jr 2012 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019223040/http://www.soulinterviews.com/ray-parker-jr-2012/ |date=October 19, 2012 }}
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ray-parker-jr Ray Parker Jr. Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2015)

{{Ray Parker Jr.}}
{{Raydio}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Ray Jr.}}
[[Category:Ray Parker Jr.| ]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American male singers]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:American baritones]]
[[Category:American funk guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues guitarists]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:American soul guitarists]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Detroit]]
[[Category:Northwestern High School (Michigan) alumni]]
[[Category:Record producers from Michigan]]
[[Category:Singers from Detroit]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:The Funk Brothers members]]
[[Category:The Love Unlimited Orchestra members]]

Ray Parker Jr. - Revision history

imported>Zinnober9 at 21:21, 17 November 2025