Ray Parker Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Parker Jr.
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Parker in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ray Erskine Parker Jr. |
| Born | May 1, 1954 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
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Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (born May 1, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He is most famous for writing and performing the theme song for the 1984 movie Ghostbusters. The song was a huge hit and is still popular today.
Before his solo success, Parker had a top-five hit in 1982 called "The Other Woman". He was also the leader of his band, Raydio, and played guitar for the famous singer Barry White.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ray Parker Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father was Ray Parker Sr. and his mother was Venolia Parker. When he was six years old, his music teacher at Angel Elementary School inspired him to become a musician. He started by playing the clarinet.
He later attended Cass Technical High School and graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit in 1971. After high school, he went to college at the Lawrence Institute of Technology.
Music Career
Parker's music career started when he was still a teenager. In the late 1960s, he played guitar in the house band at a Detroit nightclub called The 20 Grand. Many famous Motown artists performed there. The group The Spinners were so impressed with his guitar skills that they asked him to join their tour.
When he was only 16, he co-wrote his first songs with the legendary Marvin Gaye. He also worked as a studio musician, playing guitar on hit records for a company called Hot Wax Records. His unique guitar style can be heard on the number-one hit song "Want Ads" by the group Honey Cone.
Working with Music Legends
In 1972, Parker played guitar on the song "Maybe Your Baby" for Stevie Wonder. This led him to move to Los Angeles. He even became the lead guitarist for Stevie Wonder during a tour with the Rolling Stones.
A year later, he joined Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra as a session musician. This means he was hired to play on their recordings. He also played guitar for many other famous artists, including Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, the Temptations, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Raydio and Solo Success
In 1977, Parker formed his own R&B group called Raydio. The band had a big hit in 1978 with the song "Jack and Jill", which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their next hit, "You Can't Change That", was also a top 10 success in 1979.
In 1980, the group's name changed to Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio. They had another huge hit in 1981 with "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)", which went to No. 4 on the pop charts and No. 1 on the R&B charts.
After Raydio broke up in 1981, Parker began a successful solo career. He had a major hit with "The Other Woman" in 1982.
The "Ghostbusters" Theme Song
In 1984, Parker was asked to create a theme song for the movie Ghostbusters. The song became a worldwide sensation. It was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks.
The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Parker also won a Grammy Award in 1984 for his work on the song. The "Ghostbusters" theme made him an international star.
After "Ghostbusters," Parker had other hits like "Jamie" and continued to write and produce music for other artists, including New Edition and Diana Ross.
Later Career and Recognition
In 2006, Parker released a new album called I'm Free. He has continued to perform and record with other musicians. In 2014, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to music.
In 2022, he appeared on the TV show The Masked Singer as the character "Sir Bug a Boo." After he was unmasked, he performed his famous "Ghostbusters" theme song for the audience.
The "Ghostbusters" Song Controversy
In 1984, musician Huey Lewis filed a lawsuit against Parker and Columbia Pictures. Lewis claimed that the melody of the "Ghostbusters" theme was too similar to his band's song, "I Want a New Drug".
The case was settled out of court in 1995. As part of the agreement, both sides were not allowed to talk about the details of the settlement in public.
Music Videos and Acting
Ray Parker Jr. was one of the first Black artists to create music videos for his songs. His video for "Jack & Jill" was shown on television in 1978. He made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman."
His most famous video was for "Ghostbusters." It was directed by the movie's director, Ivan Reitman, and featured many celebrity cameos. The video was a huge hit on MTV.
Parker has also acted in movies and TV shows. He appeared in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night as a guitar player. He also had roles in the movies Disorderlies (1987) and Enemy Territory (1987) and made guest appearances on TV shows like 21 Jump Street.
Personal Life
Ray Parker Jr. is married to Elaine Parker. They have four sons. He is also the owner of a recording studio in Los Angeles called Ameraycan Recording Studios.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1974 | Uptown Saturday Night | Guitarist | Appeared in the church picnic scene |
| 1987 | Enemy Territory | Will Jackson | Supporting role in action film |
See also
In Spanish: Ray Parker, Jr. para niños
