Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. (born May 1, 1954), is an American guitarist, songw… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. (born May 1, 1954), is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.
Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually 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 a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #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.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually 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 a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #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.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
Don't You Want Me
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Don't You Want Me' by these artists:
A.M.P Baby don't you want me, want me? I want you…
a.n.y When you see my smilin', I'm really frownin' You think you'r…
Alcazar You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…
Atomic Tom You were working as a waiter in a topless bar When…
B-Rey & Bolek Oh baby, don't you want a man like me Oh baby,…
Bahama You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Bahamas (Feat. The Weather Station) You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Bahamas (Featuring The Weather Station) You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Bahamas feat. The Weather Stat You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Bahamas featuring The Weather Station You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Bioreactor You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…
blaine & rachel Why do I get so damn scared All I did was…
Blank & Jones Can you feel it in the air? Our love is…
Calvin Harris Love Regenerator Do you feel me? Don't you want me? Do you feel me? Don't…
Cedric Gervais & FELIX Don't you want me don't you want me don't you…
Chateau Pop Give me time to realize my crime Let me love…
Cool & Classy When I first met you baby You looked so good to…
Corona Do you want me baby, yea Do you want me baby,…
Crazy Frog Don't you want me? Don't you want me? Don't you want my…
D-Wizz I wanna dance with you But I don't know how to…
Darren Criss & Lea Michele You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Diaz & Young Rebels I want to be Your servant I want to work for…
Disc-o-thek We lie on the bed wild life comes apart Terrified angels…
Duncan Sheik You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Dymond & T-Sound When I wake up in the morning I feel cold and…
Felix Don't you want me don't you want me don't you…
Felix (Rock) Don't you want me Don't you want me Don't you want my…
Felix Da Housecat Total Ft Mase If You want Me [Pam] Yo can you hear me? Well…
Felix Feat. Jomanda Don't you want me don't you want me don't you…
Fever Baby เธเธญเธเธเธธเธเธเธตเนเธฃเธฑเธเนเธฅเธฐเธเธญเธขเธซเนเธงเธเธเธฑเธ เธเธตเธเธฐ เนเธเนเธกเธฑเธเนเธกเนเนเธเนเธเธฃเธฐเนเธเนเธเธเธตเนเธชเธณ…
Finn & Quinn (f-f-fromtheheart) I'm a loser And it's kinda hard since I'…
freejak Don't, don't you want me? You know I can't believe it…
Future Bible Heroes You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Glee Cast Blaine You were workin' as a waitress in a co…
Glee Cast feat Darren Criss You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Glee Cast Featuring Lea Michele (Rachel) and Darren Criss (Blaine) Blaine You were workin' as a waitress in a co…
Glee Cast [feat. Darren Criss] You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
gold diaz and young rebels Don't you want me Don't you want me Don't you want my…
Goldfinger feat. Paul Mahos & Kim Sozzi You say you don't love me Well that's alright with me…
Graham BLVD Hey, hey, hey, hey Ooh woh Won't you come see about me? I'll…
Harper and The Moths Don't do me any favors Matter of fact why don't you…
Huey Lewis & The News I met her, down at the store on the corner She…
Human League You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar,…
Jody Watley When I first laid my eyes upon you I knew right…
Joe Bloggs DON'T YOU WANT MEHuman League- words by Philip Oakey- music…
Joyner You don't have to love me The way I love you You…
JX I can be cool if you want me to be I…
Jyrki 69 You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Jyrki 69 Tiffany DK-Zero If you don't kiss me I might not like you anymore When…
k&k project I know you don't want me, I can tell by the…
Karen Souza & Stella Starlight Trio You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
KnightsBridge Ah. ___ Ah. ___ If you want my love you got it. When…
KT Tunstall & Billy Bragg Show me what it is you've done, Pull the covers off…
Lea Michele You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Love Regenerator Do you feel me? Don't you want me? Do you feel me? Don't…
M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy I know you don't want me, I can tell by the…
Mind & Moore Hey, hey, hey, hey Ooh, woah Won't you come see about me? I…
Morgan G & Machines Don't, don't you want me? You know I can't believe it…
Mr. Fuzz When you see my smilin', I'm really frownin' You think you'r…
Mr.Fuzz Feat. Jahmark When you see my smilin', I'm really frownin' You think you'…
N.E.R.Y ๆๆฟ็จๆๆ้็ๆฐธ่ฟใไบคๆขๆพ็ปๅฟซไน็ๆณชๆฐด ็ฉฟ่ถไธๅฎๅฐๅธฆใ็ฉฟ่ถๆๆๅฑ้ฉใๆฅๅฐไฝ ่บซ่พน ๆๆๆถ็ธไฟก็พไธฝ็้ข่จใๅดๅไธๆณๅฆๆญคๅฟ็ๆ …
Paul Young Paul Young - If you don't want my love I have…
PSYQUI By my side ใพใ ่ถณใใชใ ่งฆใใๆๅ ใใฎใพใพ Hold me tight, hold me tight Ni…
PSYQUI - Topic I've been looking up and down for you I've been crying…
PSYQUI feat. Such By my side ใพใ ่ถณใใชใ ่งฆใใๆๅ ใใฎใพใพ Hold me tight, hold me tight Ni…
Robert M Baby don't you want me, want me? I want you…
Savage Every time I say these words to you I know…
Shannon & Keast The grace in Your eyes Caught me by surprise When You looked…
Silvestro If I could, I would strangle you And leave you by…
Soraya You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Star Inc You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…
Stella Starlight Trio You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Sunshiners (by The Human League) You were working as a waitress in…
T L S O Ur beautiful brown eyes ๅธใ่พผใพใใใใใช็ณ Uh-firstime Clubใง ็ณใๅใฃใ็ฌ้…
T.H.L. We lie on the bed wild life comes apart Terrified angels…
Texas You were working as a waiter in a topless bar When…
The Bahamas You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
The DeLorean Sisters You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar,…
The Farm You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…
The Guess Who Don't you want me Don't you want me Baby, listen 'deed I…
The Hit Crew If you had my love and I gave you all…
The Human League Orchestra You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
The Human League You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
The Human League(รรรร รยชรรยบรยณยชรร ) You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar,…
The League Unlimited Orchestra You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…
The Molly Ringwalds Won't you come see about me? I'll be alone, dancing, you…
The Sea There's a storm cloud in my head And I try to…
The What? Do you want me around Yeah, I know you're back in…
Timmy Trumpet Don't you want my love? Don't you want my love? Don't you…
V.A. Don't you want it can't you feel it There's something in…
Various Artists You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
Zanetti/Debonaventura (One, one, one, one) Baby, I'm not here to start…
Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ray Parker Jr.:
A Woman Needs Love Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo Mmm-mmm-mmm A woman needs a love (just …
Bad Boy I've been a Bad Boy Now I want to come back…
Christmas Time Is Here Hang up the mistletoe And turn the lights down low Let's fee…
Don't Think That Man Should sleep Alone I don't think that man should sleep alone I don't think…
Ghost Busters Ghostbusters If there's something strange in you neighborho…
Ghostbuster Ghostbusters! If there's something strange in you neighborh…
Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters) If there's something strange In your neighbor…
Ghostbusters (From Ghostbusters! If there's something strange In your neigh…
Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version) GHOSTBUSTERS If there's something strange in your neighborh…
Girls Are More Fun Girls are more fun, ooh, ooh Girls are more fun The party…
I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone I don't think that man should sleep alone I don't think…
I Got You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
I Still Can I'm all confused and I don't know what to do Cause…
I Still Can't Get Over Loving You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
In The Heat Of The Night He promises you things'll be different If you just give him…
Intro It's neither touch nor taste But silvery lines, the cute fr…
It's Time to Party Now Everybody* up it's time to party now Turn up the music…
Jack and Jill Jack (Jack)- wanting someone to feel (feel) Sat upon the hil…
Jamie Jamie used to be my girl She used to be my…
Let Her Go We've been goin' out for awhile now baby We've had…
Loving You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
Old Pro (Oooooo) Loving you, was everything I needed and more But li…
Over You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
So Into You "So Into You" All my life Iโฒve elected To keep my feelings …
That Old Song A good song and a love affair Go hand in hand…
The Other Woman Oh, yeah I'm in love (I'm in love) With the other woman My…
The Past I was wrong when I hurt you Did you have to…
The People Next Door I wanna bang on the walls Rock on the floor I wanna…
Two Places At The Same Time Doo, doo, doo Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo First time…
Woman Out Of Control Mmm I've got a woman out of control A woman…
You Can Mm, hm Honey, I'll always love you I promise I'll always lo…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@gloriajhayes71
I could listen to this song all night -Beautiful โค๏ธ it!
@hokomcedi8174
This song is a hit indeed. He is telling the truth all the time
@Bob-ml1mv
Love Ray Parker he has a distinct voice and his songs are awesome
@kelvinbryant7602
Ur right Bob Ray Parker Jr is a true Icon. This song is my favorite.still hits me today
@user-sv1qd4ds9g
This song sung by this greatest and under rated artist favorite of mine sends me down memory lane. Ray is one of the best, pure Heavenly talent. Reminds me of Ayanda Kahla, he adored Ray and this was one of his favourite songs
@rodneyvoshell9296
One of the most underrated performers. A true talent.
@anwulikaagbaku630
My late dad's favorite song, though was born after this song but got to know and fall in love with this song and my dad constantly plays it daily.
@kinghezekiahisrael6053
One of my favorite songs brings back memories 8th grade school year we had assembly we had guests there speakers the mayor of Memphis two brothers dj from am radio station Bob and Melvin Jones a fire chief but my band we was supposed to do the school song the greatest love of all just that song we did that song and went right into ray parker let me go I quickly said to all of she cheerleaders and majorette and the rest that keep telling me that I don't know who I want we did that song everyone stood up and I mean everyone teaches students even the guests speakers my music teacher asked when did y'all's rehearsed that last night he asked just one night yes one night cause were yd outs good we're professionals
what memories still love that song a woman needs love
@denisethompson9208
HAVE NOT HEARD THIS SONG IN YEAR'S I LOVE ALL OF HIS SONG'S ๐๐๐น๐นโค๏ธ
@mbotembote944
One of my favourite R&B musicians