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)
Eye of the Tiger
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Eye of the Tiger' by these artists:
(7) Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
2Pac Vs. Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
9.4 Bangla Desh, nineteen-hundred-seventy-one What a win for all…
A.M.P. Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
ACDC/Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Amel Bent Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Amel bent- Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Anka (Paul) Risin' up, back on the street Took my time, took…
At Vance Risin' up Back on the street Did my time took my chances. …
B.O Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Best of the 80's Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Bill Conti Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Chiara Mastroianni Risin up back on the street did my time took my chances w…
Chris Meid Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
CKY Rising up, back on the streets! Took my time, took my…
Cole Rolland feat. Steve Glasford Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
D'Mixmasters Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Devil You Know Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
E.K. Ltd. Ja, ja, ja, ja Ja, ja, ja, ja Weißer Rauch und weißer…
Echoes The Fall Risin′ up, back on the street Did my time and took…
Eminem Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Eminem Vs. Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Eye Of The Tiger Risin' up, back on the street took my time, took my…
Fitspo Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Fjora Rising up, took my chances Went the distance, will to surviv…
Foreigner Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Frankie Sullivan Risin' up Back on the street Did my time took my chances Wen…
G. Point Allstars Rising up, took my chances Went the distance, will to surviv…
Global Deejays vs. Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Gloria Gaynor Risin' up back on the street Did my time, took my…
Great White Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Great White瑩䴠 Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Green Day Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Greenday Risin' up, da du da daaaaa... Dah dah ah ah da…
Heart Attack Risin' up, back on the street Took my time, took…
Hollywood Mon Amour Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Huey Lewis & The News Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
J. Storm Dancing in the fire Baby baby I′m not a liar I just…
Jay Z feat. M.O.P. When I spit it The genesis is biblical, uh Eyes forward to…
Jenn Grant Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Journey Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Judith Owen Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Katrine Ottonsen Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Katrine Ottosen Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
KITCHEN - New Found Glory Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
L.A. Session Singers What is the thing that you want from me Why can't…
Led Zeppelin - Hot - Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Lee Harding Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took…
Leslie Nuss Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
London Symphony Orchestra Risin' up, back on the streets Did my time, took my…
Lorena Risin'up, back on the street. Did my time, took my chances W…
M-G UniNew Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Marc Collin & Katrine Ottosen Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Micel O. OMG, was das für 'n Beat? Ja, check it, yeah Ganz genau,…
michael s. Tribe of the red tiger's eye I will survive in the…
Moderatto Voy de nuez por la ciudad Tomé mi tiempo y mis…
Movie Sounds Unlimited Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
NICOTINE/N.F.G Rising up, took my chances Went the distance, will to surviv…
O.M.I.S. When I spit it The genesis is biblical, uh Eyes forward to…
Olivier Bernet - Arnaud Aguergaray - Stéphane Garin - Stéphane Goueytes - Maitane Sebastian - Chiara Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Paul Anka Risin' up, back on the street Took my time, took…
Paul Cacia Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Pepito Ross Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Rin Ja Komm mit auf das Dach Zeig dir, wo wir landen Heut zählt…
Rocky Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Royal Phil. Orchestra Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Shostakovich-Cover-Band Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Slugg-O When I spit it The genesis is biblical, uh Eyes forward to…
Spectacular! Cast Tammin: Risin up Back on the street Did my time took my c…
Starlite Rock Revival Risin′ up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Survivor (US Chicago) Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Survivor(서바이버) Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
SURVIVOR/DJ TARANTINO Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Survivors Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
The Hit Crew Watch Now Eye Of The Tiger Eye Of The Tiger Rising up, back…
The Kira Justice Levantei Voltei pro jogo Já cumpri a sentença Até o fim Esto…
The Revival Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
The Rural Alberta Advantage Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
The Shadows Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Tommee Profitt Rising up, took my chances Went the distance, will to surviv…
Tony Davich Rising up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
U.K. Mix Masters Ja, ja, ja, ja Ja, ja, ja, ja Weißer Rauch und weißer…
U.K. Mixmasters Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
V.A. (Grr, grr, pow) Tornato nelle piazze, nessuno ha da dire ni…
Various Artists Risin' up, back on the street Took my time, took my…
♏ Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
Paul Anka Risin' up, back on the street Took my time, took…
Survivor Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my…
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 I′ve 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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