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)
I Will Always Love You
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I Will Always Love You' by these artists:
- Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Àè°²¡¤À³Ä·Ë¿LeAnn Rimes If should stay I would only get in your way So I'll…
Alain Morisod If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Ali Caldwell If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Amy Arena I will always love you I will always tell you I…
Andy B. Jones If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Angela This gift is not my own, I will use it…
Art Garfunkel; Strings and horns arranged and conducted by Del Newman If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
B.F.I. If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
BB Band If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Benedetta Caretta If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Body Count This song is dedicated to the heroes, the real heroes! Youn…
BODYGUARD If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Bruno Bertone Sound Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Caleb and Kelsey If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Candida Clauseri If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Carol Mc Donald If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So…
Carrie Underwood & Dolly Parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Casey Weston F I should stay I would only be in your way So…
CC & Lee If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Céline Dion For all those times you stood by me For all…
Charice Share my life, take me for what I am Cause I'll…
Chase Holfelder If I, should stay I'll only be in your way So I'll…
Connie Talbot If I Should stay I would only be in your way So I'll…
Connie Talbot (Children's) If I Should stay I would only be in your way So I'll…
Countdown Singers If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
D. Parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
David Cullen & His Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
David Firman If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
David Firman and his Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
David Foster If I should stay, I'll only be in your way So…
David Osborne If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Dayne Taylor I'll always love you for the rest of my days. You…
Deborah Allen If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Della Ding I'll only be in your way So I ll go But…
Dionyza Sutton If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Dolly Parton If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Dolly Parton & Burt Reynolds If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Dolly Parton & Melissa Etheridge If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Dolly Parton & Vince Gill If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Dolly Parton with Vince Gill (Dolly Parton) Dolly Parton & Vince Gill If I should sta…
Donna Lynton LINK: Once I was a selfish fool Who never understood Never l…
Doris Stewart If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Elena Farga If I should stay, I would only be in your way So…
Ely Bruna If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So…
Emile Pandolfi If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Emily Williams If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Eric Martin If I should stay I would only be in your way. So…
Esteban If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Fabiola Rodas If i should stay, I would only be in your way. So…
Faith Evans/Kelly Price/Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Foster If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Gabby Barrett Mm If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
German-Classic-Rock-Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Gheorghe Zamfir If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Giorgia If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Giovanni If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Glee Cast Mercedes If I should stay I would only be in your w…
Glenn Paul If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Helene Fischer If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Honky Tonk Darlings If I should stay I would only be in your way And…
Ilse DeLange If I should stay Would I be only in your way. And…
Inger Marie Gundersen If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So…
Island Salsa Greatest Hits If I, should stay I would only be in your way So…
J. C. Lodge If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
J.F. Band And I will always love you I will always love you You,…
J.J. Cale If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Jacky Cheung & Regine Just a gentle whisper Told me that you've gone leaving only …
James Galway If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Jane McDonald If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So…
Janet Lee Davis If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Janicsák Veca If I should stay, I would only be in…
Jazz At The Movies Band If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Jessica Sanchez If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Jim Brickman & Beegie Adair & Stan Whitmire If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Jin Chi I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but…
John Canaan I Will Always Love You When the Sun shines brightly -…
John Holt If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
John Tesh If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Karaoke I don't know How to say it That I love you And…
Karaoke All-Stars If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Katherine Jenkins Se io restassi qui Non sarei come tu mi vuoi Me ne…
Kenny G If I should stay... I would only be in your…
Kenny Rodgers and Dolly parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Kenny Rogers If I should stay I would only be in your way So,…
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
King's Singers . Metropole Orkest Carl Davis If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Kingsley Looker If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
KITCHEN 1 - Dolly Parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
KITCHEN - Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
L.C. Steels If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Labi Siffre I'm walking in your fire And diving in your sea Burning wi…
Laura van Kaam If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Leona Lewis Top: 5 Theme: Movie songs Original: Dolly Parton -- If I sh…
Leroy Sanchez If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Linda Ronstadt If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Lionel Richie/Diana Ross I guess I'll always love you You've got the love I…
LIVING ROOM - Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Los Toros Band If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Love... misunderstood misunderstood misunderstood misunderstood…
Lulu Roman If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Marileyda If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Marta If I should stay I would only be in your…
May Abd El Aziz كنت بشتاقلك وانا وانت هنا بيني وبينك ....خطوتين خطوتين خطوتي…
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Mindy Quah If I, Should Stay I Would only bein your way So…
Mirage Band If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Mr. Blue Will you still love me when I don't love you? I sure…
Music Travel Love If I should stay Oh, I would only be in your…
Nancy Enslin If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Natty Bong If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Nazca If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Olivia Let me hold you tight and close Let me keep you…
Olympe If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Pam Hall If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Parton Dolly If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Parton Dolly [Composer/Author] If I should stay I would only be in your…
Pat Coil If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Pink I'm sitting here And she's sitting there Making believe we j…
Pop Du Monde Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Q Twins If it wasn't for love If it wasn't for me If it…
R&B PRINCESS Every time man… you just Mek yah affi gwaan so man Cho…
Radics Gigi If I should stay, I would only be in…
Randall Atcheson If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
RIMES LEANN If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Rob Starr & The Hollywood Singers and Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Roch Voisine If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Roger Whittaker If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Safyre If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Salena Jones If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Scary Pockets feat. Mario Jose If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Sielce Records feat. Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Siffre Labi I'm walking in your fire And diving in your sea Burning wi…
Simion Luca If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Soundman If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Spectrum If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
SPKT If I should stay I would only be in your way. So…
Stephanie J. Block How I’ll always love you How I’ll always care Never need to…
Steve Quinzi If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Steve W. Mauldin If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Syesha Mercado (by Dolly Parton) If I should stay, I would only be…
T.M.-Joy I will love you tonight (you tonight) I have loved you…
Tears n' Joy If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Texas Chainsaw Orchestra If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
The Bodyguard If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
The Hit Crew If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
tóth lüszi You, my darling, you... If I should…
Troop Day and night, on my mind And every waking moment I try…
Valentina Tesio If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Various Artists As we walk this land Side by side, hand in hand I…
VeggieTales If I should stay, I′ll only be in your way So…
Vince Gill If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Vince Gill & Dolly Parton If I should stay Well I would only be in your…
Wallace Roney If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Washington Sarah If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Whitey Houston If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Whitney If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Whitney Huston If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Whitney Houston Tribute Band If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
Witney By Guitar If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Young Divas If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Zamfir Gheorghe If I should stay Well, I would only be in your…
Zapp & Roger If I should stay I would only be in your way So,…
zendee If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
Zoe Birkett "If I, should stay, I would only be in your…
♪ Whitney Houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
丁噹 I'll only be in your way So I ll go But…
惠特妮.休斯顿 whitney houston If I should stay, I would only be in your…
林育群 If I should stay I would only be in your way So…
柯以敏 If I,Should Stay I Would only bein your way So I…
黄绮珊 If I should stay, I would only be in the way. So…
쁨景콜.金薑뛰 whitney houston If I should stay, I'll only be in your way So…
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 Me Go We've been goin' out for awhile now baby We've had…
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 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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@jenniferr9519
This song is so interesting. He begins very forthright, saying how much he misses her. He admits it's not her fault if she doesn't love him anymore. He admits to feeling jealous. He says he asks his friends with whom and where she's been, so he's not completely stalking her at that point. But as he goes on, and discusses how much being without her is tearing him apart, it seems the end is a culmination of heartbreak, self-abuse, and obsession. What an incredible talent Ray is. Definitely underrated.
@kelvinbryant7602
A very underatted song .One of my favorites.This song reminds of what I'm goin thru right now
@Eagles0690
You got all that from the song? That’s why this country is falling apart! Just enjoy the fucking music 😅😂
@freedom4mealways
Forty years later after this song/video hit the charts, pop lovers still can't get over loving Ray Parker's music. Truly a gifted entertainer!
@therealbigpeevpeavy8463
I don't think back in 1983 people realized that this song is really the stalker's anthem!!😋😋😋I'm a HUGE Ray Parker Jr. fan from way back when and love this song, but hearing it as a 16yr old back in 1983 vs. a grown man now....it hits so different!!! LOL!!! Still love it though!!
@t-bo2734
That only becomes clear late in the song.
@jamesward6935
RPJ even appropriated the title and the most-repeated line of the biggest hit of 1983. Of course, the sordid lines of that song went directly over most people's heads...
@courylanders4142
@@jamesward6935 Excatly!! He got the song from Every breath you take by the Police. And the ending lyrics are scary af!
@rodmoore1577
Lenny Williams "Cause I love you " has stalker all over it! I thought it was creepy the first time I heard it.
@spiraljoe1273
At 53 today, this is STILL in my ALL TIME TOP 10 FAVORITE singles - there is something about this song - the tempo, the vocal, the meaning, the simplicity yet elegance of the composition. or maybe just cus it was the 80's and soundtrack of my life, the fact that he is the first African-American man I had the hots for - whatever the reason, I just totally love it as much today as I did then.
Oh and talk about memories: The day this 45 vinyl finally hit the shelves at Camelot Music, I was 16 and just got my driver license and on my dinner break at my first job ever, I drove to the mall IN SNOW FOR MY FIRST TIME EVER because I had to buy this record.