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)
Never Ever
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Never Ever' by these artists:
????? (Ayumi Hamasaki) いつか生まれる前からきっと 変わらないモノ探し続けては 見つけて 失って 時に 人をキズつけた夜もあった も…
Acid When this is all we know It's all we know I adore…
All Saints A few questions that I need to know How you could…
All Saints (R&B) A few questions that I need to know How you could…
Ayumi Hamasaki (梆祭) Itsuka umareru mae kara kitto Kawaranai mono sagashi tsudzuk…
Ayumi Hamasaki (滨崎步) いつか生まれる前からきっと 変わらないモノ探し続けては 見つけて 失って 時に 人をキズつけた夜もあった も…
Ayumi 浜崎あゆみ いつか生まれる前からきっと 変わらないモノ探し続けては 見つけて 失って 時に 人をキズつけた夜までもあった もしもた…
Bang Gang Never ever will I wish you bad Never ever will I…
Belle Perez Thinking of you all the time Every second brings you closer …
Blindspot A.D. Memories flooding in It makes it hard just to think I got…
Bright Fires Her eyes, so bright They light the way My heart, your hands …
Cam'ron [Verse 1:] Yo I, Drive on the Parkway, Park in the…
Caro Emerald Love, I was wrong and you were right again I came…
Ciara Throw yo' hands up in the air If ya know he…
Don-E Do you ever think about me And the life we could've…
Ezzry I made my first missteps I don't even know your name Your…
F.P.M. I can never switch up on my bros I'm making sure…
Fame-J Should've never let me go Now it's all goodbyes Should've he…
Fantastic Plastic Machine Hey, show me your true self Come alive tonight Hey, open up…
Faydee If I don't, if I don't tell u I love…
Genki Rockets I am me and you are only you We live our…
GOT7 많이 기다렸지 I'm so sorry 나 이제 결심 했지 Are you…
HammerFall Sitting in my room, staring at the wall, I can't…
Heroin My decision, still make me a liar My reasons still make…
Hinano Whoa, yeah, yeah ただ 君だけに焦がれていた きっと それが僕らの答えだった 分かり合えないこと そ…
Hong Jin-young Ain't gon' never ever stop pourin' fo's Ain't gon' never eve…
Hujohn@Hotmail.Co.Uk Oh my life it's started again You can't know we're ever…
Imai Tsubasa 今井翼 風を切れ 風になれ まるで break out 誰にも ゆずらない ゆだねない 走り出せ 動き出せ 魂よ 脈打つ 鼓…
J People who claim to be your friends they ain't in…
Jessica Mauboy Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah You were ther…
Jiyeon Huhu huuuu Huhu huu Huhu huu Never ever ever never Huhu huu …
Josh Crawford Do you really know what it's like but I know You…
Klangwald Never Ever…
Kyul 너처럼 언젠가 나도 괜찮아질 거라고 넌 진짜 아무렇지 않니 넌 여전히 강하고 또 그때처럼…
Lisa Stansfield If I told you, "jump", baby Would you do it, get…
LIVING ROOM - Röyksopp I've been dying to see you Hoping for a chance to…
Liz Anderson I'll never never never never never never never never Never e…
Lord Huron I will wake her in the morning Once the dew has…
M.K Nightcore I can never switch up on my bros I'm making sure…
Meghan Trainor Hello hello Good day, good morning Goodbye goodbye to Mr. Lo…
nicpreen It never ever was enough for you, It never ever was…
Nikolas Takács Baby when I see you move my mind goes…
Oktober vs. J-Zone People who claim to be your friends they ain't in…
Perez Belle Thinking of you all the time Every second brings you closer …
Pete Tong A few questions that I need to know How you could…
Röyksopp I've been dying to see you Hoping for a chance to…
S.O.B. So many man them are moving weird like their wearing…
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus & Dr. Kathleen McGuire Olu lele lele le Oya mami yo Olu lele lele le Oya mami…
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus & Dr. Stan Hill Never let it change me Never let it change me Never, never,…
Sarah Bonnici All along I thought you were the one Now I'm better…
Shout Out Louds Tonight I'm dreaming, And I wish to stay there forever My lu…
Soja She's looking like she might've Felt all this before Yeah …
sub7even I thought, I had a friend in you. I thought, you…
Sylver Crawling through life's jungle Left alone and lost in time I…
Takacs Nikolas Baby when I see you move my mind goes…
The Bang Gang Never ever will I wish you bad Never ever will I…
The Brian Jonestown Massacre I never wanted, never wanted to be Until I wanted to…
The Girl & The Robot 途切れた糸繋いで 思い返す君との日々 デタラメな毎日を 駆け抜けた 蒼い夕暮れ 忘れないよ どんな時でも 突き刺さる 深…
The NoFace For no reason they say I got to quit my…
The Orwells Damn I feel lazy But don't forget to wake me we got…
The Rubens I never ever, I never ever meant to catch you…
Thxrsday You were the dark side I never ever knew Burnt up…
Tokyo Girls 途切れた糸繋いで 思い返す君との日々 デタラメな毎日を 駆け抜けた 蒼い夕暮れ 忘れないよ どんな時でも 突き刺さる 深…
Tokyo Girls' Styke 途切れた糸繋いで 思い返す君との日々 デタラメな毎日を 駆け抜けた 蒼い夕暮れ 忘れないよ どんな時でも 突き刺さる …
TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE (東京女子流) 途切れた糸繋いで 思い返す君との日々 デタラメな毎日を 駆け抜けた 蒼い夕暮れ 忘れないよ どんな時でも 突き刺さる 深…
Ultrabeat I'll never ever ever, give you up Your love will always…
Vanessa Mdee La La La La La La (Nahreel On The Beat) VeeMoney on the…
Various Artists A few questions that I need to know, How you could…
Velvet Condom Never Ever / Hold your breath now Scream and swallow /…
VFSix They want to know More about you They want to learn Each det…
Wiz Khalifa Yeah buddy I got a cold and all that shit Show ya'll…
Wiz Khalifa攀 Yeah buddy I smoke that shit I got a cold and all…
Wonderboom Let's slide To the carpet and back Tonight I'm gonna dye my …
Young Dolph Ain't gon' never ever stop pourin' fo's Ain't gon' never eve…
Young Jeezy Throw yo' hands up in the air If ya know he…
タッキー＆翼 kaze wo kire kaze ni nare marude break out Dare ni…
今井翼 風を切れ 風になれ まるで break out 誰にも ゆずらない ゆだねない 走り出せ 動き出せ 魂よ 脈打つ 鼓…
元気ロケッツ I am me and you are only you We live our…
浜崎あゆみ いつか生まれる前からきっと 変わらないモノ探し続けては 見つけて 失って 時に 人をキズつけた夜までもあった もしもた…
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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