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About Ray Parker Jr.
Hometown
Detroit, MI, United States
Born
May 1, 1954
Genre
R&B/Soul
Ray Parker Jr. is best known for his Grammy-winning theme song to 1984’s Ghostbusters. But the singer, musician, and producer has a long history of working with some of the greatest soul artists of all time, including Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
• Born in Detroit during Motown’s peak, Parker began as a session guitarist for musician and producer Hamilton Bohannon's house band at Detroit’s famous 20 Grand nightclub. There, Parker played behind acts like Temptations, The Spinners, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
• At age 15, Parker met Marvin Gaye and cowrote songs with him.
• In 1972, Stevie Wonder invited Parker to join his band on tour with The Rolling Stones. Parker also played guitar on two Wonder albums: 1972’s Talking Book and 1973’s Innervisions.
• Parker wrote songs and worked as a session musician for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Carpenters, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, and David Foster.
• In 1974, Parker wrote his first hit: Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “You Got the Love,” which peaked at No. 11 on the Hot 100.
• Parker formed the R&B/funk band Raydio in 1977. Their self-titled debut album, featuring the hit “Jack and Jill,” arrived the following year. Raydio released three more albums before their split in 1981.
• In 1982, Parker. released his debut solo album, The Other Woman, which topped the R&B chart and hit No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
• Parker’s 1984 Ghostbusters theme song earned him a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” from The Woman in Red.
• Throughout the ’80s, Parker wrote and produced for New Edition (“Mr. Telephone Man”), Cheryl Lynn (“Shake It Up Tonight”), Diana Ross (“Up Front”), and Run-D.M.C. (Ghostbusters II’s “Ghostbusters”).
• In 2006, Parker released I'm Free, his sixth album and first since 1991’s I Love You Like You Are.
Ray Parker Jr. has also released music as a member of Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, Raydio, The Love Unlimited Orchestra Nils Landgren Funk Unit.
Influenced by Ray Parker Jr.Ray Parker Jr. has influenced the music of Iammanolis, Key Loch, Music For My Dog and more.
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