Ray Parker Jr. is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer and actor. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the movie Ghostbusters, for his solo music, and for performing with his band, Raydio, and with Barry White.
Parker first gained recognition during the late 1960s as a member of the house band at the legendary 20 Grand nightclub. At 16, he recorded and co-wrote his first songs with Marvin Gaye. Parker was also employed as a studio musician as a teenager and his unique style was a key element on “Want Ads”, a number one single for Honey Cone.
In 1972, Parker was a guest guitarist on Stevie Wonder’s funk song “Maybe Your Baby” from the Talking Book album. He went on to become the lead guitarist for Stevie Wonder when Wonder served as the opening act on the Rolling Stones 1972 tour.
In 1973, he became a sideman in Barry White’s The Love Unlimited Orchestra, before creating Raydio, an RB group, in 1977. Raydio quickly scored 2 Top 10 hits, each selling over a million copies.
Parker also wrote songs and did session work for artists including
The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,
Aretha Franklin, Deniece Williams,
Bill Withers, Jean-Luc Ponty,
The Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs,
David Foster, Gladys Knight and the Pips,
Herbie Hancock, Tina Turner, and Diana Ross.
Ray Parker is a unique artist, multi talented, and a force to be reckoned with.
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