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Ray Parker, Jr.

Guitarist/songwriter/maker Ray Parker Jr. experienced strikes mainly because Raydio (the million-selling “Jack port and Jill,” “You Can’t Switch That”), Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio (“Two Locations at exactly the same time,” “A FEMALE Needs Like [Just AS IF YOU Perform]”), and Ray Parker Jr. (the main R&B and pop platinum solitary “Ghostbusters”), and he co-wrote strike tunes for Rufus and Chaka Khan (the main “YOU HAVE the Like” from fall 1974) and Barry Light (“You Start to see the Trouble beside me” from springtime 1976). Born Might 1, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan, Parker began being a teenaged program guitarist playing on periods documented for Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Scorching Polish and Invictus Information, whose roster detailed Freda Payne, Honey Cone, Chairmen from the Panel, 100 Resistant Aged in Spirit, Laura Lee, and 8th Question. He also performed behind the Temptations, Stevie Question, the Spinners, Gladys Knight & the Pips, as well as other Motown works when they made an appearance on the Twenty Grand Membership. In 1972, Question known as Parker to consult him to try out behind him on the tour that he was carrying out using the Rolling Rocks. Parker thought it had been a crank contact and hung up the telephone. Wonder called back again and confident Parker that he was the real thing by performing “Superstition” to him. Afterwards, Parker performed on Wonder’s albums Speaking Reserve (1972) and Innervisions (1973). Shifting from Detroit to LA, Parker experienced program function, playing on edges by Leon Haywood, Barry Light, and arranger Gene Web page and dealing with Motown manufacturer Clarence Paul on Ronnie McNeir’s 1976 Motown debut, Love’s Comin’ Down, and he made an appearance within the picnic picture in the Costs Cosby/Sidney Poitier humor classic Uptown Sunday Night. Deciding to become recording musician, Parker got a cope with Arista Information in 1977. Not really self-confident on his performing ability, he come up with a music group that included vocalist Arnell Carmichael, bassist/vocalist Jerry Knight (who later on had his personal solo strike with “Over night Sensation” so when 1 / 2 of Ollie & Jerry, and co-produced strikes from the Jets), guitarist Charles Fearing, Larry Tolbert, and Darren Carmichael. Nevertheless, on record, Parker performed most, if not absolutely all from the devices — although Arnell et al. had been paid a retainer therefore they’d be accessible if Raydio experienced popular record and had a need to tour. His 1st LP, Raydio, proceeded to go platinum, peaking at quantity eight R&B in springtime 1978. The LP included the quantity five precious metal R&B hit solitary “Jack port and Jill” (business lead vocal by Jerry Knight), “Is usually This a Like Thing,” as well as the charting solitary “Honey I’m High.” The strikes continuing with Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio’s number 4 gold Rock and roll On (the solitary “You Can’t Switch That” was number 3 R&B, quantity nine play the springtime of 1979); the quantity six platinum R&B Two Locations at exactly the same time from planting season 1980 (“Two Locations at exactly the same time” was quantity six R&B in planting season 1980); and the main gold record A FEMALE Needs Like from 1981 (“A FEMALE Needs Like [Just AS IF YOU Perform]” — the very first track Parker sang completely without trading vocals — kept the main R&B spot for 14 days and went number 4 pop in springtime 1981). After that, the Ray Parker Jr. record The Other Girl held the main R&B, amount 11 pop place in springtime 1982 (“ANOTHER Girl” was number 2 R&B for a month). Among Parker’s biggest strikes and best-loved music, “Ghostbusters” was submitted for the backdrop score from the Dan Aykroyd/Harold Ramis/Costs Murray/Ernie Hudson humor. Movie director Ivan Reitman believed that the tune ought to be released as an individual. The “Ghostbusters” music video is among the funniest & most star-studded movies available (breakdancing Costs Murray design). “Ghostbusters” parked at the main R&B spot for 14 days and the main pop for three weeks on Billboard’s graphs in summertime 1984. For this period, Huey Lewis sued Columbia Images and Ray Parker Jr. for copyright infringement, declaring that “Ghostbusters” was a ripoff of his latest hit, “I’D LIKE a New Medication.” Lewis received an out-of-court arrangement. Parker also published and produced strikes for New Release (“Mr. Telephone Guy” — Parker originally documented this with Jr. Tucker for his 1983 self-titled Geffen recording), Randy Hall (“I AM Viewing You [Jamie’s Woman],” the refreshing “Gentleman”), Cheryl Lynn (“Tremble It Up Tonight” from In the night time), Deniece Williams (the 1979 ARC/Columbia LP When Like Comes Phoning), Brick (the 1981 Bang LP Summer time Warmth), and Diana Ross (“Upfront” from her 1983 RCA LP Ross). Parker remaining Arista for Geffen and MCA before time for Arista due to his romantic relationship with Arista chief executive Clive Davis.

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