Ray Parker Jr. is a talented musician known for his iconic song "Ghostbusters," which was the theme song for the popular 1984 movie of the same name. Here are some interesting facts about Ray Parker Jr. and his hit song:
"Ghostbusters" Theme Song: Ray Parker Jr. wrote and performed the theme song for the movie "Ghostbusters." The song became a massive hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1984. It's one of the most recognizable theme songs in film history.
Iconic Music Video: The music video for "Ghostbusters" featured appearances by various celebrities, including Chevy Chase, John Candy, and Danny DeVito, who lip-synced to the song. It added to the song's popularity and is still remembered for its humor and creativity.
Grammy Award Nomination: Ray Parker Jr. received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance for "Ghostbusters" in 1985. While he didn't win, the nomination highlighted the song's cultural impact.
Lawsuit: Ray Parker Jr. faced a copyright lawsuit related to "Ghostbusters." It was alleged that he had plagiarized the melody from the 1979 Huey Lewis and the News song "I Want a New Drug." The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
Continued Success: While "Ghostbusters" is undoubtedly his most famous song, Ray Parker Jr. had other successful tracks in his career. Some of his other hits include "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" and "The Other Woman."
Session Guitarist: Before launching his solo career, Ray Parker Jr. was a sought-after session guitarist. He contributed guitar work to various songs by artists like Stevie Wonder, Barry White, and The Temptations.
Contributions to Film Soundtracks: In addition to "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker Jr. contributed music to several other film soundtracks, including "Beverly Hills Cop II" and "Coming to America."
Ray Parker Jr.'s career was significantly influenced by the success of "Ghostbusters," and he remains a respected figure in the music industry for his contributions to both pop music and film soundtracks.