a man who has spread himself so thin, in the best possible ways...I admire him so much. And when I give someone like him, his props, it occurs to me all over again, how big a fan I am, of music. Because Ray has never been some HUGE name in music....he's had some solid hits to a few big ones. But he's so freakin' versatile...and I just dont get the feeling that there are very many people like him in music, who can do all the things he does, the way he does. I saw him recently in some Rock N Roll HoF footage, where he was just hanging out and playing behind Jennifer Hudson, during her tribute to Donna Summer..him and about 2 or 3 other guitarists. It wasnt about him...and he knew it..but he was just making his little contribution to Donna's tribute, ego-free. Say his name, and I dont think of that hit from 'Ghostbusters"...but I will always attach his name to "Jack and Jill", because his band, Raydio, knocked that song out of the park. Whenever I hear that song, I can feel my eyes water, as all those childhood memories from 1977, just flood my mind.
He's 💯 correct. Radio and television were still somewhat segregated musically speaking in those days. I have always personally liked this song, and was surprised when I found out it was Ray Parker. Knew him from previous hits that were RnB. A little Jimi Hendrix in the background, IMHO.
This why the one hit wonder moniker is skewed for Black artists prior to this time. For example, I was watching this MTV doc on “one hit wonders” and on it was Biz Markie (R.I.P.). Imagine my shock having grown up on Hip Hop having to play songs like “Make the Music…”, “Nobody Beats the Biz” and “The Vapors” but the only song that the world considers a hit being “Just a Friend”. That’s insane!
It's actually not Skewered, cause a lot of White one hit wonders had full careers....just NOT in America or American Charts,that's a stereotype. Cause Ray Parker Jr had a Full Career before "Ghostbusters " but Commercially "Ghostbusters "was his finest Hour.(Key & Peele did a HILARIOUS skit on his Career). If you're just going with White American Charts to define a career that's short sighted. Ray Parker Jr had the Right song for thr Right Movie at the Right time in History. And you could also say that for bands like 4 non blondes or Hip hop acts like Us3 or Kid N Play
@@Filmation77 How am I being sort slighted? I’m not the one calling people one hit wonders based off of white charts. I was arguing just the opposite. This is why I used the Biz Markie example. If your record starts in a Pop chart you’ve got a clear advantage over someone who’s record has to climb a Black chart before “crossing over”! It’s called “crossing over” for a reason.
@@GeneralTarik what I'm saying is, it's never been Slanted towards Black Artists. One hit wonders are mostly an American invention. Cause the life of Pop artists goes like this: your best material comes when nobody is paying attention, then labels and fans just find a song that just CONNECTS with the hugest audience. After that it's usually downhill,cause these acts now have gotten successful and they can't find that "Magic" again. Look at Mark Morrison ("Return of The Mack") or Montell Jordan ("This is how we Do it") they've never recaptured that Ziegeist when they were at their peak cause Pop Music passed them by. It isn't just a black thing One of my favorite old school acts was Duran Duran but by 1995 they were DEAD ,buy they came back with The Wedding Album and Ordinary World but after that they've never had another Hit.theyre still touring but no kid in 2023 is Checking for Duran Duran
@@Filmation77 Man, we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about racism in the music industry and how it kept Black artist out certain charts and often stifled careers. You’re talking about something else it seems. If you’re telling me that this hasn’t happened then we are living in two different worlds. Hell, look at the whole Little Nas X “Old Town Road” debacle. Are you telling me we all imagined that? I hope not cause there’s a word for that.
As artists we need to take advantage of the absence of the historically bigoted and short sighted gatekeepers and start treating the listening public to our prowess in other genres.
MY BABY!!!!!!!! RPJ!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I remember meet him at the Marriott Marquis in NYC, vey nice guy.
a man who has spread himself so thin, in the best possible ways...I admire him so much. And when I give someone like him, his props, it occurs to me all over again, how big a fan I am, of music. Because Ray has never been some HUGE name in music....he's had some solid hits to a few big ones. But he's so freakin' versatile...and I just dont get the feeling that there are very many people like him in music, who can do all the things he does, the way he does. I saw him recently in some Rock N Roll HoF footage, where he was just hanging out and playing behind Jennifer Hudson, during her tribute to Donna Summer..him and about 2 or 3 other guitarists.
It wasnt about him...and he knew it..but he was just making his little contribution to Donna's tribute, ego-free. Say his name, and I dont think of that hit from 'Ghostbusters"...but I will always attach his name to "Jack and Jill", because his band, Raydio, knocked that song out of the park. Whenever I hear that song, I can feel my eyes water, as all those childhood memories from 1977, just flood my mind.
This was my jam
K. Now I gotta go binge on some RPJ! I totally forgot how dope this brotha was in the day
He's 💯 correct. Radio and television were still somewhat segregated musically speaking in those days. I have always personally liked this song, and was surprised when I found out it was Ray Parker. Knew him from previous hits that were RnB. A little Jimi Hendrix in the background, IMHO.
❤❤❤❤
This why the one hit wonder moniker is skewed for Black artists prior to this time. For example, I was watching this MTV doc on “one hit wonders” and on it was Biz Markie (R.I.P.). Imagine my shock having grown up on Hip Hop having to play songs like “Make the Music…”, “Nobody Beats the Biz” and “The Vapors” but the only song that the world considers a hit being “Just a Friend”. That’s insane!
It's actually not Skewered, cause a lot of White one hit wonders had full careers....just NOT in America or American Charts,that's a stereotype. Cause Ray Parker Jr had a Full Career before "Ghostbusters " but Commercially "Ghostbusters "was his finest Hour.(Key & Peele did a HILARIOUS skit on his Career). If you're just going with White American Charts to define a career that's short sighted. Ray Parker Jr had the Right song for thr Right Movie at the Right time in History. And you could also say that for bands like 4 non blondes or Hip hop acts like Us3 or Kid N Play
@@Filmation77 How am I being sort slighted? I’m not the one calling people one hit wonders based off of white charts. I was arguing just the opposite. This is why I used the Biz Markie example. If your record starts in a Pop chart you’ve got a clear advantage over someone who’s record has to climb a Black chart before “crossing over”! It’s called “crossing over” for a reason.
@@GeneralTarik what I'm saying is, it's never been Slanted towards Black Artists. One hit wonders are mostly an American invention. Cause the life of Pop artists goes like this: your best material comes when nobody is paying attention, then labels and fans just find a song that just CONNECTS with the hugest audience. After that it's usually downhill,cause these acts now have gotten successful and they can't find that "Magic" again. Look at Mark Morrison ("Return of The Mack") or Montell Jordan ("This is how we Do it") they've never recaptured that Ziegeist when they were at their peak cause Pop Music passed them by. It isn't just a black thing
One of my favorite old school acts was Duran Duran but by 1995 they were DEAD ,buy they came back with The Wedding Album and Ordinary World but after that they've never had another Hit.theyre still touring but no kid in 2023 is Checking for Duran Duran
@@Filmation77 Man, we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about racism in the music industry and how it kept Black artist out certain charts and often stifled careers. You’re talking about something else it seems. If you’re telling me that this hasn’t happened then we are living in two different worlds. Hell, look at the whole Little Nas X “Old Town Road” debacle. Are you telling me we all imagined that? I hope not cause there’s a word for that.
As artists we need to take advantage of the absence of the historically bigoted and short sighted gatekeepers and start treating the listening public to our prowess in other genres.
Ray is still so good looking