- published: 07 May 2012
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Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. (born May 1, 1954), is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as Barry White.
Parker was born in Detroit to Venolia and Ray Parker, Sr. He has two siblings: his brother Opelton and his sister Barbara. His father died on March 12, 1992 at age 82; his mother died on December 18, 1993 at age 83.
Parker is a 1972 graduate of Northwestern High School in the Motor City. He was raised in the Dexter-Davison neighborhood on its West Side.
Parker gained his reputation during the late 1960s as a member of the house band at the legendary 20 Grand nightclub. This Detroit hot-spot often featured Tamla/Motown acts, one of which the (Detroit) Spinners, was so impressed with the young guitarist's skills that they added him to their touring group. Parker was also employed as a teenaged studio musician for the emergent Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax stable and his choppy style was particularly prevalent on 'Want Ads', a number one single for Honey Cone.
Anthony Ray Parker (born May 13, 1958) is an American actor.
Parker was born in Saginaw, Michigan, USA, and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. For years during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Parker settled in New Zealand and had a prominent career on television in various shows as Suzanne Paul's sidekick. He appeared in the film "The Matrix" as the character Dozer. In 2006, Parker starred in John Cena's film The Marine. He will also appear in the horror film Dead Air.
He has filmed a number of television shows and movies in Australia and New Zealand. Anthony Ray Parker has a daughter and two sons, all of whom currently reside in New Zealand.[citation needed]
In 2007 he performed the role of Buddy McDeere, the Head coach of the Russian boxer, Anton Kolchin in the Russian Movie "Shadow Boxing 2".