Ray Parker Jr.

Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (born on May 1, 1954 in Detroit) is a guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist most well known for writing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters.

Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters

Parker was accused of plagiarising the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want A New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100.

Related Topics:
Huey Lewis & the News - 1984 - Billboard Hot 100

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The producers of Ghostbusters had approached Lewis to use his song in the film, but their request was turned down, which led them to ask Parker to write a song similar to "I Want A New Drug" as the theme. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.

Related Topics:
Producers - Settled - Court - 1995

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They returned to court once again in 2001, the tables turned this time as Parker now sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.

Related Topics:
2001 - Confidentiality agreement - VH1 - Behind The Music

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