Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night as a guitar player in the church picnic scene. In 1973, he became a sideman in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. He also was the lead guitarist for Wonder when Wonder served as the opening act on the Rolling Stones' 1972 tour. In 1972, Parker was a guest guitarist on Stevie Wonder's funk song "Maybe Your Baby", from Wonder's album Talking Book, an association which prompted a permanent move to Los Angeles. Parker was later enlisted by Lamont Dozier to appear on his first two albums for ABC Records. Parker was also employed as a studio musician as a teenager for the emergent Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus/ Hot Wax stable, and his "choppy" style was especially prominent on " Want Ads", a number one single for Honey Cone. Through the Bohannon relationship, he recorded and co-wrote his first songs at age 16 with Marvin Gaye. This Detroit hotspot often featured Tamla/ Motown acts, one of which, the (Detroit) Spinners, was so impressed by the young guitarist's skills that they added him to their touring group. Parker gained recognition during the late 1960s as a member of Bohannon's house band at the 20 Grand nightclub. Parker attended college at Lawrence Institute of Technology. He was raised in the Dexter-Grand Boulevard neighborhood on its West Side.
Parker is a 1971 graduate of Detroit's Northwestern High School. Parker attended Cass Technical High School in the 10th grade.
Parker attended Angel Elementary School where his music teacher, Afred T Kirby, inspired him to be a musician at age six playing the clarinet. He has two siblings: his brother Opelton and his sister Barbara. Parker was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Venolia Parker and Ray Parker Sr.
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