Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1977, Raydio is an R&B / Funk group best known for their 1978 hit single “Jack and Jill.” Founded by singer, songwriter, and musician Ray Parker Jr., bassist / vocalist Jerry Knight, lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Arnell Carmichael, and multi-instrumentalist / drummer Vincent Bonham. Within a year of their formation, Raydio signed with Arista Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1978. The album reached number 8 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart thanks to their hit single “Jack and Jill,” which climbed to number 8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and number 5 on the R&B Singles chart. The single was also a hit in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK. However, the album’s other two singles – “Is This a Love Thing” and “Honey I’m Rich” – were not as successful. Before the band went into the studio to record their second album, Jerry Knight left the group and the brought in three more members: Darren Carmichael (vocals), Charles Fearing (guitar), and Larry ‘Fatback’ Tolbert (drums). Raydio released their sophomore album, Rock On, in 1979, which featured the hit single “You Can’t Change That” (number 9 on the Hot 100 / number 3 on the R&B Singles chart). While the album missed entering the Top 40 on the Billboard 200, it climbed to number 4 on the R&B Albums chart. Their third album, Two Places at the Same Time (1980), was the first to be credited to Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio. The title track rose to number 30 on the Hot 100 but fared better on the R&B chart, hitting number 6. The album’s next single, “For Those Who Like to Groove,” missed the Hot 100 entirely but climbed to number 14 on the R&B Singles chart. Their fourth album, A Woman Needs Love (1981), was their must successful yet, hitting the top of the R&B Albums chart. The single “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)” reached number 1 on the R&B chart and was followed by the single “That Old Song,” which became a number 7 hit on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart. Raydio split up in 1981 and Ray Parker Jr. began a successful solo career which culminated in his theme to the hit film Ghostbusters, which spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In 2014, founding members Arnell Carmichael and Vincent Bonham formed a new version of Raydio and played the oldies circuit with bands like Debarge, Switch, and Average White Band. Original bassist / vocalist Jerry Knight died of cancer on December 29, 1996, at the age of 44. Vincent Bonham died on March 24, 2024, at the age of 67.
