Ray Parker Jr. Revisits His Spinners Hit "You Can't Change That" in Epic Epcot Show

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival was swinging on September 8, 2023 when legendary musician Ray Parker Jr. performed his smash "You Can't Change That" during a high-energy set at the America Gardens Theatre. But what many fans didn't know is that Parker originally wrote the track for R&B icons The Spinners before making it his own solo hit. In the 1970s, Parker was an in-demand songwriter at Motown, penning funky dance tunes for artists like The Spinners. He crafted "You Can't Change That" specifically for the group's smooth harmonies and tight grooves. However, when he played them a demo, The Spinners felt it wasn't the right fit and passed on recording it. Parker then took "You Can't Change That" and made it the title track of his Raydio album Rock On in 1979. The slinky funk number became a smash on its own. Diehard Spinners fans in the audience surely recognized the lyrics, beat, and Parker's signature funky flair as echoes of his early songwriting era. When Parker called out "You can't change this!" the America Gardens Theatre felt as spirited as Hitsville's Studio A back in Motor City's heyday. By the end, Parker had the whole park swinging through an electric finale complete with congratulatory pyrotechnics. The performance marked 40 years since "You Can't Change That" first hit airwaves and cemented Parker as a solo legend. But it all originated from his creative early days writing songs with The Spinners in mind. Relive this unbelievable Epcot concert via the full video. From the wah-wah guitars to the singalong breakdowns, it shows how Parker's foundational work for The Spinners made "You Can't Change That" an immortal R&B classic. The night was full of soul power at the happiest place on Earth!