Ray Manzarek dies aged 74: The Doors keyboard player passes away after cancer battle
 

Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founding member of The Doors, died today after a long battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74.

His manager said he died this afternoon in Rosenheim, Germany surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and brothers Rick and James.

Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison.

The Doors went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide.

L.A.Woman, Break On Through to the Other Side, The End, Hello, I Love You" and Light My Fire were just some of the band's iconic and ground-breaking songs.

After Morrison's death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right.

In 2002, he revitalised his touring career with Doors' guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger.

"I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today," said Krieger.

"I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."

Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo's wife Sharmin and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille.

Funeral arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in Ray Manzarek's name at www.standup2cancer.org

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...ged-74-1901745

Sad day. Ray, say hi to Mr. Mojo.

Play him home, bitches. Play him home.

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Wow- great player and a classy guy. What a loss.

I never got to see the Doors live- way too young- but wished I could have a least seen some of the touring bands playing their tunes.

RIP Ray....

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Every time I hear a Doors song, I think how cool it is to have those keyboards in the background.

RIP

Ray's keyboard part on Riders on the Storm was the first piece of music that really made me trip out and realize what music was all about.

RIP

May he break on through to the other side..

He broke on thru, to the other side.

Man, what a ****ing bummer.

Oddly enough, I heard about this from a Tech N9ne FB post. I had no idea Strange Music was named after "People are Strange"

Tech N9ne
Man I was just drinkin Pinot Noir in LA w/ Ray....****! R.I.P.....

A complete visionary. He saw something in Morrison on Venice Beach that changed music history. He could say more in an 8 bar melody than all the Tony Banks and Rick Wackmans could express with their lengthly "opui".
Listen to "Strange Days", beautiful , haunting , otherworldly. Peace, brother.

Thank you for the groovy tunes RIP Ray.

My absolutely hands down most favorite group evar !!!!

But, we all gotta die sometime.

RIP Ray.

I got to meet Ray and Robbie Krieger 10 years ago when they played in Houston as The 21st Century Doors.

Photographed the band and all.

Ian Astbury from The Cult was the lead singer and he dressed just like Jim.