The Doors Keyboardist And Founding Member Ray Manzarek Dead, Aged 74

May 21, 2013

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, has died after battling bile duct cancer, aged 74. Manzarek died at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany today surrounded by his wife and brothers.

In a statement released on Manzarek’s passing, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger said he is saddened by the loss of his friend and collaborator and is honoured to have worked and played alongside Manzarek:

“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today. 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 formed The Doors in 1965 after a chance encounter with Jim Morrison. The Doors would go on to become one of the most iconic bands in rock and roll history, selling over 100 million albums across the globe and writing lasting singles such as Light My Fire, Break On Through to the Other Side and LA Woman.

Following the death of Morrison in 1971, Manzarek temporarily served as the band’s singer in an attempt to keep The Doors together. Manzarek went on to become a GRAMMY-nominated artist and best-selling author. In 2002 he began touring again with Robby Krieger.

Fellow musicians have begun posting their appreciation of Manczarek and The Doors with tweets from the likes of Slash, Pete Yorn and Justin Siegel (Stars In Stereo).

Manzarek is survived by his grandchildren Noah, Apollo and Camille, his son and son’s wife Pablo Manzarek and Sharmin, his brothers Rick and James Manzarek, and his wife Dorothy.

Music Feeds sends our condolences to Manczarek’s fans, friends and family.

RIP Ray Manzarek words cannot express…

— Slash (@Slash) May 20, 2013

The Doors represent the LA sound to me. It was the 1st band I remember hearing when I came from England; “Light my fire,” I’ll never forget.

— Slash (@Slash) May 20, 2013