RAY MANZAREK IN THE PYX106 STUDIO 6/10/10
Ray Manzarek, a founding Member of The Doors, has died at age 74.
The keyboardist, born Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., succumbed this afternoon (Monday) at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, where he was being treated for bile duct cancer. He was surrounded by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek (the original spelling of the family name).
Just last week, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger told us Ray was sick, but was hoping to play a show they had scheduled in Los Angeles in August. He has issued a statement saying, "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."
In addition to his wife and brothers, he is survived by his son Pablo, his daughter-in-law Sharmin and their three children. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that its privacy be respected at this time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ray's name to Stand Up 2 Cancer at StandUp2Cancer.org.
The Chicago-born Manzarek moved to Los Angeles to study film in 1962. He formed the The Doors in 1965 with singer-poet Jim Morrison, drummer John Densmore and Krieger shortly after finishing UCLA film school, and dropped the "c" from his last name to make it "Manzarek." A chance encounter on Venice Beach with Morrison, who was also studying film at UCLA and had written some lyrics, led them to put the band together.
Although their first record deal, with Columbia, fell apart, they soon signed to Elektra Records and recorded their self-titled album. While their first single, "Break on Through," wasn't a hit, their second, an edit of "Light My Fire," that omitted Manzarek's lengthy John Coltrane-inspired organ solo, was -- topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. "Break on Through" eventually went on to become one of the group's signature songs, too, though Manzarek said people who thought it was about death had misunderstood it.
Reaction to the Passing of Ray Manzarek
Reaction to the death of Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist and co-founder of The Doors, have started to come in. Manzarek died Monday in Germany where he was undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 74.
Doors drummer John Densmore: "There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison's words. Ray, I felt totally in sync with you musically. It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby Krieger and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother."
Joe Perry: "Incredibly sad news. There is no doubt in my mind Ray and his talent had a great deal to do with what I do today. I will always regret not getting to tell him that to his face."
Benmont Tench, keyboardist in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: "His playing showed me the path to, and the joy of, improvisation. Indescribably important. Rest well. Rest well..."
Michael McDonald: "Ray was an obviously integral ingredient and participant in the creative process and resulting music of The Doors. His creative stamp is all over their songs, arrangements and recording process. He leaves us with a profoundly unique contribution to American popular music."
Tommy Shaw of Styx: "I'm very sad to hear about the passing of Ray Manzarek. The blatant sexuality of Jim Morrison's persona standing firmly on Manzarek's exotic and distinct musical bedrock must have caused a lot of sleepless nights for parents of the young fans who were attracted to it all. Always a keen observer and spokesman for the times we live in, he will most certainly be missed."
Weird Al Yankovic: "I had the extreme honor of working with Mr. Ray Manzarek at Jerry Harrison's Sausalito Sound recording studio in 2009. He played keyboards on my song 'Craigslist,' which is a pastiche of The Doors... The Sausalito session was one of the absolute high points of my life -- Ray was amazing. This video documents him learning to play 'Craigslist' in the studio. R.I.P. Ray."
ROBBIE KRIEGER, UNCLE VITO & RAY MANZAREK 6/10/10
AND MY AUTOGRAPHED INTERVIEW CD
MY 6/10/10 INTERVIEW WITH RAY MANZAREK & ROBBIE KRIEGER
