Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for the Doors, died today at 74. As as aspiring rock-and-roll musician of 17 in the late sixties, Ray Manzarek was an icon and an idol. Though I realized as I matured that he was at best mediocre, that made no difference in 1967 when I wore out my copies of the first two Doors albums learning every note of every solo.
RIP, Ray Manzarak. An age has passed.
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Wow, sad story. I loved The Doors, thought Ray was great on the keyboard, giving Jim Morrison, Robbie Kreiger, and John Densmore a unique sound, Rock with a Blues twist. Didn’t Ray figure out the music notes to Light My Fire?
Doors had so many awesome tunes, Break On Through, Strange Days, Maggie McGill, Peace Frog, Road House Blues, The Changeling, Riders On The Storm, etc, etc.
Best albulm was Morrison Hotel. I hope Ray passed peacefully, seemed like a nice guy, one cool cat.