The Doors' Ray Manzarek Felled By Cancer

Ray Manzarek

THE DOORS announced on its FACEBOOK page that founding member and keyboardist RAY MANZAREK passed away TODAY at 12:31p PT at the ROMED CLINIC in ROSENHEIM, GERMANY after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife DOROTHY MANZAREK, and his brothers RICK and JAMES MANCZAREK.

MANZAREK formed THE DOORS with poet JIM MORRISON after a chance encounter on VENICE BEACH, CA. They officially started in 1965 with guitarist ROBBIR KRIEGER and drummer JOHN DENSMORE. THE DOORS went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide, and receiving 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum albums in the U.S. alone.

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. He also produced albums of L.A. punk pioneers X. In 2002, he revitalized 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. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in RAY MANZAREK's name at www.standup2cancer.org.

« see more Net News