The Doors founder and keyboardist passes away at 74.
Manzarek passed away Monday at around 8.30 at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany. The musician had fought a long battle with bile duct cancer, but died with his wife Dorothy and brothers Rick and James by his side.He co-formed The Doors in 1965 after a chance encounter on a Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. The band went on to become one of the biggest selling, and most controversial, of the 1960s - moving more than 100 million units worldwide and earning 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum albums in the U.S. alone.
Following Morrison's death in 1971, Manzarek went on to enjoy a successful solo career, both as a Grammy-nominated recording artist and a bestselling author. In collaboration with Robby Krieger in 2002 he re-ignited his touring career.
Krieger described himself as "deeply saddened" by the news. Adding that he was "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, son Pablo and his three
grandchildren: Noah, Apollo and Camille.
Rather than flowers, well-wishers are asked to make a donation in Ray Manzarek's name to Standup2cancer.org
Funeral arrangements are pending, and the family asks that their privacy be respected.
