Ray Manzarek, Founding Member & Keyboardist of The Doors (1939-2013)

Ray Manzarek, founding member and keyboardist of The Doors, has died at the age of 74 from a long bout with cancer. Memoriam donations are being taken in his name at Stand Up To Cancer.

From The Doors website:

Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. 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. “L.A.Woman,” “Break On Through to the Other Side,” “The End,” “Hello, I Love You,” and “Light My Fire” were just some of the band’s iconic and ground-breaking songs. 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. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors’ guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger.

Smother Bros. Comedy Hour Performance
Taped: December 6th, 1968 Aired: December 15th

image via The Doors, video via Misfit52687138