The Doors’ Founding Member Ray Manzarek Dies

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, has died in Germany at the age of 74.

He died at the RoMed Clinic after a battle with bile duct cancer.

In a statement bandmate Robby Krieger said, “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.”

Manzarek formed The Doors with Jim Morrison in 1965, with the band emerging as one of the true rock'n'roll influences of the '60s with Krieger on guitars and John Densmore on drums.

In a statement Densmore said, “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 and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother.”

After Morrison's death in 1971, Manzarek tried to keep the band together and at times took over vocal duties. After their split in 1973 he went on to play in a number of bands as well as being involved with every Doors reunion.