Editing Ray Manzarek

{{short description|American keyboardist (1939–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ray Manzarek
| image              = The Doors (1971) (cropped).png
| alt                = Close up photo of Ray Manzarek looking into the camera, wearing glasses and hair parted to the side.
| caption            = Manzarek in 1971
| birth_name         = {{nowrap|Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr.}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1939|02|12}}
| birth_place        = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2013|05|20|1939|02|12}}
| death_place        = [[Rosenheim]], Germany
| occupation         = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| years_active       = 1959–2013
| spouse             = {{marriage|Dorothy Aiko Fujikawa|December 21, 1967}}
| children           = 1
| parents            = 
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed            = yes
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Psychedelic rock]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Brendan |last=Hornbostel |date=May 24, 2013 |title=UCLA Alumnus and the Doors Keyboard Legend Dies at 74 |url=https://dailybruin.com/2013/05/24/ucla-alumnus-and-the-doors-keyboard-legend-dies-at-74 |newspaper=[[Daily Bruin]] |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref>|[[jazz fusion]]<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Barbara |last=Charone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ray-manzarek-opens-a-new-door-jazz-188754/ |title=Ray Manzarek Opens a New Door: Jazz |date=August 15, 1974 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref>}}
| instrument       = {{hlist|Keyboards|vocals}}
| label            = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]<br>[[A&M Records]]
| associated_acts  = {{hlist|
[[The Doors]]|[[Iggy Pop]]|[[Manzarek–Krieger]]|[[Rick & the Ravens]]|[[Nite City]]|The Manzarek–Rogers Band}}
 }}
}}

'''Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr.''' ({{ne}} '''Manczarek'''; February 12, 1939&nbsp;– May 20, 2013) was an American keyboardist. He is best known as a member of the rock band [[the Doors]], co-founding the group in 1965 with fellow [[UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television|UCLA Film School]] graduate [[Jim Morrison]]. Manzarek is credited for his innovative playing and abilities on [[Organ (music)|organ]]-style keyboard instruments.

Manzarek was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1993 as a Doors member. He was a co-founding member of [[Nite City]] from 1977 to 1978 and of [[Manzarek–Krieger]] from 2001 until he died in 2013. ''[[USA Today]]'' described him as "one of the best keyboardists ever".<ref name="Cava" />

== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr. was born and raised on the [[South Side (Chicago)|South Side]] of Chicago, Illinois. He was born to parents of Polish descent,{{sfn|Manzarek|1999|p=20}} Helena Kolenda{{sfn|Manzarek|1999|p=21}} (1918–2012) and Raymond Manczarek Sr. (1914–1986).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/WVpage/pages/article.php/24783/article |title=Doors Legend Doors In|work=The Warsaw Voice|access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/512088/the-doors-ray-manzarek/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301202743/http://www.mtv.com/news/512088/the-doors-ray-manzarek/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2021|title=The Doors' Ray Manzarek|last=Tortorici|first=Frank|date=February 11, 1999|website=[[MTV.com]]|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref> His grandparents emigrated from [[Congress of Poland|Poland]] in the 1890s.{{sfn|Weidman|2011|p=22}}

Upon graduating from [[St. Rita of Cascia High School]] in 1956,<ref>{{cite web|title=St. Rita Grad and Founder of The Doors, Ray Manzarek '56 Dies at 74|url=https://www.stritahs.com/st-rita-of-cascia-high-school/st-rita-grad-and-founder-of-the-doors-ray-manzarek-56-dies-at-74|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=St. Rita of Cascia High School|language=en-US|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603142725/https://www.stritahs.com/st-rita-of-cascia-high-school/st-rita-grad-and-founder-of-the-doors-ray-manzarek-56-dies-at-74|url-status=dead}}</ref> Manzarek matriculated at [[DePaul University]], where he played piano in his fraternity's jazz band (the Beta Pi Mu Combo), participated in intramural football, served as treasurer of the Speech Club, and organized a charity concert with [[Sonny Rollins]] and [[Dave Brubeck]].<ref name="Connelly" /> He graduated from the University's College of Commerce with a degree in [[economics]] in 1960.<ref name="Connelly">{{cite web |first=Jane |last=Connelly |url=http://campuspress.depaul.edu/vincent-test/project/test-post/ |title=DePaul's Musical History: Ray Manzarek and the Doors &#124; Newsline &#124; DePaul University &#124; A Publication for Faculty and Staff |website=Depaulnewsline.com |access-date=January 21, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In late 1961, Manzarek briefly enrolled at the [[University of California, Los Angeles School of Law]]. Unable to acclimate to the curriculum, he transferred to the [[UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television|Department of Motion Pictures, Television and Radio]] as a graduate student before dropping out after breaking up with a girlfriend.{{sfn|Gaar|2015|p=15}} Although he attempted to enlist in the [[Army Signal Corps]] as a camera operator, he was instead assigned to the highly selective [[Army Security Agency]] as a prospective intelligence analyst.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wmgk.com/2017/06/14/legendary-rockers-military/ |date=June 14, 2017 |publisher=[[Classic Rock]] 102,9 MGK |website=Wmgk.com |title=Legendary Rockers In The Military – 102.9 WMGK}}</ref>

=== The Doors ===
[[File:Doors electra publicity photo.JPG|thumb|left|upright .8|From left to right, Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek and Morrison in a publicity photo from 1966]]
Manzarek re-enrolled in UCLA's graduate film program in 1962, receiving a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree in cinematography in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2013/05/co-founder-of-the-doors-ray-manzarek-has-passed-away/ |title=Co-Founder of the Doors Ray Manzarek Has Passed Away |website=Tft.ucla.edu |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217132552/http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2013/05/co-founder-of-the-doors-ray-manzarek-has-passed-away/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Manzarek|1999|p=83}} During this period, he met future wife Dorothy Fujikawa and undergraduate film student [[Jim Morrison]]. At the time, Manzarek was in a band called [[Rick & the Ravens]] with his brothers Rick and Jim.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |title=Ray Manzarek of the Doors |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 20, 2013 |issue=1185 |page=26}}</ref> Forty days after finishing film school, thinking they had gone their separate ways, Manzarek and Morrison met by chance on [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice Beach]] in California. Morrison said he had written some songs, and Manzarek expressed an interest in hearing them, whereupon Morrison sang rough versions of "[[Moonlight Drive]]", "My Eyes Have Seen You," and "Summer's Almost Gone".{{sfn|Manzarek|1999|p=97–98}} During this time, Manzarek also met teenage guitarist [[Robby Krieger]] and drummer [[John Densmore]] at a [[Transcendental Meditation]] lecture and recruited them for the incipient band. Densmore said, "There wouldn't be any Doors without [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi|Maharishi]]."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Obituary |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 6, 2008 |page=16}}</ref>
[[File:Ray Manzarek in 1968 (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright .8|Manzarek in 1968]]
In January 1966, The Doors became the house band at the [[London Fog (nightclub)|London Fog]] on the [[Sunset Strip]].<ref name="Goldstein">{{cite web |url=http://www.creemmagazine.com/_site/BeatGoesOn/NiteCity/DarkSideOfLA001.html |title=Nite City — The Dark Side Of L.A.|last=Goldstein |first=Patrif L.A. |date=September 1977 |website=[[Creem]]magazine.com |access-date=May 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709054645/http://www.creemmagazine.com/_site/BeatGoesOn/NiteCity/DarkSideOfLA001.html |archive-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> According to Manzarek, "Nobody ever came in the place{{nbsp}}... an occasional sailor or two on leave, a few drunks. All in all it was a very depressing experience, but it gave us time to really get the music together".<ref name="Goldstein" /> When The Doors were fired from the London Fog, they were hired to be the house band at the [[Whisky a Go Go]].<ref name="Goldstein" /> The Doors' first recording contract was with [[Columbia Records]]. After a few months of inactivity, they learned they were on Columbia's drop list.{{sfn|Fong-Torres|2006|p=53}}{{sfn|Manzarek|1999|p=189}} At that point, they asked to be released from their contract. Following a few months of live gigs, [[Jac Holzman]] "rediscovered" The Doors and signed them to [[Elektra Records]].{{sfn|Fong-Torres|2006|p=58}}

[[File:Ray Manzarek 1968.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Manzarek performing live on Danish television, using his signature technique: a Rhodes Piano Bass with his left hand, while performing the main melodies with his right on an organ.{{sfn|Shepherd|2003|p=301}}]]

The Doors lacked a bass guitarist (except during recording sessions), so for live performances, Manzarek played the bass parts on a [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] [[Rhodes piano]] [[keyboard bass]]. His signature sound was that of the [[Vox Continental]] [[combo organ]], an instrument used by many other psychedelic rock bands of the era.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ray-manzarek-doors-keyboardist-dead-at-74-189116/ |title=Ray Manzarek Dead; Doors Keyboardist Was 74 |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=Andy |last=Greene |date=May 20, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref> He also used a [[Gibson G-101]] Kalamazoo [[combo organ]] (which looks like a [[Farfisa]]) for the band's later albums.{{sfn|Gerstenmeyer|2001|pp=97, 165}}

During the Morrison era, Manzarek was the group's regular backing vocalist.<ref>{{cite web |last=Plaut |first=Eric |title=Ray Manzarek |url=http://www.consciousnessmagazine.com/RayManzarek.html |website=Consciousness Magazine |access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> He occasionally sang lead, as exemplified by  recordings of [[Muddy Waters]]'s "Close to You" (released on 1970's ''[[Absolutely Live (The Doors album)|Absolutely Live]]'')<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Absolutely Live (The Doors album)|Absolutely Live]] |others=[[The Doors]] |type=Liner notes |year=1970 |publisher=[[Elektra Records]] |id=EKS-9002 |at=LP labels}}</ref> and "You Need Meat (Don't Go No Further)" (recorded during the ''[[L.A. Woman]]'' sessions and initially released as the B-side of "[[Love Her Madly]]").<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blake |first=Mark |title=Archive: Ray Manzarek RIP |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/archive-ray-manzarek-rip |magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] |publisher=[[Louder Sound]] |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> He went on to share lead vocals with Krieger on the albums (''[[Other Voices (The Doors album)|Other Voices]]'' and ''[[Full Circle (The Doors album)|Full Circle]]'') released after Morrison's death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/doors-other-voices/ |title=When the Doors Continued Without Jim Morrison on ''Other Voices'' |date=October 18, 2016 |last=Allen |first=Jim |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref>

=== Later career and influence ===
[[File:Ray Manzarek.JPG|thumb|right|225px|Manzarek in March 2006, performing in the Netherlands]]
After recording two solo albums on [[Mercury Records]] to a muted reception in 1974, Manzarek played in several groups, most notably [[Nite City]].<ref name="Goldstein" /> He recorded a rock adaptation of [[Carl Orff]]'s ''[[Carmina Burana (Orff)|Carmina Burana]]'' (1983; co-produced by [[Philip Glass]]), briefly played with [[Iggy Pop]], sat in on [[Bedbugs and Ballyhoo|one track]] on the eponymous 1987 album ''[[Echo & the Bunnymen (album)|Echo & the Bunnymen]]'', backed San Francisco poet [[Michael McClure]]'s poetry readings and worked on improvisational compositions with poet [[Michael C. Ford]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8i90y_ray-manzarek-and-michael-c-ford-at_music|title=Ray Manzarek and Michael C. Ford at Hen House Studios|website=[[Dailymotion.com]]|access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> He also worked extensively with ''[[Hearts of Fire]]'' screenwriter and former [[SRC (band)|SRC]] frontman Scott Richardson on a series of spoken word and blues recordings entitled "Tornado Souvenirs".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://raymanzarek.com/biography/ |title=Ray Manzarek Biography |website=Raymanzarek.com |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> Manzarek produced the first four albums of the seminal [[Punk music#North America|punk band]] [[X (U.S. band)|X]],<ref name="Lewis" /> also contributing occasionally on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/los-angeles-mw0000319061/credits |title=X: ''Los Angeles'' – Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> Two of those have also been included on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/ |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time |date=May 31, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref>

His memoir, ''Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors,'' was published in 1998. ''The Poet in Exile'' (2001) is a novel exploring the [[urban legend]] that Jim Morrison may have faked his death. Manzarek's second novel, ''Snake Moon'', released in April 2006, is a [[American Civil War|Civil War]] ghost story. In 2000, a collaboration poetry album entitled ''Freshly Dug'' was released with British singer, poet, actor, and pioneer punk rocker [[Darryl Read]]. Read had previously worked with Manzarek on the ''Beat Existentialist'' album in 1994, and their last poetical and musical collaboration was in 2007 with the album ''Bleeding Paradise''.<ref name="Torreano" /> Also in 2000, he co-wrote and directed the film ''Love Her Madly'', which was credited to a story idea by Morrison.<ref name="Torreano" /> The film was shown at the closing night of the 2004 Santa Cruz Film Festival,<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Phelan |url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/05.19.04/manzarek-0421.html |title=Truly, 'Madly', Deeply |work=[[Metro Santa Cruz]]|access-date=December 21, 2013}}</ref> but otherwise received limited distribution and critical review.
[[File:Ray Manzarek - picture by Simone van den Boom.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Manzarek at the Bospop festival, Weert 2010, the Netherlands]]

In 2006, he collaborated with composer and trumpeter Bal. The album that resulted, ''Atonal Head'' explores the realm of electronica. The two musicians integrated jazz, rock, ethnic, and classical music into their computer-based creations. {{citation needed|date=September 2020}} On August 4, 2007, Manzarek hosted a program on [[BBC Radio 2]] about the 40th anniversary of the recording of "[[Light My Fire]]" and the group's musical and spiritual influences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/60sseason/documentaries/manzarek.shtml |title=Radio 2 – 60s Season – BBC |website=[[BBC Radio 2]] |date=August 4, 2007}}</ref>

In April 2009, Manzarek and Robby Krieger appeared as special guests for [[Daryl Hall]]'s monthly concert webcast ''[[Live From Daryl's House]]''. They performed several Doors tunes ("[[People Are Strange]]", "[[The Crystal Ship]]", "[[Roadhouse Blues]]" and "[[Break On Through (To the Other Side)]]") with Hall providing lead vocals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://raymanzarek.com/television-live-from-daryls-house/ |title=Live From Daryl's House |date=April 15, 2009 |website=Raymanzarek.com |access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> In his last years, he often sat in with local bands in the [[Napa County, California|Napa County]] area, where he relocated in the early 2000s.

In 2009, Manzarek collaborated with [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] by playing keyboards on the single "[[Craigslist (song)|Craigslist]]", which is a [[pastiche]] of the Doors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0002146889/credits|title=Weird Al Yankovic: ''Alpocalypse''{{snd}}Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date = May 24, 2013}}</ref> On the day of Manzarek's death, Yankovic published a personal video of this studio session which he said had been an "extreme honor" and "one of the absolute high points of my life".<ref name="Craigslist with Ray Manzarek">{{Cite AV media|title=Ray Manzarek Plays "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Craigslist"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra5x88C0yQY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Ra5x88C0yQY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=May 24, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May 2010, Manzarek recorded with [[slide guitar]]ist [[Roy Rogers (guitarist)|Roy Rogers]]. A collaborative album between the two, entitled ''Translucent Blues'', was released in mid-2011; its lyrical content is primarily penned by songwriter/poets [[Jim Carroll]] and [[Michael McClure]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Hal |last=Horowitz |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/translucent-blues-mw0002134532 |title=''Translucent Blues'' – Review |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref> During June through August 2011, Manzarek recorded "[[Breakn' a Sweat]]" with DJ [[Skrillex]] and his fellow former Doors members [[Robby Krieger]] and [[John Densmore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bangarang-r2381342/review|title='' Bangarang'' – Review|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 26, 2020|first1=Jon|last1=O'Brien}}</ref> In August 2013, ''Twisted Tales'', another Manzarek–Rogers collaboration, was released and dedicated to Manzarek after his passing.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Here |first1=Classic Rock |last2=Now |title=Slide Guitarist Roy Rogers talks 'Twisted Tales' Final Album with Ray Manzarek |url=https://www.classicrockhereandnow.com/2013/08/slide-guitarist-roy-rogers-talks_23.html |access-date=2022-08-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=RAY MANZAREK & ROY ROGERS - Twisted Tales CD Now Available; Audio Samples Streaming |url=https://bravewords.com/news/ray-manzarek-roy-rogers-twisted-tales-cd-now-available-audio-samples-streaming |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers - Twisted Tales |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6867568-Ray-Manzarek-Roy-Rogers-Twisted-Tales |language=en |access-date=2022-08-28}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Manzarek's brothers Rick and Jim Manczarek are musicians, who all played together for [[Rick & the Ravens]]. Manzarek removed the 'C' from his surname Manczarek around when the Doors started playing gigs in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nightswithalicecooper.com/2020/02/12/the-doors-ray-manzarek-remembered/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830181610/https://nightswithalicecooper.com/2020/02/12/the-doors-ray-manzarek-remembered/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |date=February 12, 2020 |title=The Doors' Ray Manzarek Remembered |work=[[Nights with Alice Cooper]] |access-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref>

Manzarek married fellow UCLA alumna Dorothy Aiko Fujikawa in Los Angeles on December 21, 1967, with Morrison and his longtime companion [[Pamela Courson]] attending. Manzarek and Fujikawa remained married until his death. They have a son, Pablo, born on August 28, 1973, and they have three grandchildren.<ref name="Lewis">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-ray-manzarek-dead-doors-keyboardist-obituary-20130520,0,4938231.story|last=Lewis|first=Randy|title=Ray Manzarek Dies at 74; the Doors' Keyboardist|work=[[LATimes.com]]|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, the Manzareks divided their time between an apartment in [[West Hollywood, California]], and a small penthouse on New York City's [[Upper West Side]].<ref name="Weiss">{{cite web|url=http://passionweiss.com/2013/05/23/when-the-musics-over-one-last-trip-with-ray-manzarek/|last=Weiss|first=Jeff|title=When the Music's Over: One Last Trip with Ray Manzarek|date=May 23, 2013|website=Passionweiss.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625212239/http://passionweiss.com/2013/05/23/when-the-musics-over-one-last-trip-with-ray-manzarek/|access-date=September 25, 2020|archive-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> They subsequently resided in [[Beverly Hills, California]] (including ten years in a house on [[Rodeo Drive]]), for several decades.<ref name="Weiss" /> For the last decade of his life, Manzarek and his wife lived in a refurbished farmhouse near [[Vichy Springs, Napa County, California|Vichy Springs, California]], in the [[Napa Valley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Rock-n-roll-retreat-The-Doors-Ray-Manzarek-2798037.php|last=Matteucci|first=Jeannie|date=February 11, 2004|title=Rock 'n' Roll Retreat / The Doors' Ray Manzarek and His Wife Savor Life in Wine Country|website=[[Sfgate.com]]|access-date=January 21, 2020}}</ref>

Manzarek practiced [[Atenism]], an [[ancient Egyptian]] religion last observed in the [[Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt]], after discovering it in [[Sigmund Freud]]'s book ''[[Moses and Monotheism]]''. He also expressed fondness towards [[Jesus Christ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetapesarchive.com/ray-manzarek-article|website=[[thetapesarchive.com]] |title=Ray Manzarek (The Doors) 1998 Article &#124; Marc Allan }}</ref>

== Death ==
In March 2013, Manzarek was diagnosed with a rare cancer called [[cholangiocarcinoma]] (bile duct cancer) and traveled to [[Germany]] for special treatment. During that time, before his death, he reconciled with Densmore and spoke to Krieger.<ref>{{cite magazine
|first=Steve |last=Appleford
|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-john-densmore-on-reconciling-with-the-doors-231543/ |title=John Densmore on Reconciling with the Doors |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 19, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref> He also performed a private concert for his doctors and nurses. According to his manager, Manzarek was "feeling better" until things took a turn for the worse. On May 20, 2013, Manzarek died at a hospital in [[Rosenheim]], Germany, at the age of 74.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thedoors.com/news/ray-manzarek-founding-member-doors-passes-away-74-4872|title=Ray Manzarek, Founding Member of the Doors, Passes Away at 74|website=Thedoors.com|date=May 20, 2013|access-date = May 20, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807180203/https://thedoors.com/news/ray-manzarek-founding-member-doors-passes-away-74-4872|archive-date=August 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-usa-people-manzarek-idUSBRE94J0V520130520|title=Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of the Doors Dies at Age 74|work=[[Reuters]]|date=May 13, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013}}</ref> He was surrounded by his wife and brothers.<ref name="Reuters" /> Krieger said upon hearing the news of his death, "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."<ref name="Reuters" /> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rkd60d|title=John Densmore on TwitLonger|website=TwitLonger|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>

Greg Harris, president and CEO of the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], said in reaction to Manzarek's death, "The world of rock 'n' roll lost one of its greats with the passing of Ray Manzarek."<ref name="Lewis" /> Harris also said that "he was instrumental in shaping one of the most influential, controversial and revolutionary groups of the 1960s. Such memorable tracks as "Light My Fire", "People Are Strange" and "[[Hello, I Love You]]"—to name but a few—owe much to Manzarek's innovative playing."<ref name="Cava">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/05/20/doors-guitarist-ray-manzarek-dies/2343875/|title=Ray Manzarek's Keyboards Opened Musical Doors|first=Marco della|last=Cava|date=May 20, 2013|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
On February 12, 2016, at the [[The Fonda Theatre|Fonda Theatre]] in Hollywood, Densmore and Krieger reunited for the first time in 15 years to perform in tribute to Manzarek and benefit Stand Up to Cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-doors-reunion-ray-manzarek-benefit-tribute-densmore-krieger-20160201-story.html |title=Doors surviving members to reunite for Ray Manzarek benefit tribute |first=Randy |last=Lewis|date=February 1, 2016 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> That day would have been Manzarek's 77th birthday. The night featured [[Exene Cervenka]] and [[John Doe (musician)|John Doe]] of the band [[X (American band)|X]], [[Rami Jaffee]] of the [[Foo Fighters]], [[Stone Temple Pilots]]' [[Robert DeLeo]], [[Jane's Addiction]]'s [[Stephen Perkins]], Emily Armstrong of [[Dead Sara]], and [[Andrew Watt (record producer)|Andrew Watt]] (among others).<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/surviving-doors-alt-rock-royalty-light-up-l-a-celebration-for-ray-manzarek-20160213 |title=Surviving Doors, Alt-Rock Royalty Celebrate Ray Manzarek – Rolling Stone |date=February 13, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

In April 2018, the film ''Break On Thru: A Celebration of Ray Manzarek and the Doors'' premiered at the 2018 Asbury Park Music & Film Festival. The film highlights the 2016 concert in honor of what would have been Manzarek's 79th birthday, including new footage and interviews. The film won the APMFF Best Film Feature Award at the festival.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedoors.com/news/2018-asbury-park-music-film-festival-winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906084754/https://www.thedoors.com/category/news |archive-date=2018-09-06 |access-date=2023-04-24 |date=May 1, 2018 |title=Asbury Park Music Film Festival Winners |website=Thedoors.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Discography ==
Details are taken from [[AllMusic]].<ref name="Torreano">{{cite web
|first=Bradley |last=Torreano |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-manzarek-mn0000410307 |title=Ray Manzarek – Biography, Discography |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 15, 2021}}</ref>

'''The Doors'''
{{Main|The Doors discography}}
'''Solo'''
* ''[[The Golden Scarab]]'' (1974)
* ''[[The Whole Thing Started with Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Carmina Burana (Ray Manzarek album)|Carmina Burana]]'' (1983)
* ''Love Her Madly'' (2006)

'''[[Nite City]]'''
* ''[[Nite City (album)|Nite City]]'' (1977)
* ''Starwood Club, Los Angeles. 02/23/1977'' (1977)
* ''[[Golden Days Diamond Night]]s'' (1978)

'''With X'''
* ''[[Los Angeles (X album)|Los Angeles]]'' (1980)

'''With Piotr Bal'''
* ''Atonal Head'' (2006)

'''With [[Echo & the Bunnymen]]'''
* "[[Bedbugs and Ballyhoo]]" (1987)

'''With [[Michael McClure]]'''
* ''Love Lion'' (1993)
* ''The Piano Poems: Live From San Francisco'' (2012)

'''With [[Darryl Read]]'''
* ''Freshly Dug'' (1999)

'''With [[Roy Rogers (guitarist)|Roy Rogers]]'''
* ''Ballads Before The Rain'' (2008)
* ''Translucent Blues'' (2011)
* ''Twisted Tales'' (2013)

'''Spoken word'''
* ''The Doors: Myth And Reality, The Spoken Word History'' (1996)

'''With [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'''
*"[[Craigslist (song)|Craigslist]]" (2009)

'''With poet [[Michael C. Ford]]'''
* ''Look Each Other in The Ears''. Hen House Studio Album includes The Doors : Ray Manzarek, [[Robby Krieger]], and [[John Densmore]]. 2014

== Filmography ==
*''Love Her Madly'' (2000). Director and co-writer.
*''Induction'' (1965). Actor (Ray), director, and writer.
*''The Wino and the Blind Man'' (1964). Actor (blind man).
*''Evergreen'' (1965). Writer and Director.
*''[[Deal of the Century]]'' (1983). Actor (Charlie Simbo).
*''The Poet in Exile'' (in production).

== Books ==
'''Non-Fiction'''
* ''Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors'' (1998) {{ISBN|0-425-17045-4}}
'''Fiction'''
* ''The Poet in Exile'' (2001) Thunder's Mouth Press, 2002 paperback: {{ISBN|1-56025-447-5}}
* ''Snake Moon'' (2006) {{ISBN|1-59780-041-4}}

==Trivia==
*For director [[Oliver Stone|Oliver Stone's]] film ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'' (1991), Manzarek was portrayed by [[Kyle MacLachlan]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |title=The Doors |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/03/08/doors-2/ |newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 8, 1991}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Outline of the Doors]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book|last=Gaar|first=Gillian G.|title=The Doors: The Illustrated History|year=2015|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=[[Voyageur Press]]|isbn=978-0-7603-4690-7}}
*{{cite book|first=Heinz|last=Gerstenmeyer|title=The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors|year=2001 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-8311-2057-4|language=de}}
*{{cite book|last=Fong-Torres|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Fong-Torres|title=The Doors|year=2006|publisher=[[Hachette Books|Hyperion Books]]|isbn= 978-1-4013-0303-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Manzarek|first=Ray|title=Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors|location=New York City|publisher=Berkley Boulevard Books|year=1999|isbn=0-425-17045-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Shepherd|first=John|title=Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: VolumeII: Performance and Production, Volume 11|publisher=Continuum|year=2003|isbn=978-0-8264-6322-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Weidman|first=Rich|title=The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock|publisher=[[Backbeat Books]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1617131103}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.raymanzarek.com/ Ray Manzarek official website]
* {{discogs artist}}
* [http://www.thedoors.com/ The Doors official website]
* {{IMDb name|0544456}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ray-manzarek Ray Manzarek Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] December 8, 2008

{{Ray Manzarek|state=autocollapse}}
{{The Doors}}
{{1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

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