Hi everyone, I was going to put in a new blog entry tomorrow, but with the passing of Keyboard great Ray Manzarek, I decided to write one today.
Ray Manzarek born Raymond Daniel Manczarek February 12, 1939 in the Southside of Chicago. As a kid he took piano lessons from Bruno Michelotti, but also liked Basketball and wanted to play center or forward, but his high school coach wanted him to play guard, but Ray didn't like that so he quit Basketball. He has a degree in Economics from DePaul University and later found his way to UCLA studying cinematograpghy where he met fellow film student Jim Morrison. He liked Morrison's poems and put them to music and they formed The Doors.
We all know about the impact and great music The Doors have made, so I am not going to get into a whole history of The Doors at this point. Maybe a future blog can be devoted to The Doors. Right now I'm going to focus on Ray.
Beisdes playing Keys and occasion guitar and vocals for The Doors. Ray was also in the band Nite City. in which released 2 albums. He also recorded and released 6 solo albums. Besides music Ray also wrote a few books, a memoir called "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors", a novel called, "The Poet In Exile" a story exploring the "Urban Legend" that Jim Morrison maybe faked his own death. A second novel called, "Snake Moon" a Civil War ghost story.
Ray married Dorothy Fujikawa December 21, 1967 and they remained married until his death. They have one son Pablo and 3 grandchildren.
He will be missed! The sound of his haunting keys in those classic Doors songs, added just the right element to those songs! He had such a recognizable sound that on first note anyone could tell it was Ray and The Doors!
My two favorite Doors albums are "The Soft Parade" and "Morrison Hotel".
Rest in peace Ray.
God's Blessings on your day, RB
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