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Ray Manzarek, Man Who Helped Open the Doors


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Speakeasy

Jim Fusilli

5/20/13

 

Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist who gave the 60s rock group the Doors the heart of its signature sound, died Monday in Rosenheim, Germany, following a bout with bile-duct cancer. He was 74 years old.

 

In 1965, Manzarek formed the Doors with singer Jim Morrison, adding drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robbie Krieger. A year later, the Los Angeles-based quartet signed with Elektra Records, in part because the label had issued the albums of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, a favorite of Manzarek, a Chicago native and electric-blues fan. In 1967, with Morrison serving as best man, Manzarek married Dorothy Fujikawa; in December 2012, they celebrated their 45th anniversary. They had two sons and three grandchildren, according to reports.

 

In an era in which guitarists reigned, Manzarek was a keyboard hero. On Break On Through (To the Other Side), the opening track of the bands debut disk, Manzarek demonstrated his versatility: with his left hand he played the bass part, doubling Kriegers line; and with his right, he filled the mid-range. (In concert, the Doors didnt employ a bassist, allowing Manzarek to play the parts on a Fender Rhodes Bass keyboard.) His wheedling organ opened the bands big radio hit Light My Fire. On the album, the track runs for more than seven minutes and features Manzareks psychedelic solo.

 

(Snip)

 

http://youtu.be/5iOQA_tMLdY

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