Date of Birth: February 12, 1939
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: May 20, 2013
Biography
Ray Manzarek, born Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr. on February 12, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, was an iconic American musician, best known as the keyboardist and a founding member of the seminal rock band The Doors. Manzarek’s distinctive keyboard playing, particularly on a Vox Continental organ, became a defining feature of The Doors’ sound, helping to craft hits like “Light My Fire,” “Riders on the Storm,” and “Break on Through (To the Other Side).” Manzarek grew up in a working-class family of Polish descent and showed an early interest in music, initially studying classical piano. He attended DePaul University, where he earned a degree in economics before pursuing graduate studies at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. It was at UCLA that Manzarek met Jim Morrison, and together with guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, they formed The Doors in 1965. The Doors quickly rose to fame, becoming one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. After Morrison’s death in 1971, Manzarek continued to make music, both as a solo artist and with other collaborations, including Nite City and Manzarek-Krieger. Aside from his musical career, Manzarek was also an author, publishing several books, including his memoir “Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors.” He passed away on May 20, 2013, in Rosenheim, Germany, from bile duct cancer, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of music.
5 Interesting Facts about Ray Manzarek
1. Ray Manzarek’s keyboard solo on “Light My Fire” is one of the most recognizable in rock history.
2. Before forming The Doors, Manzarek played in a surf band called Rick & the Ravens.
3. He directed and scored the film “Love Her Madly,” released in 2000.
4. Manzarek was a passionate environmentalist and often spoke on the importance of preserving the environment.
5. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doors in 1993.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ray Manzarek
1. “The Doors were successful before we were even born.”
2. “You have to get out there and make your own mistakes.”
3. “If Jim were still alive, he would have been a poet, a writer, an avant-garde filmmaker.”
4. “We were four guys who loved each other.”
5. “The music is all. People should die for it. People are dying for everything else, so why not the music?”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the time of his death, Ray Manzarek’s net worth was estimated to be around $25 million.
Children
Ray Manzarek had one son, Pablo Manzarek, with his wife Dorothy Fujikawa, whom he married in 1967.
Relevant Links
1. [Ray Manzarek – Biography](https://www.biography.com/musician/ray-manzarek
2. [Ray Manzarek on AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-manzarek-mn0000405592
3. [The Doors Official Website](https://thedoors.com
5. [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – The Doors](https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/doors
