Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and the founding member of rock band The Doors, has died after battling bile duct cancer.
He was 74.
The rock legend died on Monday at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek, according to band's official Facebook page.
The keyboardist is survived by his wife Dorothy, brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo's wife Sharmin and their three children.
The Doors was formed in 1965 when Ray Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with Jim Morrison.
The band went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide, and receiving 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum
L A woman", Break on through to the other side", The end, Hello, I love you, and Light my fire are some of the band's most famous songs.
After Morrison's death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors' guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger, according to the Facebook posting.
Expressing grief over Manzarek's death, bandmate 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."
Photograph: Ray Manzarek (right) with The Doors bandmate and guitarist Robby Krieger. Courtesy: William Brown/Reuters
