The Doors' Ray Manzarek dies at 74

[Hum]

(CNN) -- The Doors' founding keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, died in Germany Monday after a long fight with cancer, his publicist said in a statement. He was 74.

The artist had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

The Doors formed in 1965 after Manzarek happened to meet Jim Morrison on California's Venice Beach. The legendary rock group went on to sell 100 million albums worldwide, establishing five multiplatinum discs in the U.S.

Morrison died in 1971, but Manzarek carried on The Doors' legacy, continuing to work as a musician and also as an author.

"I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today," said Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. "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."

Manzarek is survived by his brothers Rick and James, his wife Dorothy, his son Pablo, and three grandchildren. Instead of flowers, the family's asked that a donation be made in Manzarek's name at www.standup2cancer.org.

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[DarkyDan]

Surprised this one has zero replies! Manzarek's keys/organ/bass were pretty much the core of The Doors sound. Even though I'm a guitarist Ray constantly took the focus away from Robbie Krieger in my opinion.

Sad when cancer forces an end to people's lives, 74 not a horrible innings though. There will be a constant stream of rock legends dying in the next decade or so :(

[Growled Member]

A great one has passed. RIP.

[Hum]

I wasn't a great Doors fan, but I wish him well ...