Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of the Doors, has died at the age of 74.
News of his death was announced on the band's official Facebook Page.
Manzarek “passed away today at 12:31PM PT at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer,” the statement on the Doors Facebook reads. “At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek.”
As TMZ notes, Manzarek, along with the late Jim Morrison, brothers Jim and Rick Manzarek, Robby Krieger, Josh Densmore and Pat Sullivan created some of the biggest hits including “Light My Fire,” “L.A. Woman,” “The End,” “Hello, I Love You,” among many, many others.
Krieger has since released a statement following the news of Ray's death saying, “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek. "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."
According to TMZ, Ray's family is asking in lieu of flowers that fans make a donation to Standup2cancer.org.
Image: Doors Facebook Page