Ray Manzarek (born Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr.; February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013) was an American musician, singer, producer, film director, and author, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of The Doors. Manzarek was a self-taught keyboard player whose early influences included jazz and R&B. He co-founded the Doors in 1965 with singer and lyricist Jim Morrison, and served as the band’s keyboardist and co-songwriter until Morrison’s death in 1971. He went on to record a number of albums with guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore as Manzarek–Krieger until his death in 2013. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
| Name | Ray Manzarek |
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1939 |
| Genres | Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Jazz-Rock |
| Instruments | Organ, Keyboards, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals |
| Labels | Elektra, Bright Midnight Records, Rhino |
| Associated acts | The Doors, Nite City, Manzarek-Krieger |
10 Best Ray Manzarek Quotes
“One of the things that I always had in my mind was the idea of the interlocking parts of the Doors.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Rolling Stone
“We were very much in the forefront of the psychedelic music movement and that was one of our great contributions to the culture and to the music of the world.”
– Ray Manzarek, from The New Yorker
“Jim Morrison was a genius and a shaman.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Interview Magazine
“The Doors were a four-way street. We were four people that made one sound.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Guitar World
“We needed to be a unique band, and the only way to do that was to write original material.”
– Ray Manzarek, from The New York Times
“Jim Morrison was the great lyricist of the 20th century.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Grammy.com
“We felt like we were doing something very special, something that nobody else was doing.”
– Ray Manzarek, from MTV
“The Doors are a part of the culture, and they will be forever.”
– Ray Manzarek, from The Telegraph
“We were the voice of a generation, a generation that was looking for something.”
– Ray Manzarek, from BBC News
“The Doors were the soundtrack of the 1960s.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Huffington Post
7 Ray Manzarek Quotes About The Doors
“The Doors were a unique band in rock and roll history. We were not just another rock and roll band. We were something else.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“The Doors were the only band that could take a poem and turn it into a song.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“We had no interest in being just another rock and roll band. We wanted to be something else, something unique.”
– Ray Manzarek, from NPR
“We had no interest in making disposable music, we wanted to make music of a mythic quality and that’s what we did.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“Jim was a great poet and he had the courage and the vision to take the poetry and put it to music…The Doors were the only band that could take a poem and turn it into a song.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“The Doors were always about transcendence. We wanted to take our audience to a higher level.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“The Doors were all about the power of music to transform.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
7 Inspirational Ray Manzarek Quotes
“I’ve always felt that music is an art form of communication. Music is a language that allows us to communicate from one person to another, from one soul to another.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Guitar Muse
“Music is the ultimate expression of the human spirit.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Albany Writers Institute
“As an artist, my job is to create the beauty, to create the magic.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Music Radar
“The artist is the one who has to be brave and go into the unknown.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Music Radar
“I’m an artist, and as an artist, I can do whatever I want.”
– Ray Manzarek, from NPR
“It’s the artist’s job to create the beauty and the magic.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Yahoo
“It’s an artist’s job to create something new and to make something beautiful.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Interviews
6 Famous Ray Manzarek Quotes
“It was only when I saw The Doors live that I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ That was it. I was gone.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Rolling Stone
“Most of the time, it was just me and Jim writing the music. I would come up with the music, and he would come up with the words.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Guitar World
“Music is the doorway that has allowed me to travel to other worlds.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Grammy.com
“The Doors is not a band of the ’60s. The Doors are a band of the ’90s, the ’00s, the ’10s, the ’20s, the ’30s, and the ’40s.”
– Ray Manzarek, from HuffPost
“The music of The Doors is still so alive and vibrant now because the music was always ahead of its time and ahead of the culture.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Ultimate Classic Rock
“The Doors created a sound that was a combination of jazz and rock, blues and classical, and it was truly unique and revolutionary.”
– Ray Manzarek, from The Telegraph
6 Ray Manzarek Quotes About Love
“Love is the most important emotion a human being can feel.”
– Ray Manzarek, from GRAMMY.com
“The only thing that really matters is love.”
– Ray Manzarek, from GRAMMY.com
“Love is the answer.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“Love is the only thing that can save us.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“Love is more important than anything else, including art and music.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“Love is the only thing that matters.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
5 Ray Manzarek Quotes About Life
“Life is like a great big highway, and we all choose which road to take.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Huffpost
“I think life is an adventure and you better grab it and grab it quick.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Rolling Stone
“Life is a mystery and we spend our days trying to figure it out.”
– Ray Manzarek, from Discogs
“Life is a series of opportunities to choose from, so we can make our own destiny.”
– Ray Manzarek, from YouTube
“Life is a beautiful thing that we should live to the fullest.”
– Ray Manzarek, from LA Times
8 Quotes About Ray Manzarek
“Ray Manzarek was a huge part of my life. I will never forget the first day I met him at his studio in Santa Monica. Every time I saw him, it was like seeing a father.”
– John Densmore, from Rolling Stone
“Ray was a huge part of my life and I will miss him eternally. The Doors will live on but Ray put his inimitable stamp on the doors’ sound and spirit and without him it just won’t be the same.”
– Robby Krieger, from Rolling Stone
“Ray was a huge part of my life and I will miss him eternally. The Doors will live on but Ray put his inimitable stamp on the Doors’ sound and spirit and without him it just won’t be the same.”
– Robby Krieger, from Rolling Stone
“Ray Manzarek was an extraordinary musician and a true original who left his mark on the history of contemporary music.”
– Gary Kemp, from NME
“Ray was a huge part of my life and I will miss him eternally. The Doors will live on but Ray put his inimitable stamp on the Doors’ sound and spirit and without him it just won’t be the same.”
– Robby Krieger, from Rolling Stone
“The Doors were a band of brothers and Ray was the oldest, and the leader of the band. He was the one who held it all together.”
– John Densmore, from Hollywood Reporter
“Ray Manzarek was the heart and soul of the Doors. His keyboard playing style set the tone for the magical music of the Doors.”
– Tom Petty, from Rolling Stone
“Ray Manzarek was a genius musician and an even better friend. I will miss him terribly.”
– Dave Stewart, from Rolling Stone
Interview with Ray Manzarek
Frequently Asked Questions About Ray Manzarek
1. What were some of Ray Manzarek’s most famous quotes?
Ray Manzarek was a true visionary and an influential figure in the music industry. As a founding member of the iconic band The Doors, Manzarek was responsible for their unique and genre-defying sound. Manzarek’s ability to lead the band and create groundbreaking music was unmatched. His insight, creativity and charisma left a lasting impression on the world of music.
Here are some of Ray Manzarek’s most famous quotes:
- “Music is an art form that goes right to the soul.”
- “The basic building blocks of music are the four elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and timbre.”
- “Music is a spiritual thing. It’s a higher consciousness and it’s a language that all people understand.”
- “You can’t separate music from the spiritual. The spiritual is the basis of all music.”
- “Music is a way of expressing the inexpressible.”
- “Music is the only thing that can take you out of yourself and into a higher place.”
- “Music is a form of communication that is more powerful than words.”
- “Music is the only language that can truly express the depths of your soul.”
2. What were some of Ray Manzarek’s inspirations for his music?
Ray Manzarek was a multi-instrumentalist who was known for his distinctive keyboard style. His music drew from a wide range of influences, including jazz, blues, classical, and Latin music. He was also heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s.
- Jazz
- Blues
- Classical
- Latin
- Psychedelic Music of the 1960s
Manzarek was also inspired by the diverse musical styles of other artists, such as the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Miles Davis. He was a great admirer of these musicians, and their influence can be heard in his music.
3. How did Ray Manzarek’s involvement with The Doors shape his career?
- Ray Manzarek’s involvement with The Doors resulted in the band’s rise to fame and the lasting legacy they left on the music industry.
- Manzarek’s unique and highly influential keyboard style, which was an integral part of The Doors’ sound, earned him much critical acclaim and recognition.
- The Doors’ success brought Manzarek to the forefront of the music scene and enabled him to become a highly sought-after producer, musician, and composer.
- Manzarek’s work with The Doors also helped open doors for him to collaborate with other prominent musicians, such as Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix.
- The influence of The Doors and Manzarek’s contribution is still felt today, as their music continues to be played, studied, and celebrated throughout the world.
4. What lasting impact has Ray Manzarek had on the music industry?
Ray Manzarek has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From his early days as a member of The Doors to his later works as a solo artist and producer, Manzarek’s influence can be heard in countless recordings.
- Manzarek was a pioneer in the use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments in popular music, helping to bring them into mainstream use.
- He brought a jazz sensibility to rock music, blending improvisation and experimentation with traditional rock song structures.
- His keyboard playing style was characterized by its use of space, allowing the lyrics and other instruments to carry the song.
- He was a talented producer, working with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
- He also mentored and supported a generation of emerging artists, helping to nurture their talents.
- His influence remains evident in many of today’s popular acts, from alternative rock to electronica.
Ray Manzarek’s influence on the music industry will be felt for generations to come. His unique approach to music-making has helped shape the sound of modern music, and his legacy will live on in the works of the many artists he has inspired.
5. What other projects was Ray Manzarek involved in during his career?
Ray Manzarek was an incredibly talented and multi-faceted musician. He was best known for his work with The Doors, but he also had a successful solo career and collaborated with many other artists. Here are some of the other projects that Ray Manzarek was involved in during his career:
- He formed Nite City, a blues-rock band, in 1976.
- In 1978, he was part of the supergroup Rhinoceros with John Finley, Peter Holsapple, Billy Mundi, and Danny Weis.
- In the 1980s, he reunited with The Doors for a series of live concerts.
- He released a number of solo albums, including Carmina Burana (1984), The Whole Thing Started with Rock & Roll Now It’s Out of Control (1988), and Ballads Before the Rain (1999).
- In 2003, he collaborated with punk rocker Iggy Pop on the album “Brick by Brick”.
- In 2004, he formed the group Manzarek-Krieger with former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger.
- In 2010, he collaborated with singer-songwriter Roy Rogers on the album “Translucent Blues”.
- In 2012, he released the album “Twisted Tales” with the group The Doors of the 21st Century.
Conclusion
Ray Manzarek was an innovative musician and songwriter who left his mark on the world of rock and roll. His contributions to The Doors, as well as his solo work, have earned him a place in the pantheon of rock legends. His unique solo style and legendary keyboard riffs have inspired generations of musicians. His quotes offer insight into his creative process, and serve as a lasting reminder of his influence on the music industry. Ray Manzarek’s legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.
