Ray Manzarek

Keyboardist and founder of the doors

Ray Manzarek playing keyboards
Mr. Manzarek performing in Manhattan in 2004.

Timeline

  • 1930s

  • 1939 On , Raymond Daniel Manczarek is born

  • 1960s

  • 1963 Enrolls in UCLA film school, meet his future wife Dorothy Fujikawa and become friends with future band-mate Jim Morrison

  • 1965 The Doors Are Formed

  • 1970s

  • 1973 Doors officially break up
    - First solo album, 'The Golden Scarab' and associated tour

  • 1974 Band Ray 'almost' forms band with Iggy Pop

  • 1975 Second solo album, 'The Whole Thing Started with Rock and Roll, Now it’s out of Control' and associated tour

  • 1978 Doors release 'An American Prayer

  • 1980s

  • Release of book 'No One Here Gets Out Alive'

  • Release of first Doors video, 'Tribute to Jim Morrison'

  • Produces band 'X' and other emerging LA punk bands

  • Live at the Hollywood Bowl video released

  • 1990s

  • 1991 Oliver Stone’s movie “The Doors” released

  • 1997 The Doors release their long awaited “Doors Box Set”

  • 1998 Ray’s autobiography released, titled “Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors”

  • 2000s

  • 2001 Ray releases his first novel, “The Poet in Exile”

  • 2002 Ray and Robby reunite for 10+ year collaboration

  • 2004 Ray kicks off collaboration with Roy Rogers

  • 2006 Love Her Madly released, Ray’s first digital feature film
    - Ray and Bal release 'Atonal Head'
    - Ray’s second novel “Snake Moon” released

  • 2010s

  • 2010 Documentary “When You’re Strange” released

  • 2012 Ray and McClure release Piano Poems
    - Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger's final live show together

  • 2013 Ray's final live performance
    - Ray Manzarek passes away in Germany
    - “Celebration of Life” held in memory of Ray