Ray Manzarek of The Doors Loses Battle with Cancer

The Doors’ founding keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, died in Germany Monday after a long fight with cancer. He was 74. Manzerek had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer.

The band formed in 1965, after Manzarek happened to meet Jim Morrison on California’s Venice Beach. The two had known each other from UCLA film school. The legendary rock group went on to sell 100 million albums worldwide.

After Morrison died in 1971, Manzarek continued working as a musician, producer, and as an author.

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 atwww.standup2cancer.org.

Manzerek seen performing here at the Wanee Festival in 2012.