Sad news today; Ray Manzarek, Doors co-founder, keyboardist (and bassist) has died at 74.
I had the good fortune to work with Ray on all of his projects over the course of 5-6 years.
Ray was a great guy:
Funny, talented, smart, cultured, educated, charming, friendly, good natured & generous.
He was, of course, wealthy and enjoyed taking people out for nice meals; sometimes large groups of people.
He and his wonderful wife Dorothy loved coming to NYC (I booked him on the NBC Letterman show during one visit -- he was nearly bumped). They loved the museums and culture of NY.
I spent a fair amount of time with Ray and Dorothy, given that they lived in LA and I was in NYC. We got together every time they came to NYC (which was often).
They didn't have to do that, but they did.
I thought it was very, very cool then that we always got together socially and had a fun time, and I think that even more so now.
Ray had not one ounce of star attitude. He was proud of what he had accomplished, and liked to be recognized for those accomplishments, but he was one of the nicest, most remarkbly unaffected and down-to-earth people I've ever known.
Ray and Dorothy were always extremely nice to me, treating me like a good friend and an equal. They always seemed genuinely glad to see me. I was certainly always glad to see them -- it was a highlight of my life at the time.
We went to the Oyster Bar at Grand Central one weekend, looking forward to a wonderful seafood meal in a classic NYC setting; none of us -- just the three of us this time -- knew that the Oyster Bar was not open on wknds. then.
I particularly remember a meeting w/ the Manzarek's at their home near the Hollywood sign. A big white piano sat at the center of their living room, surrounded by big windows.
Ray was a very cool guy, and an important figure in rock history. A great musician, arranger, songwriter.
We're quite shocked and sad that he is gone.
(If I recall correctly, I first met Ray when he was rehearsing with Iggy Pop at the Wonderland Avenue Los Angeles home he used as a rehearsal space, and where Danny Sugerman was also living. A memorable encounter w/ Iggy, for several reasons, but that's another story.)
