Ray married Dorothy Fujikawa in Los Angeles on December 21, 1967 and they were still married when he died.
Almost 46 years! That has to be close to a record for a rock marriage.
It’s kinda funny that I didn’t purchase any real rock albums until I got to Vietnam, probably because I didn’t really have any disposable income up until then. In the Marine PX I found The Doors, Are You Experienced, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Surrealistic Pillow, and Disraeli Gears, among others. What an awakening that all was.
The music is over. Turn out the lights.
I agree that The Doors were really always Ray’s band. He created the band as a showcase for Jim, but it was Ray who both made it happen and created the distinctive sound.
I saw The Doors at the Isle of Wight in 1970 (although I was so far from the stage that I could scarcely appreciate them, despite already being a big fan). Shit, I feel old now. 
Yes, he did die. He had bile duct cancer that I know of, but it didn’t say whether this was the cause.
And let’s not forget how we loved him madly. 
I appreciate The Doors as do all of you; they never seemed “uncool” to me. And I always acknowledged Manzarek’s contributions to the sound.
What I am most astounded by now, though, is that he was 70-freakin’-4 years old. Has it really been that long since I first heard “Hello, I Love You” on Dad’s station wagon’s AM radio as we were driving to a picnic in the late '60’s?
I really do remember it as if it were yesterday.
mmm
ETA: When Dylan’s time comes, I call dibs on Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.
For anyone interested, I heard yesterday that the Fresh Air interview with Ray sitting at a piano will be broadcast on Friday at whatever time your NPR station usually plays Fresh Air.
I’m pretty sure that anyone who enjoyed the Doors will enjoy the interview.
RIP Ray.
Now I’m so glad I got to see him live in Riders on the Storm. I don’t care that it wasn’t The Doors, it was a great gig!
I think Warren Zevon made the best use of that little ditty…
Yep. He also had “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”.
[mmm gets an idea for a new thread]
mmm
I just found this video of Ray laying down his organ part on Weird Al’s “Craigslist”:
Thanks for that. He seemed like a great guy.