1939 – 2013

Ray Manzarek

American keyboardist (1939–2013)

directorkeyboardistmusicianpianistrecord producer

Born

1939-02-12, Chicago

Died

2013-05-20

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Ray Manzarek was born in Chicago on February 12, 1939, and worked as a keyboardist, vocalist, music producer, composer, and poet. He co-founded the rock band the Doors in 1965 with Jim Morrison, a fellow UCLA Film School graduate, and played organ-style keyboard instruments in the group. He died on May 20, 2013.

Occupation

Ray Manzarek is recorded as a director, a keyboardist, a musician, a pianist, a record producer, a singer, a poet and a composer, born in Illinois (1939–2013).

Connections to Illinois

Ray Manzarek was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1939. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Ray Manzarek

Who was Ray Manzarek?

Ray Manzarek was American keyboardist (1939–2013), born in Illinois (1939 – 2013).

When and where was Ray Manzarek born?

Ray Manzarek was born on 1939-02-12 in Chicago.

When did Ray Manzarek die?

Ray died on 2013-05-20.

What was Ray Manzarek known for?

Ray Manzarek is recorded as a director, a keyboardist, a musician, a pianist, a record producer, a singer, a poet and a composer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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