RIP ......Ray Manzarek

[Baz]

Originally Posted by genrex

18 years old, my first beer at a bar... my older buddy John was tending bar... we sat together and watched the rain coming down, and he put Riders On The Storm on the stereo. I'll never forget that.

_

Rog - I had that on 8 track in Quadraphonic. Isolate Morrison's voice whispering "Riders of the storm" with no other sound...now that was some heavy stuff!

[R K T]

I didn't have time yesterday when I started the thread to post about my meeting Ray.....

First time was at the Doors concert at the Long beach Arena in 1969. I knew Jim Ladd, a local radio DJ back then (now on seriusXM) and he took me backstage before the show. Morrison was unapproachable and in another world, buy Ray was extremely friendly and open to meeting me. Only chatted for a few minutes and it was time to go onstage. What a night!
Fast forward to 1987. My girlfriend and I were having a late lunch at Noura Greek Cafe in LA and another couple came in and sat a couple tables away from us. There was nobody else there at the time. The guy gets up and comes over to our table and asks if he could borrow the bottle of olive oil that was on our table. We were finished eating and I said sure....as I looked up I immediately recognized him and told him of our meeting in '69. He seemed genuinely excited that we had met way back then. He sat down and told a great story about that night. My GF couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing. I had never mentioned the fact before about meeting him.
In an obscure sense, I considered him to be a friend after that. Great keyboardist and great guy.
Rest in Peace.

[genrex]

Thank you for starting this thread. Cool stories, good times, and great music!

It's a very good thing to take this trip together.

[esample]

Never met him, but got to know him by copping some nice keyboard licks from his albums. Godspeed, Ray.

-e.

[speeder]

RKT: Man, I miss Noura Cafe. I find myself still looking at that spot as I drive past it on a regular basis. Thanks for that great story.

My good friend Julia was married to John Densmore back when the Doors were still together and she posted this cool photo on FB:

[R K T]

Denis.....Working about 11 years in Beverly Hills, I probably hit Noura at least once a week! There and Cafe Figaro....Bill Cosby owned it at one time and would randomly walk in and bus tables for awhile.