Founding member of 'The Doors' Ray Manzarek dies at 74

The keyboard player and co-founder of rock band 'The Doors', Ray Manzarek, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 74.

The veteran, who suffered from bile duct cancer- also known as adenocarcinoma- for several years, was surrounded by his wife Dorothy and brothers in hospital in Rosenheim, Germany, when he passed away, the Independent reported.

The band's guitarist Robby Krieger said in a statement: "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today. I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."

After the split of the band in 1973, Manzarek remained busy in its aftermath playing with artists including Iggy Pop and Echo and the Bunnymen.

Manzarek grew up in Chicago and moved to LA in 1962 to study film at UCLA, where he first met 'Doors' singer Jim Morrison and later, they formed the band together.

Manzarek is survived by his wife, two brothers, a son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

According to the band's official Facebook page, his family has asked that in lieu of flowers, fans should make an in memoriam donation in Manzarek's name to Standup2cancer.org.