Events
Inside the Music Box: A Conversation with Ray Manzarek of The Doors with Jonathan Curiel
Feb 25 2011
The Doors' music is as popular and relevant today as it was in the late 1960s and early 1970s - a testament to the creative output of all four founding members, including keyboardist Ray Manzarek. In this conversation with journalist Jonathan Curiel, Manzarek offers insight into the group's eclectic philosophies, their spiritual dimensions, and his own unique approach to music - an approach that has garnered him critical acclaim for four decades and counting. Manzarek and The Doors are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but their influences - and people they've influenced - go far beyond the world of music.
Ray Manzarek grew up playing blues and jazz piano before leaving to attend film school at UCLA. On a hot summer day in July of '65, shortly afer graduating with a Master's Degree in Cinematography, Manzarek ran into a former film school colleague on the beach in Venice, California. The friend, Jim Morrison said he had been writing songs and on request, began reciting the opening lines to "Moonlight Drive." "That's It!" said Manzarek. "Those are the best rock'n'roll lyrics I've ever heard." At that moment, The Doors were born.
Six years later, it was suddenly over. But The Doors have forever engraved the cornerstone of rock'n'roll with their music.
Manzarek, an innovative musician who played bass keyboard and organ while performing with The Doors, has consistently maintained a high degree of visibility as both a producer and musician since the group disbanded. He has produced four albums by the critically-acclaimed Los Angeles band, "X" and has recorded several solo albums, including a colaboration with Phillip Glass on a an electronic adaption of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." Manzarek produced and played keyboards on a version of The Doors' song "People Are Strange' which was performed by the group "Echo and the Bunnymen" for the soundtrack LP of the movie "The Lost Boys."
In the midst of continuing his role as overseer of Doors' projects, producing music for soundtracks and developing a movie to be titled "Love Her Madly," Ray Manzarek can also be seen with Beat poet Michael McClure at night clubs and college campuses doing what he loves best: orchestrating the marriage of poetry and music.
DETAILS
Friday, February 25, 2011
7:00pm - 9:00pm
CIIS Main Building
1453 Mission Street, San Francisco
$20/$15 Members and CIIS Community
ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSED - TICKETS AT THE DOOR
