RAY Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died. He was 74.

Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died on Monday at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family.

He had been stricken by bile duct cancer.

Bandmate Robby Krieger has released a statement which reads, "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek.

"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."

Manzarek founded The Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California.

The band went on to become one of the most successful rock 'n' roll acts to emerge from the 1960s and continues to resonate with fans decades after Morrison's death brought the band to an end.