On the moody blues 1991 release keys of the kingdom, thomas played a substantial role in. The flautist and vocalist died suddenly on thursday, his record label confirmed. Lovely to see you might be an odd choice to open other than its obvious title, but it is pitch perfect and a great prelude to what is to. Ray thomas, 76, founding member of the moody blues the. Raymond thomas 29 december 1941 4 january 2018 was an english musician, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the english progressive rock band the moody blues. Jan 08, 2018 the moody blues have paid respects to cofounding member ray thomas, who died suddenly at his home on jan. All are welcome to post their songbirds who have touched their lives in songand please share why, thank you. This is the moody blues installment in universal musics collected series. Ray thomas, flautist and vocalist for british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76 his music label, esoteric recordingscherry red records, says thomas died suddenly thursday at.
While other members of the moody blues, notably justin hayward and john lodge, are somewhat better known, the late ray thomas position in the band should not be diminished. During work on the moody blues album that was to follow seventh sojourn, bandmates lodge, mike pinder, ray thomas and graeme edge summoned hayward and producer tony clarke out of a recording session to call off the project. Thomas was a singer and flutist for the 2018 rock and roll hall of fame inductees until his exit from the band in 2002 due to health issues. Jan 04, 2018 he attended the paget road secondary modern school and participated in the birmingham youth choir.
Moody blues member mike pinder helped develop the mellotron, a keyboard. Graeme edge, john lodge, ray thomas, justin hayward, mike pinder 1967 concerts. The flautist and vocalist died suddenly on thursday, his. Jan 07, 2018 ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Thomas label esoteric recordingscherry red records confirmed the multiinstrumentalists death on facebook, adding that thomas died suddenly at his home in surrey, england. Jan 07, 2018 moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer. Jan 07, 2018 ray thomas, flautist, vocalist and founding member of the moody blues, died thursday at the age of 76. They made some changes in musicians but settled on a lineup of pinder, thomas, edge, guitarist justin. Following the bands breakup, pinder and thomas formed the bluesbased the moody blues along with denny laine and clint warwick. He attended the paget road secondary modern school and participated in the birmingham youth choir. Jan 07, 2018 moody blues star ray thomas has died aged 76. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, who has died aged 76, played various instruments, including the french horn, oboe. He wrote many of the bands songs, especially of the folk genre.
Ray thomas moody blues biography raymond thomas 29 december 1941 4 january 2018 was an english musician, flautist, singer and composer in the uk rock band the moody blues. Initially a harmonica player, he formed the group the knew cats with mike pinder. Jan 07, 2018 ray thomas, a founding member of the protean british rock group the moody blues, died on thursday at his home in surrey, south of london. This meticulously researched book is over 700 pages with hundreds of photos.
They were still going strong as a touring band in 2009, the same period in which their live performance from the 1970 isle of wight festival was released as a cd and a dvd. The moody blues have paid respects to cofounding member ray thomas, who died suddenly at his home on jan. London ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted. Cherry red records and esoteric recordings said in a. Ray thomas, a founding member of the protean british rock group the moody blues, died on thursday at his home in surrey, south of london. Thomas sang, wrote songs and played flute, most notably on nights in white satin, which became the groups signature song. In 2018, thomas was posthumously inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame as a member. Career early years thomas was born in stourportonsevern, england, of welsh descent. From mighty oaks is a day in the english countryside with a man who is very,very english. His flute solo on the bands 1967 hit single nights in white satin is regarded as one of progressive rocks defining moments. The singer died suddenly at his home in surrey on thursday, 4 january.
Formed in 1964 by denny laine, clint warwick, mike pinder, ray thomas, and graeme edge in birmingham, england, the moody blues began as a rhythm and blues band, their name adapted from the style of music they performed. Mike pinder, graeme edge, justin hayward, ray thomas, john lodge. Collected by the moody blues available on vinyl, cd. See more ideas about moody blues, justin hayward and nights in white. Moody blues fans mourn death of cofounder ray thomas. The original lineup hailed from birmingham, england, and featured ray thomas harmonicavocals, mike pinder keyboardsvocals. Following the bands breakup, pinder and thomas formed the blues based the moody blues along with denny laine and clint warwick. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, who has died aged 76, played various instruments, including the french horn, oboe, piccolo, harmonica and saxophone, but was best known as the.
Ray thomas, the flutist, singer and composer of the moody blues, died in his. Ray thomas was, along with jethro tulls ian anderson, men at works greg ham, and mel collins and ian mcdonald of king crimson, one of a handful of wellknown flute players in rock music the main difference is that he was there first, as a founding member of the moody blues in the early 60s, and as a singer and songwriter within the band. Former band members mike pinder and thomas discuss those heady early years. Jan 08, 2018 london ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. There are indications that the moody blues were planning a tour in augsept, but it was apparently cancelled. Moody blues star and founding member ray thomas has died at the age of 76. Remembering ray thomas of the moody blues home facebook. Licensed to youtube by the orchard music on behalf of esoteric recordings.
Ray thomas, whose haunting flute playing and vocals filled legendary songs from the moody blues like night in white satin and tuesday afternoon, has passed away at 76 years old. An exclusive interview with the moody blues ray thomas. Although he most commonly played flute, thomas was a multiinstrumentalist, who also played piccolo, oboe, harmonica, saxophone, and, on the album in search of the lost chord, the french horn. By 1977 decca hierarchy was calling for a reunion album by the moody blues. To honor this amazing musician that gave us incredible music, lets enjoy 10 essential moody blues. His record label confirmed the stars passing, revealing that he died suddenly on thursday. Raymond ray thomas born 29 december 1941 is an english musician, best known as the flautist and as a singer and composer in the rock band, the moody blues. In 2003, ray thomas retired, and the moody blues carried on as a core trio of hayward, lodge, and edge. They disbanded when lodge, the youngest member, went to. Ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the. Ray thomas, flautist, vocalist and founding member of the moody blues, died thursday at the age of 76. Nov 09, 2014 this is a harry potter tragedy video using ray thomas of moody blues song within your eyes 1977. Jan 08, 2018 ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Remembering ray thomas of the moody blues facebook.
London ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, died thursday, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Jan 04, 2018 ray thomas was, along with jethro tulls ian anderson, men at works greg ham, and mel collins and ian mcdonald of king crimson, one of a handful of wellknown flute players in rock music the main difference is that he was there first, as a founding member of the moody blues in the early 60s, and as a singer and songwriter within the band. We unfortunately lost one of the greatest rock n roll legends of all time. Thomas was among six members of the progressive rock band who were inducted. It is with profound sorrow and sadness that cherry red. The group came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music. Thomas was among six members of the progressive rock band who were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fames class of 2018. Raymond thomas 29 december 1941 4 january 2018 was an english musician, flautist. Jan 07, 2018 the moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76. Being a long time moody blues fan and being old enough to have all their vinyl recordings, it was a thrill to see them put out individual solo efforts. They made some changes in musicians but settled on a lineup of pinder, thomas, edge, guitarist justin hayward. Mike pinder was living in california then and had no desire to move back to the uk.
It was recorded and released during the moody blues fiveyear hiatus. The 54 selections span the bands nearly 40year career from early british invasionera songs through to the 2003 seasonal offering december. The new millennium saw the moody blues reducing their touring schedule. Thomas was posthumously inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, as a member of the moody blues, in april 2018. London ray thomas, flautist and vocalist for british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76 his music label, esoteric recordingscherry. The musician, who played the flute solo on one of the bands biggest hit, nights in white satin, had suffered from prostate cancer. Youtube the moody bluespart 1 live in concert 1968french tv duration. Blue jays is a 1975 album by justin hayward and john lodge. London ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Remembering ray thomas of the moody blues, new york, new york. Fifty years have passed since the moody blues iconic album days of future passed rocked the world and ray thomas left his incredible flautist mark on. The new best of the moody blues pianovocalguitar by moody blues and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The moody blues are an english rock band formed in birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist mike pinder, multiinstrumentalist ray thomas, guitarist denny laine, drummer graeme edge, and bassist clint warwick. The moody blues 1978 2002 ray thomas flute, vocals, harmonica. Formed in 1964 in birmingham and still 2006 recording new music and touring the world. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, who has died aged 76, played various instruments, including the french horn, oboe, piccolo. Jan 09, 2018 ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, who has died aged 76, played various instruments, including the french horn, oboe, piccolo, harmonica and saxophone, but was best known as the.
He was a cofounder of the english progressive rock group the moody blues and had a powerful baritone voice, which was a feature of the band from 1967 until 1972. Jan 08, 2018 while other members of the moody blues, notably justin hayward and john lodge, are somewhat better known, the late ray thomas position in the band should not be diminished. Within your eyes by ray thomas of the moody blues youtube. Ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, according to the associated. English flautist, saxophonist, percussionist, keyboardist, harmonicist, singer, and composer. Ray thomas rushed to hospital during performance, nauseous and dizzy. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, has died at the age of 76.
Ray thomas, the flutist, singer and composer of t he moody blues, died in his sleep at his home in surrey, england, on january 4, 2018, following a battle with prostate cancer. Jan 07, 2018 ray thomas, flautist and vocalist for british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76 his music label, esoteric recordingscherry red records, says thomas died suddenly thursday at his home. The moody blues are still the sistine chapel of popular music. Moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer. Legendary pioneer of prog rock to his fans, ray thomas, flautist, singer and composer for the moody blues, was a true prog rock hero.
The moody blues formed in 1964 in erdington, a suburb of birmingham in the county of warwickshire. Rolling stone in an endless sea of rock and pop formats, the moody blues have distinguished themselves through four decades as that shimmering jewel vindicating rock music as a substantial artistic contribution to western culture. Raymond thomas was an english musician, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the english progressive rock band the moody blues. The moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76. Ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. The moody blues pay tribute to founding member ray thomas. Ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76, months before the band is due to be inducted into the rock and roll. Ray thomas was part of legendary progressive rock band moody blues, as a singer and flautist.
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