These two songs perfectly show the two sides of not only john lodge but of the moody blues as well. This meticulously researched book is over 700 pages with hundreds of photos and interviews. An exclusive interview with the moody blues ray thomas. Ray thomas was a crucial part of the moody blues history. Cherry red records and esoteric recordings said in a. Sad news it is with profound sorrow and sadness that cherry red records and esoteric recordings regret to announce that ray thomas, founder member, flautist and vocalist of the moody blues, passed away suddenly at his home in surrey on thursday 4th january.
I had this song book many years ago but lost it somewhere along the way. In honor of a great band, we hereby bring you a guide to the 25 or so greatest classic moody blues songs. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, who has died aged 76, played various instruments, including the french horn, oboe. Thomas retired from the moody blues in 2002 after suffering from a series of health issues. Youtube the moody blues part 1 live in concert 1968french tv. To honor this amazing musician that gave us incredible music, lets enjoy 10 essential moody blues. Following the bands breakup, pinder and thomas formed the blues based the moody blues along with denny laine and clint warwick. Career early years thomas was born in stourportonsevern, england, of welsh descent. Ray thomas performing with the moody blues at the wembley arena, london, in 1978. Another morning moody blues song are you sitting comfortably. 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. Denny laine pays tribute to ray thomas of the moody blues.
At the end of 2002, founding member ray thomas retired from the group, reducing the moody blues to the trio of hayward, lodge and edge, the last being the only original member. Recorded at tollington park studios, london, england. A desirable original 1972 moody blues seventh sojourn 12in vinyl lp sleeve, clearly signed on the inner gatefold in ballpoints by all five group members. He attended the paget road secondary modern school and participated in the birmingham youth choir. Initially a harmonica player, he formed the group the knew cats with mike pinder. Thomas was posthumously inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, as a member of the moody blues, in april 2018.
Essays, drawings, vulnerabilities, and other stuff by abbi jacobso. The album was also available in cassette and cartridge. 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. Legend of a mind from in search of the lost chord album 1968. Graeme edge john lodge justin hayward ray thomas patrick moraz michael pinder clint warwick denny laine paul bliss. His impact as musician and songwriter helped to establish them as one of the most dynamic and pioneering of all progressive bands in three decades, from the 1960s, through the 70s and into the 80s. The english rock legend passed away at his home in surrey on thursday. The lp made a prog signature of the mellotron, a primitive tapelooptriggering keyboard that tripsters still covet. Jan 07, 2018 londonray 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. A singer and founding member of moody blues which won multiple awards.
Jan 04, 2018 he attended the paget road secondary modern school and participated in the birmingham youth choir. Despite the reissue, the album remains quite rare, particularly on cd. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their wellknown lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. Jan 07, 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. Floating by the moody blues as written and sung by ray thomas animated by frank cromer. All are welcome to post their songbirds who have touched their lives in songand please share why, thank you. Jan 07, 2018 london 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. But the bassist admits there are some stumbling blocks to staging the reunion in 2017. The moody blues this is the moody blues releases discogs. I believe artists and musicans in particular need their space and was heartbroken when ray retired but have respected his choices. The official moody blues website is the best place for news, merchandise, vip ticketing, interactive forums and information about the moody blues. The moody blues john lodge is trying to arrange a return of cofounding members ray thomas and mike pinder to mark the 50th anniversary of iconic album days of future passed.
Review of the cd version of the ray thomas former member of the moody blues hopes, wishes and dreams. Justin hayward john lodge graeme edge mike pinder and ray thomas d2018 who we believe has added all the best from all the moody blues. We unfortunately lost one of the greatest rock n roll legends of all time. 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. Albums recorded by the moody blues, with release dates and uk cd availability. The moody blues pay tribute to founding member ray thomas. Feb 07, 2018 according to a social media post on tuesday february 6 morning, the wife of the moody blues latesinger, songwriter and flute player ray thomas contacted early band member denny laine for a. Ray thomas was part of legendary progressive rock band moody blues, as a singer and flautist. The new millennium saw the moody blues reducing their touring schedule.
It is also their first album following ray thomas retirement from the band. 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. Esoteric recordings are pleased to announce the release of a 50th anniversary deluxe edition of the debut album by the moody blues, the magnificent moodies. Between 1967 and 1972, birminghams the moody blues released seven studio albums, commonly referred to as the core seven. Ray thomas of the moody blues, gives a little different flavor to his music away from the moody blues. 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 a long runner psychedelic rockprogressive rock band from birmingham, england, founded in 1964 ray thomas, john lodge and mike pinder had all been members of various amateur bands, before lodge left to go to college. How anyone can listen to that high pitched noise is beyond me. The flautist and vocalist died suddenly on thursday, his record label said.
Moody blues singer ray thomas has passed away after a battle with prostate cancer. Provided to youtube by universal music group voices in the sky the moody blues in search of the lost chord. According to the website, the books cover all things connected with the moody blues, from early lives, formative influences, early bands, solo careers, songs, albums and collaborations. Jan 07, 2018 the moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76. It was originally released in july 1975 and reissued on compact disc in august 1989. Jan 07, 2018 moody blues star ray thomas has died aged 76. Unlike other song books with a selection or two from albums spanning the moody blues entire musical career, this song book focuses on the songs from two specific albums, so it has selections not found in other books.
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. The christmas themed album released in 2003 is their first album since the magnificent moodies to feature covers in addition to original material. Thomas was found dead at his home in surrey, england, on thursday. From mighty oaks is the first solo album by moody blues flautist ray thomas together with nicky james, trevor jones, dave potts, john jones and mike moran. Jan 07, 2018 moody blues star ray thomas has died at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer. Floating by the moody blues as written and sung by ray. 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. May 23, 2012 floating by the moody blues as written and sung by ray thomas animated by frank cromer.
On the moody blues 1991 release keys of the kingdom, thomas played a substantial role in. More than half a century later, the moody blues continue to tour around the world with no signs of slowing down, connecting to multiple generations of one of rock and rolls most loyal fanbases. Hopes, wishes and dreams is the second solo album by ray thomas of the moody blues in conjunction with nicky james and the orchestral arrangements of terry james, released under the moody blues own threshold label as ths17 in june 1976. Legendary pioneer of prog rock to his fans, ray thomas, flautist, singer and composer for the moody blues, was a true prog rock hero. Hij stierf afgelopen donderdag in zijn woning in surrey, liet zijn. The moody blues were immensely popular while i was in high school and through college. Ray thomas contributed for my lady, which featured him playing the flute and providing the lead vocal at the same time, making it impossible to play live except with an orchestra. The 25 greatest classic moody blues songs guitar world.
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. It was recorded and released during the moody blues fiveyear hiatus. Moody blues hope for return of thomas and pinder louder. Ray thomas, a founding member of the moody blues, has died at the age of 76. Ray thomas biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. This album was made when the moody blues separated for a while before regrouping and making more albums beginning with octave. 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.
The flautist and vocalist died suddenly on thursday, his record label. A question of balance is the sixth album by the moody blues. Thomas sang, wrote songs and played flute, most notably on nights in white satin, which became the groups signature song. Thomas was among six members of the progressive rock band who were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fames class of 2018. The golden state by lydia kiesling, i might regret this. The moody blues the great moody blues 1978, gatefold. Ray thomas, a founding member of british rock group the moody blues, has died at 76. Remembering ray thomas of the moody blues, new york, new york. Moody bluesoprichter ray thomas 76 overleden nu het.
The group came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music. His record label confirmed the stars passing, revealing that he died suddenly on thursday. Cofounder ray thomas laid to rest the funeral for moody blues cofounder ray thomas was held tuesday at holy cross church in ceredigion, wales. 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 read full biography. Pages in category songs written by ray thomas the following 17 pages are in this category, out of 17 total. Moody blues member mike pinder helped develop the mellotron, a keyboard instrument which could simulate the. 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. Just three months ahead of the groups longoverdue induction into the rock and roll hall of fame, founding flutist and vocalist ray thomas has died. The second volume of the book contains a section on band statistics charts, writers, producers, alternative song versions. 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. December is the sixteenth and final album by the moody blues.
Raymond thomas 29 december 1941 4 january 2018 was an english musician, flautist. It is with profound sorrow and sadness that cherry red. Now associated as being pioneers of progressive orchestral rock, the moody blues had another life between 1964 1966, as one of britains finest rhythm and blues influenced acts. Started moody blues fan 196970 with in search of a lost chord, been a moodies fan ever since and especially fond of ray s flute work and song on stage. The first lineup calling itself the moody blues got together in spring 1964, and included thomas vocals, tambourine, harmonica, pinder keyboard and vocals, drummer graeme edge, guitaristsinger denny laine and clint warwick on bass and vocals. Jan 08, 2018 the moody blues have paid respects to cofounding member ray thomas, who died suddenly at his home on jan. While they stayed in step with the times, transitioning from richly orchestrated psych pop to more stripped down albums in the 1970s, the moody blues were twee, moustachioed and played gentle music that rarely rocked. If you love the moody blues and especially ray, check out his ultracool site.
Ray thomas, moody blues flautist and founder, dead at 76. Singer ray thomas of the legendary british rock group the moody blues performs. During this time, justin hayward and john lodge recorded the album blue jays well worth getting. Ranking the best moody blues albums in order a comprehensive.
Blue jays is a 1975 album by justin hayward and john lodge. 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 english rock hero, 76, died at his home in surrey on thursday, january 4. The flautist and vocalist died suddenly on thursday, his.
I have never been much for rock concerts, usually only attending the free ones such as those the jefferson airplane gave every year in grant park, but ive actually paid full fare for two, maybe three, moody blues concertsand not all that long ago. 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. Remembering ray thomas of the moody blues home facebook. Legend of a mind is a song by the british progressive rock band the moody blues, and was written by the bands flautist ray thomas, who provides. Mike pinder, justin hayward, ray thomas, john lodge, graeme edge. Deke leonard, the guitarist and author who served several tours of. 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. 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. By classic, weonce againmean music released from 1967 through 1972, although weve included vital songs from before and after that dreamy, mellotronpacked era. Ray thomas has once again shown why he was such an integral part of one of the greatest of all of the rock and roll bands since the very invention of this genre of music in the early 1950s. Ray thomas, 76, founding member of the moody blues the. Thomas announced that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014. Moody blues books exclusively about the band moody blues. The moody blues have paid respects to cofounding member ray thomas, who died suddenly at his home on jan.
842 115 993 1198 502 533 1044 344 714 479 1203 1645 178 668 1502 639 337 511 1286 1431 1412 1245 966 918 1388 850 404 620 224 1042 741 1634 715 243 1224 1076 1063 348 441 1332