OT: Ray Thomas has passed.

Comments

• ebergerly Posts: 3,255

  January 2018

  Oh yeah, the flute guy. I seem to recall hearing he had some health issues that kept him from touring with them. Though that was a while ago. I'm surprised they were still touring. 
• LeatherGryphon Posts: 12,173

  January 2018 edited January 2018

  Oh no!   That was my favorite group.  Loved his flute work.   I especially loved them during the '70s.  Fantastic stuff on the first eight or so albums up through "Octave",  back in the mellotron* days.  About the only group (other than the Beatles) that I knew all the names.  Saw them in concert in Orlando back in the day.  Fantastic, quality, insightful music.  Since then I've continued collecting most of the albums by all the members of the group as they tried out separate paths.

  They did (do) so much more than just "Nights in White Satin".  Especially the early stuff.  Very introspective.

  *Mellotron: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellotron

  Ray Thomas singing: "For My Lady" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF9NbSoJY8g  (no video but better audio than the previous link I had here)

  Ray Thomas on flute: "Isn't Life Strange" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WZZjXgJ4W8

  The group: "Legend of a Mind" ("Timothy Leary's Dead") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EXCIWlm1fs

  And on a more cheerful note: "Nice To Be Here" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mkyAw89F7Q  dreamy flute work

   

  Post edited by LeatherGryphon on January 2018
• sapat Posts: 1,735

  January 2018

  Oh wow, that is sad news.   Makes me want to get my flute off the closet shelf and have a go with my sheet music tomorrow..........
• LeatherGryphon Posts: 12,173

  January 2018 edited January 2018

  I've been listening to some of the old Moody's songs and I'm actually choking up and teary-eyed.  The songs acquired more meaning the older I got, especially the early ones. 

  But this would always take me to my happy place: "Nice To Be Here" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mkyAw89F7Q

  Post edited by LeatherGryphon on January 2018
• Peter Wade Posts: 1,675

  January 2018

  That is very sad news. The Moody Blues are one of my favourite groups and the six albums from In Search of the Lost Chord to Seventh Sojourn are still among my all time favourite albums.
• LeatherGryphon Posts: 12,173

  January 2018 edited January 2018

  More Ray Thomas happy place music: "Floating"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ_Glm2zl0E

  But he did sad music too: "And the Tide Rushes In" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjyaVA8qaaw

  And uplifting music of life:

     "Eternity Road" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY8RCe3QKQ8 

     "Dear Diary" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30u8OXhUgNI

     "Our Guessing Game" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkZENvvmF_M

   

  Post edited by LeatherGryphon on January 2018
• Nester751 Posts: 387

  January 2018

  Dang. Sooo bummed to hear this... :(