OT: Ray Thomas has passed.
frankrblow
Posts: 2,052
in The Commons
Moody Blues star, Ray Thomas has died.
Remember "Nights in white satin"? 

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