We've lost another one, Ray Thomas, flautist, singer and song writer for the band The Moody Blues has passed away at age 76. He had left the band in 2002 due to gout.

Ray Thomas, Moody Blues Founding Member, Dies at 76 - The Moody Blues

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

That's too bad. 76 isn't that old. They were an interesting group of musicians. I still hear their songs from time to time in different settings.

Used to listen to them all the time. Still have many albums (vinyl)

Lots of hit songs.

My first rock album was "Seventh Sojourn".

RIP

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I had an opportunity to see them 10 years ago in Tucson. They already had the new flute player (she is Very good). The concert was great. I always thought they were a studio band that would not sound good live. I was wrong, they really sounded good and played well. The drummer is still with them bit they have a younger guy also on stage that really beats the drums. Someday, maybe the R&R Hall of Fame will recognize there contributions.

Supposed to be entering the HOF this year, about 20 years too late. I wish they'd tour with the 80 piece orchestra like they did when we saw them at Riverport in St. Louis. We've seen the at least 8 times.

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I think they have? Along with (about time!) Dire Staits

https://www.rockhall.com/class-2018-inductees

To many songs to pick from but one song that is forever burned into my head that says Moody Blues

Always one of my favorite bands . I enjoyed him playing the flute.
Another good band with a flute was Jethro Tull.

Story In Your Eyes. A great song in its day and I still hear it sometimes. A lot of their stuff could be considered “a classic” and gets played here and there. They definitely had a genius for creating a mood with their music. Similar to Story, I always thought, was the later number Steppin’ In A Slide Zone, or something like that. My memory for things like that has gotten terrible.

That's just a great song. Meaningful, timeless, easy listening to. It's still gonna be great in another 30 years...

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Jorge

Sure brings some memories.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Moody Blues was an excellent bad and one of my favorite groups. Lots of good music, lots of good memories. Thanks Ray!

RIP, sir.

My very first music purchase with my own allowance funds was two 45's, the Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin" and "Please Mr Postman" by the Carpenters. I had quite the crush on Karen when I was a 13 year old in '75 when that came out.

They are a band that I still listen to frequently. In the last weeks it's been 'A Question of Balance' and 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour'. In fact, my son was just talking about what they now call 'Woke', a modern term for spiritual awareness. I told him that when I was coming up, the Moodies were heavy into spiritual journeys and that he should listen to 'The Guessing Game' and 'The Balance'. I also told him about Herman Hesse's 'Siddhartha' which was an important part of my 'path'.

The Moodies were so 'cosmic' that one fan convinced himself that when they came to town for a concert that the were going to do 'something' great. Nobody knew what he was talking about but he kept insisting that the sky was going to open up or something. When they just gave a 'great' concert he was highly incensed and angry that they had 'disappointed' him. It kind of reminds me of the stuff that John Lennon believed that 'Magic Alex' told him he could do. Like let him an Yoko float to an appearance in a transparent bubble aircraft of some sort. That guy was some con artist and Lennon believed everything he told him.

I've seen the Moodies in concert and introduced my musically gifted and talented wife, who knew nothing of great rock music to her, along with others.

Some years back, she asked me, "Is that the 'Who'?" I said, "No, that's the 'Guess Who'." She said, "Who?" I said, "THE GUESS WHO". This exchange went on for a few minutes and got quite heated.

Anyway, the Moodies were/are a great band and one of the more unique of any of them. I still love those swirling Mellotrons and other tape-driven instruments they used to great effect.

UPDATE: I just read up some on Ray Thomas. An broad instrumentalist and songwriter. He contributed many of my favorites in the bands history. I can see him doing 'For My Lady' in concert like it was yesterday.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Damn. R.I.P. Ray Thomas

Another one gone. This one really makes me feel old.

And Toni Tennille... She cited her reason for divorcing Daryl Dragon as 'inability to show affection'. I wish I'd known she was having a problem because I'd like to have remedied it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Sad to hear. My favorite was "Question"

"But in the grey of the morning
My mind becomes confused
Between the dead and the sleeping
And the road that I must choose."

My favorite band of all time.
Their lyrics were and are amazing. The sound unique. Even to today.
Ray passed from cancer. It was the reason he retired.
Yes, 76 is not that old.
The band will be in the HOF this year and I hope to see Mike Pinder attend.
He left the band after Octave and moved to California never to play with the band again. I have read through the years that he had a beef with Graeme Edge the led to his departure.
Anyway RIP Ray Thomas.

Of all of the blunders that the R&R HoF has made (and they are numerous), not inducting the Moody Blues until this class is the biggest. RIP Ray.

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paws for friendship

Pinder was always portrayed as a recluse and a sort of reluctant participant. Like any other information one gets from the media, who knows? In any case, I’d be surprised to see any of them appear at such a ceremony.

RARHOF was and is, a complete farce. There's not a lot more to say. Don't be disappointed that some of the greatest bands and acts in rock have been overlooked for DECADES in favor of people whose tenure is measured in a few years. There isn't an emoticon for total 'Bleh'.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I just got blown away by a by blast from the past. Watching this video it hit me just WHEN 1967 was.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Being from Memphis, which has as good a claim as anywhere for being called the birthplace of rock & roll, why the heck is the HOF in Cleveland????

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I'll bet a lot of cities wish that they had thought to claim it first. One thing I know is that it wasn't in the Southeast. We didn't hear about what was going on until months after bands made it big across the country.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Of course you are, my bright little star...

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Halfway and one more step

My MB favorite is Your Wildest Dreams, can't help but crank the volume up on the stereo and my hearing aids when that one comes on. Still gives me chills.

RIP Ray, thanks for the music.

One of my favorites too:
Thanks & RIP Ray
Steve W

very sad, great band

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

Early Moody Blues, they have always been a favored band.

Just seen them at Oakdale a few years ago. My first ever concert.