Manzarek was inspired by John Coltrane's version of My Favorite Things for Light My Fire.That intro he devised for "Light My Fire" was damn near the theme of the summer of 1967, if you didn't count the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. His solo was a classic, too, though it was a shame it (and Robby Krieger's follow-up guitar solo) had to be edited for the single.
But if you ask me what Ray Manzarek's best, or certainly most beautiful performance in the Doors was, I'd have to say it was . . .
I loved the Doors as a kid of the 60s/early 70s, and still do. I can still listen to “Riders on the Storm” and listening to Manzarek’s keyboarding is so beautiful. After a rough day at work, you can put that on, lay on your bed, and all the tension melts away.