Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison (1943-1971), American singer and songwriter, born in Melbourne, Florida, and educated at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

In 1965 Morrison formed a group called the Doors with friends Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger. The group—with Morrison as lead singer—became known for its extravagant performing style, combining sensual movements and a hard-hitting sound. Morrison and other group members also had a reputation for using drugs. Morrison’s flamboyant performance at a 1969 concert in Miami, Florida, led to the filing of obscenity charges. The incident caused ten concert organizers to cancel scheduled dates on the group’s tour. Although the Miami case was eventually dropped, the group never lost its reputation for obscenity. Eventually Morrison took a vacation in France in order to rethink the course of his life. He died there of heart failure.

The group's first album, The Doors (1967)—which included the singles “Light My Fire” and “The End”—became a number-one hit. Other albums by the band included Waiting for the Sun (1968), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), and L.A. Woman (1971). The Lords and the New Creatures (1971) was one of several published collections of Morrison's poetry. Oliver Stone's film The Doors (1991), with Val Kilmer in the part of Morrison, recounts the history of the group and its lead artist.