Flautist and founding Moody Blues member Ray Thomas dead at 76

Photo by Patti Ouderkirk/WireImageFounding Moody Blues member Ray Thomas had died. His record company, Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records, has confirmed that the 76-year-old multi-instrumentalist “passed away suddenly” at his home in Surrey, England on January 4.

“We are deeply shocked by his passing and will miss his warmth, humour and kindness,” the label wrote on its Facebook page, adding, “It was a privilege to have known and worked with him and our thoughts are with his family and his wife Lee at this sad time.”

Thomas, famous for the Moodys flute solos — as heard on “Knights in White Satin” and other tracks — played with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted prog-rock group until 2002, when health issues led to his retirement.

Moody Blues bassist John Lodge, who first began playing with Thomas in the early ’60s in the band El Riot and the Rebels, took to Twitter to memorialize his friend. “Ray and I have been on this magical journey through life together since we were 14… two young kids from Birmingham who reached for the stars…and we made it together. El Riot you will always be by my side.”
 
Thomas appeared on all of the prog rock band’s albums, as well as a pair of successful solo records, 1975’s From Mighty Oaks and Hopes Wishes and Dreams the following year.

Thomas’ label points out that, “Despite mobility issues, Ray continued to play and record occasionally, contributing a new song, ‘The Trouble with Memories’ to a 2010 boxed set release of his two solo albums and more recently to the John Lodge album 10,000 Light Years Ago in 2014.”