It is with great sadness we report that Ray Thomas, the virtuoso Flautist of the Mood Blues, has died at the age of 76. Ray died, suddenly at his Surrey England home; no official cause of death has been released.
The light that shines brightly in this dark announcement is that Ray has lived to enjoy the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announcement that the Moody Blues had made it to the exclusive club, the Hall. After their most recent band broke up in 1964, Ray, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Clint Warwick, and Denny Laine formed the first version of the Moody Blues, hitting the charts with “Go Now.” A few months after the song became a huge hit on UK radio, Denny Laine would leave the band, and Justin Hayward jumped right in; forming what would be the longest running Moody Blues lineup.
Ray’s flute and vocals can be heard on all the songs made famous by the Moody Blues. Ray would eventually retire from the road in 2002. Ray Thomas, the flute made famous by the Moody Blues, dead at the age of 76.