Four original members made up the classic lineup of The Doors: Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore.
Morrison was the lead vocalist, Manzarek played keyboards, Krieger played guitar, and Densmore played drums. Together, they formed the lineup that recorded the band's best-known albums and established The Doors as one of the defining American rock groups of the 1960s.
The group developed in Los Angeles in 1965. Morrison and Manzarek had known each other before forming the band, while Densmore joined from the local jazz scene. Krieger completed the lineup after being invited to join, creating the four-person combination associated with The Doors' classic sound.
The number can be confusing because the band sometimes used additional musicians, especially bass players, during recording and touring. Patricia Sullivan, for example, briefly played bass during the group's early period, and session bassist Jerry Scheff performed on L.A. Woman. Those contributors did not change the canonical four-member lineup of Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore.