best keyboardist ever?

Generally I think keyboards ruin songs, but I'd say Jon Lord is better.

He's great for what he did in The Doors, but he's pretty simplistic compared to a majority of the keyboardists in rock music.

it's funny you ask this topic is heavily debated in many chat rooms. And they dive deep too. Generally Manzarek is listed in the top 10 best "rock keyboardist" ever, but usually not #1. Keith Emerson is almost always listed in the top 5, often #1. Prog rock fans will tell you Dream Theater's Jordan Rudress or Rick Wakeman are the best ever. Pink Floyd fans cannot talk enough about Richard Wright's chord progressions. Bernie Worrell could funk the hell out of a keyboard, he's not as well known but belongs top 5.

I will say Manzarek had that unique ability to perform double duty during live performances. Ray would hold the bass notes with his left hand with his right foot on a Fender Rose. He really was the special sauce to The Doors success, never to be repeated.