Arts & Entertainment
Eagles Bassist And Hall Of Fame Rocker Randy Meisner Dead At 77
Randy Meisner, a singer and bassist, was the co-founder of the iconic rock band and co-author of the hit song "Take It to the Limit."
LOS ANGELES, CA — Funeral services were pending Thursday for Randy Meisner, a singer, bassist and co-founder of the Eagles best known for co- writing and singing "Take It to the Limit," one of the band's many major hits.
Meisner died Wednesday night in Los Angeles at age 77 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a statement released by the band.
Called “the sweetest man in the music business” by former bandmate Don Felder, the baby-faced Meisner joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to form a quintessential Los Angeles band and one of the most popular acts in history.
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band,” the Eagles’ statement said. “His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit.’”
"As the original bass player for the pioneering country-rock group, Poco, Randy was at the forefront of the musical revolution that began in Los Angeles, in the late 1960s," according to the band's statement.
Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"In 1971, Randy, along with Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon, formed the Eagles and contributed to the band's albums, `Eagles,' `Desperado,' `On The Border,' `One of These Nights,' and `Hotel California.' He was inducted with the Eagles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Meisner left the Eagles in 1977, after which he released a series of solo albums and ultimately with a number of new bands. After developing health troubles, he had not performed publicly since 2008, even turning down an offer to rejoin the Eagles for the band's 2013 tour.
Before his work with Poco, the Nebraska native performed with Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band.
Meisner was married twice and had three children.
The bassist had endured numerous afflictions in recent years and personal tragedy in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, accidentally shot herself and died. Meanwhile, Randy Meisner had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had severe issues with alcohol, according to court records and comments made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered Meisner to receive constant medical care.
City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
