Randy Meisner — a founding member of the Eagles, who co-wrote and sang the band’s hit song “Take It to the Limit” — has died. He was 77.
“The Eagles are sad to report that founding member, bassist, and vocalist, Randy Meisner, passed away last night (July 26) in Los Angeles at age 77, due to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD),” the band announced Thursday on its website.
“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band. His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit,’” the statement continued.
Born on March 8, 1946, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Meisner formed the Eagles in 1971 with Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon.
He worked on many of the rock group’s albums, including “Eagles,” “Desperado,” “On The Border,” “One of These Nights,” and “Hotel California.”
Meisner left the Eagles in September 1977 due to “exhaustion,” but reunited with the band onstage when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
The Eagles famously replaced Meisner with bassist and singer Timothy B. Schmit — who had also succeeded Meisner in his former country-rock group, Poco.
“All that stuff and all the arguing amongst the Eagles is over now. Well, at least for me,” Meisner told Smooth Jazz Now in 2011.
After Poco, he was the bassist and vocalist with Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band.
Meisner released several solo albums, including “Randy Meisner” in 1978, “One More Song” in 1980, another one titled “Randy Meisner” in 1982, and the 2004 compilation “Love Me or Leave Me Alone.”
Meisner is survived by his three children — Dana, Heather and Eric — with his first wife, Jennifer Lee Barton.
Meisner’s second wife, Lana Rae, died in an accidental shooting in 2016 at the age of 63.