Randy Meisner, the bassist and founding member of the Eagles who sang lead vocals on the band’s first big hit, “Take It to the Limit,” has died. He was 77 years old.
Meisner died Wednesday night in Los Angeles after complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Eagles Announced on your website.
“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the band’s early success. His vocal range was astounding, as evident in his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit,’” a statement read.
In May 1968, Meisner joined Poco with former Buffalo Springfield members Richie Furay and Jim Messina and worked on the group’s first album, but quit shortly before the record was due to be released.
In September 1971, Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon formed the Eagles. They signed with David Geffen’s Asylum Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1972, followed by Outlaw, On the border, one of these nights and Hotel California.
He did not get along with his bandmates and citing exhaustion he left the Eagles in the aftermath of 1976. Hotel California, a great success. He was eventually replaced by the same musician who had succeeded him in Poco, Timothy B. Schmit.
Meisner was inducted with the Eagles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
A native of Scottsbluff, Neb., Meisner was the bassist and vocalist for Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band before his days with Poco.
