RANDY MEISNER,
1946-2023

Randy Meisner, the original bassist in The Eagles whose broad vocal range was most fully on display in the band’s first million-seller, “Take It to the Limit,” died Wednesday of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Los Angeles. He was 77.

“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 Eagles said on their website.

Meisner joined Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Bernie Leadon in 1971 to create the Eagles, going on to record their self-titled debut, Desperado, On The Border, One of These Nights and Hotel California. He had previously been a member of Poco and Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band.

Meisner left the band in September 1977.

He moved to L.A. from the Midwest in the mid-1960s and made his recording debut with The Poor in 1967. After that band broke up, he joined Richie Furay and Jim Messina’s Poco, recording Pickin’ Up the Pieces but leaving prior to its release.

Meisner worked as a session musician and as a backing musician in 1970 and ’71, and like the other original members of the Eagles, was drafted to back up Linda Ronstadt.

Beyond “Take It to the Limit,” which features Meisner’s falsetto, he co-wrote and sang lead on “Certain Kind of Fool,” “Tryin'" “Is It True?” and a handful of others.

Meisner released two solo albums, Randy Mesiner in 1978, which featured “Bad Man,” a track used in the film FM, and One More Song, which peaked at #50 in 1980. It had two Top 20 singles: “Deep Inside My Heart” and “Hearts on Fire.” He released a third and final solo album in 1982, also titled Randy Meisner.

He formed the band Black Tie in 1985—later renamed Meisner, Swan & Rich—then aligned with Firefall’s Rick Roberts in the Roberts-Meisner Band. He reunited with Poco for the Legacy album and tour in 1989 and 1990.

Meisner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles in 1998.

It is with great sadness that I learned about Randy Meisner’s passing today. I’m just so grateful of the times that we spent together in the 60s and once again in the late 80s. Most of all I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to see him for the last time… pic.twitter.com/rzRz9LvCkT

— Jim Messina (@Jim_Messina) July 28, 2023

Sorry to hear #Eagles #musician Randy Meisner has left us. He was an incredible #singer #songwriter and #bassist. Peace to his friends and family. #Takeittothelimit #rip #RandyMeisner pic.twitter.com/S3tAOcv2fO

— Randy Bachman (@RandysVinylTap) July 28, 2023