Randy Meisner, founding member and bassist of the iconic rock band Eagles, has passed away at 77 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Famous for his sky-high vocals on the band’s 1976 Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “Take It to the Limit,” Meisner was hailed as integral to the Eagles’ early success. Before joining the Eagles in 1971, he played with Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band and was the original bass player for country-rock group Poco. Meisner’s contributions to music were recognized with his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Katie Atkinson reported

Randy Meisner, Founding Member of Eagles, Passes Away at 77

One of the founding members of the Eagles and the bassist, Randy Meisner, renowned for his soaring vocals on the band’s 1976 Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “Take It to the Limit,” has passed away at the age of 77, as declared by the band on Thursday (July 27).

Meisner’s demise occurred on Wednesday evening due to complications associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as per the band’s statement.

“An Essential Part of the Eagles”

The band acknowledged Meisner’s significant contributions in their statement, praising his incredible vocal range, especially evident in his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit’.

Born in 1946 in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, Meisner co-founded the Eagles in 1971, alongside Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon. Prior to this, he was part of Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band and was the initial bass player for the country-rock group Poco in the late 1960s.

Eagles Tenure and Post-Departure

Meisner was an integral part of the Eagles from their eponymous 1972 debut album through to 1976’s Hotel California, before leaving the band in 1977. He was succeeded by Timothy B. Schmit, who had also stepped into Meisner’s shoes in Poco when he left to form the Eagles.

While Henley and Frey handled most of the Eagles’ vocal responsibilities, Meisner sang lead on one of the band’s most iconic hits: “Take It to the Limit,” from the 1975 album One of These Nights. The song reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1976 and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks, the band’s longest-charting hit. Meisner’s high-pitched vocals, especially in the closing stages of the song, are particularly memorable.

Accolades and Personal Life

Meisner, along with the Eagles, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

A tragic incident occurred in Meisner’s personal life in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, was accidentally shot in their Los Angeles residence, as reported by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Eagles have announced that funeral arrangements for Meisner are currently underway.

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