Randy Meisner

Randy Meisner Biography

Randy Meisner (born Randall Herman Meisner in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on 8 March 1946; died 26 July 2023) was an American musician, singer, songwriter who is remembered for being a founding member both of Poco and Eagles. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main role was that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as a group member and session musician. He co-wrote the Eagles hit song "Take It to the Limit", which he also sang. As a youngster, Meisner developed an interest in the guitar at ten years old, after seeing Elvis Presley perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. He began taking lessons and playing in local bands. While attending Scottsbluff High School, one of his teachers suggested he take up the bass. Meisner played bass and sang with a local Scottsbluff band named The Dynamics (later The Drivin' Dynamics) from 1961 to 1965. Early in 1966, Meisner moved to California with a band named The Soul Survivors, later renamed The Poor. In May 1968, after auditioning alongside Gregg Allman and Timothy B. Schmit, Meisner joined Poco (originally named Pogo) alongside former Buffalo Springfield members Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Meisner appears on the group's first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, but quit the band shortly before the record was released. He was succeeded in the band by Timothy B. Schmit. In 1970, Meisner joined Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band while he was also active in Linda Ronstadt's backup band which featured Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Bernie Leadon. In 1971, he, along with Henley, Frey and Leadon, formed Eagles and they released their debut album in 1972. The success of Eagles brought an end to Meisner's session work, as well as his involvement with the Linda Ronstadt band. While he usually manned the bass and handled backing vocals for Eagles, he also played guitar on Desperado, On The Border, and Hotel California. During his stint with the band, he wrote and/or co-wrote songs on each of the group's first five albums - most notably "Take It to the Limit" on One of These Nights - and was featured as lead vocalist on several songs. Meisner decided to leave Eagles after the final date of the band's 1977 tour and returned to Nebraska to be with his family. The band replaced Meisner with the same musician who had succeeded him in Poco, Timothy B. Schmit. Following his departure from the Eagles, Meisner went on to release solo albums in 1978 (Randy Meisner) and 1980 (One More Song). Throughout the early 1980s, he toured with his band, Randy Meisner & the Silverados. In 1985, Meisner became part of an all-star band Black Tie composed of Jimmy Griffin (of Bread) and Billy Swan. From 1987 to 1989, Meisner formed a band and toured with former Firefall singer-songwriter Rick Roberts, called the Roberts-Meisner Band. In 1989 and 1990, Meisner reunited with Poco for the Legacy album and tour. Meisner was invited by Eagles to take part in their History of the Eagles world tour in 2013, but he declined due to health issues.