Randy Meisner facts for kids

Randall Herman Meisner (born March 8, 1946 – died July 26, 2023) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was one of the people who started the famous band Eagles. Randy Meisner mainly played the bass guitar and sang high harmony vocals for groups and as a session musician. He also helped write the Eagles' hit song "Take It to the Limit", which he sang as the lead vocalist.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Randall Herman Meisner was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was the second child and only son of farmers Herman and Emilie Meisner. His grandparents came from a region in Germany called Volga German. Randy had an older sister named Carol. He remembered his mother always singing around their home. His grandfather, George Haun, taught violin.

The Meisner family grew crops like corn, beans, alfalfa, and sugar beets on their farm. Randy became interested in the guitar when he was ten years old. This happened after he saw Elvis Presley perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. He started taking lessons and playing music with local bands. When he was in Scottsbluff High School, one of his teachers suggested he try playing the bass guitar. Randy loved R&B music and was inspired by the great bass players in Motown songs. He said his bass playing felt very natural to him.

Randy Meisner's Music Career

Starting Out (1961–1968)

From 1961 to 1965, Randy Meisner played bass and sang with a local band called The Dynamics. Later, they changed their name to The Drivin' Dynamics. Their first paid performance was in December 1961 in Torrington, Wyoming. In late 1962, The Drivin' Dynamics released their first record. It was a 4-song EP, and Randy sang lead on one song, "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke. Only 500 copies were made. In August 1965, The Dynamics signed a record deal and recorded three songs. Randy sang lead on "One Of These Days" and "So Fine." "So Fine" became a popular song in their region and the southeastern U.S.

In early 1966, Meisner moved to California with a band called The Soul Survivors. They later changed their name to The Poor. Randy remembered it was a tough time, saying he often had to walk everywhere and sold newspapers to earn money. The Poor released several songs in 1966 and 1967, but they didn't become very famous. In 1967, the band performed a song in the movie Hell's Angels on Wheels. In the summer of 1967, The Poor opened for The Jimi Hendrix Experience in New York City. A CD of The Poor's music was released in 2003, and it included a song Randy Meisner wrote called "Come Back Baby."

Poco and the Stone Canyon Band (1968–1970)

In May 1968, Randy Meisner joined a band called Poco. He appeared on their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces. However, he left the band before the album was released. This happened because he was upset about not being included in the final mixing of the album. His picture was even removed from the album cover and replaced with a dog! But his bass parts and backing vocals were still on the record.

In April 1969, Meisner joined Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band. He helped convince Rick Nelson to hire his old bandmates from The Poor. Randy played on two of their albums, In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 and Rudy The Fifth. He also appeared in a documentary about the band's 1969 tour. Randy Meisner also worked as a session musician, playing bass on songs for other artists. He played on two songs for James Taylor's Sweet Baby James album in 1969. He also played bass on several songs for Waylon Jennings' 1970 album.

In the spring of 1970, Randy returned to Nebraska after a difficult tour with Rick Nelson. He worked at a tractor dealership and played in a band called Goldrush at night. Later that year, Rick Nelson encouraged him to return to Los Angeles to continue his music career. By mid-1971, he was asked to join Linda Ronstadt's backing band. This group included Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon, who would soon join Randy to form the Eagles.

Becoming an Eagle (1971–1977)

In September 1971, Randy Meisner, along with Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon, formed the Eagles. They signed with David Geffen's new record label, Asylum Records. Their first album, Eagles, was released in 1972. Randy usually played bass and sang backing vocals for the band. He also wrote, co-wrote, or sang lead on songs on their first five albums. His most famous lead vocal was on "Take It to the Limit". This song became the band's first million-selling single. Other songs he sang lead on include "Try and Love Again," "Is it True?," "Take the Devil," and "Tryin'." He also co-wrote "Certain Kind of Fool" with Frey and Henley.

According to bandmate Don Felder, Randy Meisner found it hard to be away from his family while touring. He also didn't like being the center of attention. Randy said, "I was always kind of shy... They wanted me to stand in the middle of the stage to sing 'Take It to the Limit,' but I liked to be out of the spotlight." During the 1976-1977 tour for the album Hotel California, Randy was very tired from touring for over eleven months. He also had disagreements with Glenn Frey about performing "Take It to the Limit," as Randy found it difficult to hit the high notes every night. After a disagreement backstage, Randy decided to leave the band. His last performance with the Eagles was on September 3, 1977. The band replaced him with Timothy B. Schmit, who had also replaced Randy in Poco. Randy later said he left due to "exhaustion."

After the Eagles (1978 Onwards)

After leaving the Eagles, Randy Meisner released solo albums in 1978 (Randy Meisner) and 1980 (One More Song). His 1980 album, One More Song, featured backing vocals from his former Eagles bandmates, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, on the title track. Randy helped write six of the album's nine songs, including the Top 20 hit single "Hearts on Fire."

In the early 1980s, he toured with his own band, Randy Meisner & the Silverados. In 1982, he released another album, also called Randy Meisner, which included the Top 20 hit "Never Been in Love."

In 1985, Meisner joined an all-star band called Black Tie with Jimmy Griffin and Billy Swan. Their cover of Buddy Holly's "Learning the Game" became a hit on country radio. The band released an album in 1990. Later, the band was renamed Meisner, Swan & Rich. This trio toured a lot in the 1990s and recorded an album.

From 1987 to 1989, Meisner formed a band called the Roberts-Meisner Band with former Firefall singer-songwriter Rick Roberts.

In 1989 and 1990, Meisner reunited with Poco for their Legacy album and tour. He sang lead on the song "Nothin' to Hide," which also sold well.

Randy Meisner was not included in the Eagles' 1994 reunion tour, Hell Freezes Over, which made him feel left out. He also asked to join them for their Millennium Concert in 1999 but was told no. However, he stated he held no hard feelings towards Don Henley and Glenn Frey.

In 1998, all seven past and present members of the Eagles, including Randy Meisner, performed together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City. They played "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California". His replacement in the Eagles, Timothy B. Schmit, spoke kindly about Randy in his acceptance speech.

Randy reunited with The Drivin' Dynamics for a performance in 2000. Both the band and Randy as a solo artist were inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame that year. In the 2000s, he performed with a touring group called World Classic Rockers. After experiencing chest pains in 2004, Randy reduced his touring. His last known public performance was in 2008 in Naples, Florida.

The Eagles invited Randy Meisner to join their "History of the Eagles" world tour in 2013, but he couldn't due to health issues. In September 2018, he was recognized for attending an Eagles concert in California. In 2020, Randy appeared remotely in two Richie Furay livestream concerts, singing harmony. He also chatted with his friend and former Eagles bandmate Joe Walsh on a radio show.

Personal Life

Randy Meisner was married twice. He married his high-school girlfriend, Jennifer Lee Barton, in 1963. They had a son, Dana Scott Meisner, in November 1963. They later had twins, Heather Leigh and Eric Shane Meisner, in May 1970. They divorced in 1981.

Randy later married Lana Rae in November 1996. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2016.

Many people who knew and worked with Randy Meisner said he was a very kind person. Don Felder, James Taylor, and Rick Roberts all described him as one of the nicest people they had met. Don Felder said, "He was a wonderful Midwestern guy with a great heart and a loving soul." Henry Diltz, who took many photos of Randy, called him "a very gentle soul. A quiet and friendly guy. No aggressive vibe at all. Very sweet. He was so there and open." People also noticed his shyness, which sometimes made performing difficult for him. Don Henley told an author that Randy was "extremely uncomfortable with so-called superstardom."

Impersonator

In 1988, a man named Lewis Peter "Buddy" Morgan started pretending to be Randy Meisner. He had also been charged with pretending to be Don Henley. Morgan continued to impersonate Randy for many years, trying to trick people into giving him hotel rooms or other things.

Death

Randy Meisner died in Los Angeles on July 26, 2023, at the age of 77. He passed away due to problems related to a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Discography

See also Poco discography, Eagles discography, and Black Tie discography for Meisner's work with these bands.

Albums

Live Albums

Compilation Albums

Singles

Other Music Appearances

• "You" and "Into the Night" (1990) from Ballerina (Faith) soundtrack

Session Work

• Bass on "Honeysuckle" and "Homesick Kid" by Compton & Batteau, on the In California album, released 1970
• Bass on "Blossom" and "Country Road" by James Taylor, on the Sweet Baby James album, released 1970

See also

• List of people with bipolar disorder