Randy Meisner

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Randy Meisner
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Randy Herman Meisner
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1946|3|8
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, U.S.
Died =
Instrument = Bass, Vocals
Genre = Rock
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter, Singer
Years_active = 1969 - present
Label = Asylum, Epic, Rev-Ola
Associated_acts = Eagles, Poco
URL =

Randy Herman Meisner (born 8 March 1946 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, U.S.) is a bass guitar player, singer and songwriter best known as a founding member of the rock group The Eagles.

Early years

Meisner was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main activity has been as bass guitarist and backup vocalist. His first public playing experience was with a local band named The Dynamics (later The Drivin' Dynamics) in 1961. In 1965, he moved to California with a band named The Poor.

Meisner turned to supporting himself through studio sessions. In 1969, he appeared on Poco's first album, "Pickin' Up the Pieces". He ceased playing with the band shortly before the record was released and was replaced by Timothy B. Schmit. While his photograph does not appear on the album jacket, credit for his contributions are given in the album notes.

In 1970, Meisner joined Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band. He appears on both "In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969" and "Rudy The Fifth". At the same time, he was active in Linda Ronstadt's backup band which featured Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Bernie Leadon.

Tenure with the Eagles

In 1971, he, along with Henley, Frey and Leadon, formed the Eagles and they released their eponymous debut album in 1972.The success of the 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 the 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's time in the band was reportedly weighed down by his desire to be with his family. According to ex-Eagle Don Felder, Meisner constantly threatened to resign. After the release of "Hotel California" in 1976, Meisner made good on his threats, citing "exhaustion" from touring. He would be replaced by Timothy B. Schmit, coincidentally the same bassist who replaced him in Poco.

olo career

Meisner went on to release solo albums in 1978 ("Randy Meisner"), 1980 ("One More Song"); and 1982 with the CBS release ("Randy Meisner") which was recorded with members of the rock band Heart. He also resumed his session-playing; supporting James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Welch, Richie Furay, Richard Marx, Peter Lewis, Danny O'Keefe, Mac Gayden & Electric Range - as well as being part of the one-hit band Black Tie (a cover of Buddy Holly's "Learning The Game").Meisner also briefly formed a band and toured with former Firefall guitarist Ricky Roberts, called the Meisner-Roberts Band. This band drummer was well-known musician Ron Grinel, who also played with Dan Fogelberg, Carole King,and other bands, primarily acts managed by Irving Azoff.

Meisner's band reunion activities have included the "Legacy" album with Poco in 1989 and the Eagles' 1998 appearance at the New York induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where all seven past and present members of the Eagles performed "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California".

Imposter

A man named Lewis Morgan of Atlanta, Georgia started impersonating Meisner beginning in 1989. His identity wasn't discovered until 1997. In 1998, he was arrested and spent 16 months in jail, but upon his release continued his charade and was still doing so as of 2006. In Reno, Nevada, he used tried to use Meisner's to rent hotel rooms,but was not as successful as area hotels spread the word about the imposter.Some people are not too familiar with Meisner's appearance, and Morgan used that truth to con instrument manufacturers, casino owners, and women. [http://www.sfweekly.com/1998-04-29/news/fake-it-to-the-limit/1] [http://www.gambling911.com/Eagles-Randy-Meisner-Imposter-073006.html]

Eagles Songs

Eagles songs written or co-written by Randy Meisner

*"Take the Devil" from "Eagles"
*"Early Bird" (co-writer with Bernie Leadon) from "Eagles"
*"Tryin'" from "Eagles"
*"Certain Kind of Fool" from "Desperado" (co-written with Don Henley & Glenn Frey)
*"Saturday Night" from "Desperado" (co-written with Bernie Leadon and Henley/Frey)
*"Is It True" from "On The Border"
*"Too Many Hands" from "One of These Nights" (co-written with Don Felder)
*"Take It To The Limit" from "One of These Nights" (co-written with Henley/Frey)
*"Try and Love Again" on "Hotel California"Played On James Taylor's Album "Sweet Baby James"

Eagles songs featuring Randy Meisner on lead or co-lead vocal

*"Most Of Us Are Sad" from "Eagles" (written by Glenn Frey)
*"Take the Devil" from "Eagles"
*"Tryin'" from "Eagles"
*"Take It Easy" - co-lead vocal w/Glenn Frey on second verse ("Well, I'm-a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona...") from "Eagles"
*"Certain Kind of Fool" from "Desperado"
*"Saturday Night" - lead vocal in the bridge ("She said tell me, oh tell me...") from "Desperado"
*"Midnight Flyer" from "On The Border" (written by Paul Craft)
*"On The Border" - lead vocal on the "Never mind your name" line of the bridge from "On The Border" (written by Henley/Frey and Leadon)
*"Is It True" from "On The Border"
*"One of These Nights" from "One of These Nights" - lead vocal on the refrain ("Oo, someone to be kind to...")
*"Too Many Hands" from "One of These Nights"
*"Take It To The Limit" from "One of These Nights"
*"Try and Love Again" on "Hotel California"

Discography

Albums

*"Randy Meisner" (1978) #94 US
*"One More Song" (1980) #50 US
*"Randy Meisner" (1982)
*"Dallas" (2002)

ingles