Randy Meisner

Randy Meisner

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.

Solo 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 tried to use Meisner's identity 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.[1][2]

Eagles Songs

Eagles songs written or co-written by Randy Meisner

• "Take the Devil" from Eagles
• "Early Bird" (co-written 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
• "I Cant'y tell you why" on The Long Run

Discography

Albums

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

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1980	"Deep Inside My Heart"	Pop Singles	22
1981	"Hearts On Fire"	Mainstream Rock	14
1981	"Hearts On Fire"	Pop Singles	19
1982	"Never Been In Love"	Pop Singles	28