LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Randy Meisner, the co-founding member of the Eagles who brought high harmonies to songs like 'Take It Easy' and 'The Best of My Love' died on Wednesday night, July 26, the rock band announced on their official website.
According to the Eagles, Meisner, 77, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complications Wednesday night in Los Angeles. The bassist reportedly suffered from several health ailments in recent years, including a personal tragedy in 2016, his second wife Lana Rae Meisner's tragic death. Randy married Jennifer Barton in 1963 before parting ways in 1981.
How did Randy Meisner's wife die?
Randy who married Lana in 1996, lost her in a tragic accident in 2016. She was just 63 years old at the time of the incident. Lana died on March 6, 2016, after being fatally shot in the head.
Randy phoned the police following the incident at about 7 pm, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. According to an ABC News report, "When officers arrived, they found Mrs Meisner suffering from a single gunshot wound." Lana's death was declared a self-inflicted accident following an inquiry.
'Mrs Meisner's death was accidental'
"After a thorough investigation by Valley Bureau detective personnel and the Los Angeles Coroner's Office, it was determined that Mrs Meisner's death was accidental," according to the report. Lana met Randy in 1984 while working as a cocktail server in Encino, Los Angeles. One year before Lana's demise, in April 2015, TMZ reported that Randy's friend, James Newton, had filed court documents stating that Lana was abusing Randy.
Randy Meisner was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and alcoholism
Meanwhile, Randy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had major drinking difficulties, according to court papers and remarks made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered the Eagles co-founder to get continuous medical treatment.
Randy joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to establish a classic Los Angeles band and one of the most well-known groups in history. Former bandmate Felder called Randy "the sweetest man in the music business." The Eagles' statement said, "Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band, 'His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, 'Take It to the Limit.'"
Randy caught between celebrity and family life, had been unwell and homesick throughout the 'Hotel California' tour (his first marriage was dissolving) and was reluctant to be in the spotlight for 'Take It to the Limit,' a showcase for his nasal tenor, as reported by DailyMail.
Randy departed the venue immediately after an argument between him and Frey over his concerns during a performance in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the summer of 1977. Timothy B Schmit, who succeeded him, and Henley, Walsh, and Frey, who died in 2016, continued with the group during the following decades.
Randy had three children from his two marriages
Randy had three children from his two marriages, the first of which occurred when he was still in his teens. Randy, a sharecropper's son, and a classical violinist's grandson began performing in local bands as a youngster. By the end of the 1960s, he had gone to California and, together with Richie Furay and Jimmy Messina, had joined the country rock band Poco.
