For most of his professional life, Randy Meisner has been one of America's highest-reputed and least-known musicians. His work, with bands ranging from Poco through Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band, to his years as a founding member of the Eagles, has remained first-rate. But Randy, a quiet person, has preferred to relinquish the spotlight to others.

      Randy's from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and the grandson of a Russian classical violinist. turned on to music when he first heard Elvis Presley, he took up guitar, then bass. He joined a local group, the Dynamics. The group still exists back home; one of Randy's fellow members, Donny Ullstrom, sings background on Randy's album and has joined his new band.

      At 20, Randy headed for Denver, joined a band called The Soul Survivors ( not the "Expressway to Your Heart" Soul Survivors), stayed with them while they grew relatively rich and relatively famous in Denver, and headed with them to the Big City -- Los Angeles. There, prevailing conditions resulted in a change of name to The Poor. "There were five people living in a one bedroom place," Randy recalls, "sleeping on the floor. We used to sell the Los Angeles Free Presson corners so that we could eat. No one had a car, so we couldn't get our equipment to auditions."

      The Poor's management also handled Sonny and Cher and the Buffalo Springfield. But the group, while pioneering complex vocal harmonies along with their excellent instrumental work, never got beyond the good-reputation stage. One single, Tom Shipley's "She's Got The Time," was released on Loma Records and passed in obscurity.

      When the Buffalo Springfield broke up, Richie Furay and Jim Messina promptly formed their own, new group, eventually named Poco. Randy was the first musician they called in; others were Randy's Denver friends, Rusty Young and George Grantham.

      Randy soon became dissatisfied with Poco -- a dispute over the mixing is said to have been the last straw -- and when Rick Nelson asked him to join his new band, Randy was quick to say "yes." The first edition of the Stone Canyon Band was The Poor, regrouped by Randy, plus Steel guitarist and Buck Owens alumnus Tom Brumley.After two albums and a European tour with Nelson, Randy moved back to Nebraska with his family, worked briefly for the John Deere tractor company, met Stephan Love, and formed another band Goldrush. They moved back to Los Angeles, where Randy worked on and off with Nelson while trying to build Goldrush. He also played on recording sessions for acts including Waylon Jennings, John Stewart, and Linda Ronstadt.

      Following a series of accidental encounters with Glenn Frey, Randy was asked to join him in the Linda Ronstadt band -- a group also including drummer Don Henley. The three, plus guitarist Bernie Leadon, formed the first-edition Eagles in 1972; Randy left the band in 1977. His replacement, Timothy B. Schmit, had followed Randy into the bass-player's chair in Poco (eventually becoming the band's co-leader, lead singer and on-stage spokesman), rounding the story out nicely.Having decided to work with expert, though unknown, musicians and producer Alan Brackett, Randy worked on the selection of material, arrangements, and overall musical direction of this crucial "first" album. "Making the record was the most fun I've had in years," he states, "the band came together so naturally most of the guys have been playing together since high school!"

      While with The Eagles, Randy's best-known vehicle was the song "Take It To The Limit," which he co-composed and which became his spotlighted solo in the band's show. Throughout his career as a professional musician, Randy's pursuit for excellence has been well known. Now, with his first chance for group leadership Randy can be counted on to "take it to the limit one more time."

Courtesy: Julies EAGLE page