(New York) Randy Meisner, one of the founding members of the Eagles, died at the age of 77, the American rock group announced Thursday.

Meisner passed away Wednesday night in Los Angeles from complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Eagles said in a statement.

The bassist had endured much suffering in recent years and a personal tragedy in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, died after accidentally shooting herself.

Meanwhile, Randy Meisner had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had serious problems with alcohol, according to court documents and comments made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered Meisner to receive constant medical care.

Called “the sweetest man in music” by his former bandmate Don Felder, the bassist joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to form the quintessential Los Angeles band and one of the most popular formations in history.

“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the group’s early success,” the Eagles statement said. His vocal range was astonishing, as evidenced by his signature ballad, Take It to the Limit. »

Although Frey and Henley sing most of the time, Meisner is the source of this song which appears on the 1975 album One of These Nights.

“For me, the reason for the Eagles is that combination and chemistry that makes all the harmonies sound perfect,” Meisner told music website lobstergottalent.com in 2015.

“The funny thing is that after I made these albums, I never listened to them and it’s only when someone comes to my house or I’m at someone’s house and they’re played in the background I’m like, “Damn, these records are good.” »

The son of sharecroppers and the grandson of a classical violinist, Meisner had played in local bands as a teenager. In the late 1960s he moved to California and joined a country rock band, Poco, alongside Richie Furay and Jimmy Messina.

As a solo artist, Meisner never came close to success with the Eagles, but he did have hits with Hearts On Fire and Deep Inside My Heart. He has also played on records by Joe Walsh, James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg, among others.

In the meantime, the Eagles ended a 14-year hiatus in 1994. Meisner joined past and present band members in 1998 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed Take It Easy and Hotel California .

For a decade he was part of the World Classic Rockers, a touring group that repeatedly featured Donovan, Spencer Davis and Denny Laine.

Meisner married twice, the first while still a teenager. He had three children.

The group said funeral preparations were underway.