From 1969-1971, Randy was a member of Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. Here we delve into Randy’s history as a founding member of the group.
Below: L-R: Randy Meisner, Rick Nelson, and Allen Kemp
Rick was interviewed the UT/Austin newspaper, The Daily Texan, in the dressing room before the Houston show. Tequila sours were passed around, but Rick declined. The band members were asked what they thought of Rick as a person and performer (no band members were mentioned by name): “A sensitive and fair, understanding and easy-going guy.” The article also included a less-than-positive review of the show. The reviewer felt that Rick exuded no personality and just stood there and sang. He was also criticized for singing too much country and western and not enough of the earlier hits he was known for.
Below: Rick backstage with local Houston rock photographer, Larry Lent.
Watch their performance of Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin'” recorded at the Bitter End, August 1969.
This was the first song Rick sang on The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet back in 1957.
Notice at 1:44 that Randy is playing a red Gibson bass, a switch from his usual gold Fender Precision from this period.
The Arizona Republic noted that Rick was “sharing the spotlight” with a “longhaired bass player”:
Here’s Rick and the band performing their cover of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me” from the Easy To Be Free documentary, directed by David Nelson. At the 1:34 mark, the footage moves from JD’s to their appearance at The Troubadour in Hollywood a week later. The footage is less than perfect. Rick and The Stone Canyon Band’s recorded a cover of “She Belongs To Me” during the summer of 1969. It was released as a single in August to coincide with their tour and became a Top 40 hit.
“Randy’s bass playing is that growly, Nebraska, R&B-oriented bass feel to the country stuff.” Glenn Frey from The Guardian ~ “Eagles: ‘We were too busy […]
“Rick Nelson was one of the best people I’ve ever known–really humble and nice. He never played the star. He was way beyond that.” –Randy […]
This is part three in my ongoing series where I let Randy tell his own story through a compilation of quotes. Here, he describes his early life and career, up until the formation of the Eagles.
