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Randy Meisner, the founding bassist and vocalist of the Eagles, died on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. He was 77.

The cause of death was complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the band said in a statement.

Meisner was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1946. He began his music career in the early 1960s, playing with various bands in the Midwest. In 1971, he joined Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Don Felder to form the Eagles.

The Eagles quickly became one of the most popular bands in the world, selling over 150 million albums worldwide. Meisner was a key member of the band’s early lineup, contributing his soaring vocals to such classic songs as “Take It Easy,” “The Best of My Love” and “Take It To The Limit.”

Meisner left the Eagles in 1977, but he continued to record and tour with other bands. In recent years, he had been living in Montana.

Meisner’s death is a major loss to the classic rock community. He was a talented musician and singer, and his contributions to the Eagles were immeasurable. He will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the genre.