Ronald LaPread, Co-Founding Member of the Commodores, Dies at 75

Ronald LaPread, a founding member and former bassist of the Commodores who performed on the group’s iconic hits including “Brick House,” “Three Times a Lady,” and “Easy,” has died. He was 75.

Soraya LaPread, his daughter, confirmed the news on Saturday via social media. “It is with very heavy heart that I must announce that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed,” she posted. While the specific cause of death was not disclosed, reports indicate that the bassist died in Auckland, New Zealand, following a sudden medical event. LaPread had resided in New Zealand for the past four decades.

LaPread co-founded the Commodores—originally known as the Mystics—alongside Lionel Richie, Walter “Clyde” Orange, William King, Milan Williams, and Thomas McClary. The group formed while attending the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and eventually signed with Motown in 1972, setting the stage for a career that would define the sound of soul and funk for a generation.

“Ron received his musical start while attending Tuskegee Institute High School and later Tuskegee University, where he helped build the foundation for a remarkable career that would impact music fans around the world,” Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee wrote in a statement. “His talent, dedication, and success brought pride to Tuskegee and served as an inspiration to generations of young people who followed in his footsteps.”

LaPread remained an integral part of the Commodores from 1970 through 1986. During his tenure, he appeared on 11 of the band’s albums, providing the rhythmic backbone for some of the most recognizable songs in music history. Even after his departure from the group in 1986, LaPread maintained a connection to his former bandmates, reuniting with them and Lionel Richie during recent tours in New Zealand, including a notable performance at Auckland’s Spark Arena last year.