Ronald LaPread, Founding Bassist of The Commodores, Dies at 75

Ronald LaPread, the foundational bassist and co-founder of the iconic funk group The Commodores, has passed away at the age of 75.

The somber news was shared by his daughter, music producer Soraya LaPread, via her Instagram Stories this past Saturday, May 30. Expressing her profound grief, she wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of my father, Ronald LaPread.”

While official details remain limited, reports from the NZ Herald indicate that LaPread suffered an unexpected medical emergency in Auckland, where he had resided for the past four decades.

The Commodores first coalesced in the late 1960s, born from the shared creative ambitions of students at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute. The seminal R&B and funk ensemble—featuring members Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie, Walter “Clyde” Orange, William King, and LaPread—eventually secured a deal with Motown’s MoWest label in 1972 after sharpening their craft as the opening act for The Jackson 5.

Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee honored the late musician in a heartfelt social media tribute, noting that LaPread’s journey from Tuskegee University to global superstardom served as a beacon of inspiration for countless aspiring artists.

The group’s meteoric rise began in 1974 with the release of the instrumental hit “Machine Gun.” Over the following years, they dominated the charts with seven No. 1 R&B singles, including timeless classics like “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” “Nightshift,” and “Still.”

A constant presence in the group’s golden era, LaPread contributed his rhythmic signature to 11 studio albums between 1970 and 1986. His work defined the sound of smash hits such as “Brick House” and “Three Times a Lady.” Even after moving to New Zealand in the late 1980s, he remained connected to the music, performing periodically with the band.

Although The Commodores recently withdrew from a scheduled appearance at the Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C., LaPread had not been part of the group’s active touring lineup in recent years.