{"id":996767,"date":"2026-05-31T18:08:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T18:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/996767\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T18:08:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T18:08:19","slug":"ronald-lapread-co-founding-member-of-the-commodores-dead-at-75","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/996767\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronald LaPread, Co-Founding Member of the Commodores, Dead at 75"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tRonald LaPread<\/a>, a founding member and former bassist of the Commodores<\/a> who performed on the group\u2019s hits including \u201cBrick House, \u201cThree Times a Lady,\u201d and \u201cEasy,\u201d has died. He was 75.<\/p>\n

\n\tSoraya LaPread, his daughter, confirmed the news on Saturday via social media. \u201cIt is with very heavy heart that I must announce that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed,\u201d she posted<\/a>. The cause of death was not divulged. NZ Herald <\/a>reports<\/a> that the bassist died in Auckland \u201cfollowing a sudden medical event.\u201d He had been living in New Zealand for the past 40 years.<\/p>\n

\n\tLaPread co-founded the Commodores, first known as the Mystics, with Lionel Richie, Walter \u201cClyde\u201d Orange, William King, Milan Williams, and Thomas McClary. The formed while attending Tuskagee Institute in Alabama and signed to Motown in 1972.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon 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,\u201d Tuskagee Mayor Chris Lee wrote<\/a> in a statement. \u201cHis talent, dedication, and success brought pride to Tuskegee and served as an inspiration to generations of young people who followed in his footsteps.\u201d After expressing his condolences to LaPread\u2019s family, former bandmates, and fans, Lee added: \u201cRonald LaPread\u2019s music and legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLaPread remained a part of the soulful, funk group from 1970 through 1986 when he moved to New Zealand. He appeared on 11 of their albums, playing on hits that included \u201cBrick House,\u201d \u201cThree Times a Lady,\u201d and \u201cEasy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile he left the group in 1986, LaPread reunited with the Commodores and Lionel Richie in recent years when they toured through New Zealand, according to NZ Herald, including their stop at Spark Arena in Auckland last year.<\/p>\n

\n\tLaPread\u2019s death follows news that the current lineup of the Commodores announced they would not perform during the \u201cGreat American State Fair<\/a>\u201d on Washington D.C.\u2019s National Mall as part of Freedom 250. King confirmed to\u00a0Rolling Stone\u00a0over the phone that the band would not be performing at the event. \u201cOur music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party,\u201d the band said in a statement on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>. \u201cWe support the betterment of all Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n