Soraya did not share details about her father\u2019s death, but the New Zealand Herald<\/a> reported that the longtime resident died of a \u201csudden medical event.\u201d The Commodores took to Instagram to share their condolences, writing that LaPread \u201cwill always be a Commodore.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, William King, Ronald LaPread and Walter Orange in 1986 \u2014 the year LaPread left the group. <\/p>\n (BSR Entertainment \/ Gentle Look \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cRonald was a phenomenal musician, an accomplished songwriter and a vital part of the Commodores\u2019 sound and success. His contributions to our music and his friendship enriched our lives beyond measure. We were grateful to perform with him again last fall in New Zealand,\u201d the Commodores shared on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cHis legacy lives on through the music he helped create and the countless people he inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n LaPread began playing with the Commodores in 1970 alongside Lionel Richie, William \u201cWAK\u201d King, Milan Williams and Thomas McClary while they were students at Tuskegee Institute. The band initially played shows around campus, performing covers and a handful of original songs. <\/p>\n Their manager Benny Ashburn spent his summer organizing shows for the Commodores on Martha\u2019s Vineyard to test-market the band. In 1971, the group opened for the Jackson 5, helping them gain national exposure and leading them to sign with Motown Records in 1972. <\/p>\n The band released their debut album, \u201cMachine Gun,\u201d in 1974 and reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. They released a quick succession of albums \u2014 \u201cCaught in the Act,\u201d \u201cMovin\u2019 On\u201d and \u201cHot on the Tracks\u201d \u2014 catapulting the band to mainstream success. LaPread played bass on the band\u2019s most memorable songs, including \u201cEasy,\u201d \u201cThree Times a Lady\u201d and \u201cBrick House,\u201d the latter a song that LaPread insisted they put on the album.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say, \u2018Oh man, it\u2019s too Black.\u2019 I said, \u2018Wait a minute. I tell you what, I will give this song to the group. Just put it on the album.\u2019 They say, \u2018Okay,\u2019 and they put \u2018Brick House\u2019 on the tape recorder,\u201d LaPread explained in a video recently shared on his personal Instagram<\/a>. \u201cThey went crazy. When you hear a hit song, it sends goosebumps all over your body. Before anything happens, you feel it, and that\u2019s the history.\u201d<\/p>\n After working on 11 albums with the band, LaPread left the Commodores in 1986 and moved to New Zealand. During his time with the Commodores, the group earned nine Grammy nominations and won an award for their song \u201cNightshift.\u201d <\/p>\n LaPread joined the Commodores onstage last October during a tour stop in Auckland, New Zealand. On Instagram<\/a>, the band called performing with LaPread the \u201chighlight\u201d of their shows in Australia and New Zealand. <\/p>\n In addition to his daughter, LaPread is survived by his wife, Farideh; and children Mark and Ronald Jr.<\/p>\n ![\"Thomas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780346806_147_.jpeg\")
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