Ronald LaPread, co-founder and original bassist of the legendary group Commodores, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2026, at the age of 75. The news was confirmed by his daughter, Soraya LaPread, music producer, through a statement on her Instagram Stories, where she expressed her deep sadness at the loss. New Zealand Herald, a newspaper in the city of Auckland where LaPread lived for four decades, reported that the musician died due to a sudden health problem.
Detalhes further details on the exact cause of death were not immediately released. Ronald LaPread leaves his wife, two sons and one daughter, Soraya, to mourn his sudden departure.
Trajetória with Commodores and initial training
LaPread was among the members who founded Commodores in 1968, while they were all still students at Instituto Tuskegee, located at Alabama. The group’s inaugural lineup also included names like Lionel Richie, Walter Orange, William King, Milan Williams and Thomas McClary. Inicialmente, the group adopted the name The Mystics, before renaming themselves The Commodores and securing a contract with Motown Records in 1972, marking the beginning of an era of success.
Nascido on September 4, 1950, at Flórida, and raised at Alabama, Ronald LaPread developed his talent on bass. Seu style and technique became a fundamental pillar of the sound that characterized the group during its years of greatest commercial prominence.
Contribuição musical and group hits
LaPread participated in the recording of 11 Commodores albums, leaving his mark on several songs that became icons in the history of soul and R&B. Sua’s contribution helped shape unforgettable tracks that resonate to this day. The group achieved great success, becoming one of Motown’s best-selling artists of the 1970s and 1980s.
Entre the most influential recordings that featured his talent include:
- “Brick House”
- “Three Times to Lady”
- “Easy”
Os Commodores have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, consolidating themselves as one of the most impactful bands of their generation.
Saída of the group and life in Nova Zelândia
The years following Lionel Richie’s departure from the group in the early 1980s brought a period of instability for the remaining members. Essa’s transition phase for the band coincided with LaPread’s decision to also leave the group. Ele officially left in 1986, choosing to move to Auckland, in Nova Zelândia, where he took up residence and lived for the rest of his life.
Apesar moved away from the group’s intense routine, Ronald LaPread never completely severed his ties with music. Ele has sporadically reunited with his former bandmates to perform at Nova Zelândia over the years. Mais recently, in 2025, shared the stage with Commodores during a reunion tour, an event that now takes on an even deeper meaning for fans and family.
Recentemente, Commodores were in the spotlight for another reason, when they announced their withdrawal from Great American State Fair. The event, which will celebrate Estados Unidos’s 250th anniversary of independence, generated controversy due to the band’s political ties to the celebration. Although LaPread was not part of the current tour lineup, the earlier announcement put his name in the spotlight, just days before his death was announced to the public.
Legado and artist’s final reflections
In one of her last interviews, LaPread openly shared her insights into fame and the stark difference between public perception and the lived reality of well-known figures. Ele pondered how notoriety can often create an idealized version of life, distancing people from the essence of what is truly real. Essa reflection conveyed the perspective of someone who found peace by stepping away from the spotlight and defining her own terms in life.
The bassist spent nearly 40 years at Nova Zelândia, far from the big stages where his bass lines once anchored some of American popular music’s most cherished recordings. The world he built in Auckland, characterized by its tranquility and privacy, was the life he chose for himself. The music he created before, however, is the eternal legacy he left for all admirers.