Ronald LaPread, Commodores’ co-founder and bassist, dies at 75

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Ronald LaPread, one of the original members and bassist for the funk and soul band The Commodores, has passed away at the age of 75.

Soraya LaPread shared the sad news on Instagram that her father, Ronald LaPread, has died. She described herself as heartbroken, saying that a part of her is missing with his passing and that many people knew and loved her dad.

Soraya didn’t discuss the circumstances of her father’s death, but the New Zealand Herald reported he passed away unexpectedly due to a medical issue. His former band, The Commodores, posted on Instagram to express their sympathy, saying LaPread would always be remembered as one of their own.

The Commodores shared on Instagram that Ronald was an incredibly talented musician and songwriter who played a key role in their band’s sound and achievements. They said they deeply valued both his musical contributions and their friendship, and were happy to have shared the stage with him again last fall in New Zealand. They added that his music and influence will continue to inspire for years to come.

I first started following the Commodores back in 1970 when they were still students at Tuskegee Institute. It was amazing to see guys like LaPread, Lionel Richie, WAK King, Milan Williams, and Thomas McClary all playing together. They started small, gigging around campus and playing a mix of cover songs and their own original music. It was clear even then they had something special!

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The Commodores’ manager, Benny Ashburn, spent the summer running shows on Martha’s Vineyard to see how audiences would react to the band. In 1971, they had the opportunity to open for the Jackson 5, which gave them valuable national attention and ultimately led to a record deal with Motown Records in 1972.

The band’s first album, “Machine Gun,” came out in 1974 and peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They quickly followed up with three more albums – “Caught in the Act,” “Movin’ On,” and “Hot on the Tracks” – which helped them become very popular. Bassist Bobby LaPread played on some of their biggest hits, like “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” and “Brick House.” He was the one who convinced the band to include “Brick House” on the album.

LaPread recently shared a story on Instagram about the song ‘Brick House.’ He explained that when he first presented the song, some people were hesitant, saying it felt ‘too Black.’ He offered to let the group record it for their album, and they agreed. As soon as they started playing it back, everyone loved it. LaPread described that a truly great song gives you chills and you can feel its potential immediately – and that’s exactly what happened with ‘Brick House.’

After eleven albums with the Commodores, LaPread left the band in 1986 and relocated to New Zealand. While with the Commodores, the group received nine Grammy nominations and won one for their hit song, “Nightshift.”

Last October, the Commodores were joined onstage by LaPread during a concert in Auckland, New Zealand. The band shared on Instagram that performing with LaPread was the most memorable moment of their Australian and New Zealand tour.

I was really saddened to hear about LaPread’s passing. Beyond his daughter, he leaves behind his wife, Farideh, and his sons, Mark and Ronald Jr. It’s just heartbreaking to think of their loss.

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2026-06-02 00:01