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

Ronald LaPread — one of the founding members and bassist of the soul group The Commodores — has died.

His daughter, music producer Soraya LaPreadshared the sad news on social networks on Saturday. She has not released any details about her death, but New Zealand Herald reported that he died following a “sudden medical event” in Auckland. Ronald had lived in New Zealand since the 1980s.

TMZ has reached out to Soraya and the Commodores for comment…so far, no response.

Ronald founded the Commodores alongside Lionel Richie, Walter “Clyde” Orange, William “WAK” King, Milan WilliamsAnd Thomas McClary in 1968 while students at Tuskegee Institute. They originally called themselves The Mystics.

The musician, originally from Alabama, played on 11 of the group’s albums and contributed to hits such as “Brick House,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Easy.” Ronald has joined the band for a few shows in New Zealand over the years, and recently played with them on stage during their 2025 tour.

The Commodores were one of Motown’s most successful groups of the 1970s and 1980s and sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. But they experienced a lot of turmoil after Lionel left the group in the early 1980s.

This week they announced that they were one of several acts to withdraw of Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair to celebrate America’s 250th birthday due to the event’s political ties.

Ronald was 75 years old.

RIP