Ronald LaPread, the Grammy-winning founding member of the legendary funk band Commodores, has reportedly died at age 75.
LaPread’s daughter Soraya LaPread announced the loss to her Instagram followers on Saturday, writing: ‘It is with a very heavy heart that I must announce that my father Ronald LaPread has passed.’
The New Zealand Herald reports LaPread died in Auckland after a ‘sudden medical event.’
From 1970 to 1986, LaPread served as the group’s bassist and contributed to their widely-successful songs Brick House, Three Times A Lady, and Easy.
The Daily Mail has contacted Soraya and the Commodores for comment but has not yet heard back.
Ronald LaPread, the Grammy-winning founding member of the legendary funk band Commodores, has reportedly died at age 75; LaPread pictured far L with Commodores bandmate Lionel Richie and Al Green in 2009
Soraya LaPread announced her father’s passing to her social media followers on Saturday
LaPread co-founded the band in 1968 alongside Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary, William ‘WAK’ King, and Walter ‘Clyde’ Orange.
The bandmates met while studying at Tuskegee Institute, and were originally dubbed The Mystics.
The group inked a record deal with Motown in 1972, fronted by Richie, 76.
LaPread exited the collective in 1986, relocating to New Zealand, where he resided over the past 40 years.
Despite having left the Commodores, he played with them in New Zealand throughout the years, most recently in 2025, per TMZ.
Commodores were booked to perform at Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair this summer, but recently pulled out for political reasons.
LaPread’s last public appearance was on Thursday night as he attended the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland, per RNZ.
In a recent clip shared on his Instagram in mid May, the musician mused about fame and fortune, ‘It’s good to be remembered, but you must also know that these people are human and they are fallible. They make mistakes, they get sick, they die, they get hooked on drugs.’
The musician pictured with daughter Soraya
The group inked a record deal with Motown in 1972, fronted by Lionel Richie, 76; pictured in 1980
Thomas McClary, Milan Williams,William King, Ronald LaPread and Walter Orange pictured in 1986
Seen on stage in 1977
He added about sudden notoriety and success, ‘This will blow your mind. You will get into a fictitious life that’s not the real one. It’s not the real one.’
The post was captioned, ‘Fame is one hell of ride.’
A fan flocked to the post in the wake of his death, writing, ‘Rest in peace, darling Ronald.
‘Thank you for the memories and the love you shared. You will be greatly missed and never forgotten.’
LaPread is survived by wife Jacueline Echols, whom he wed in 1980, two sons and daughter Soraya.
