Ronald LaPread, the Commodores' Cofounder and Bassist, Dies at 75 as Lionel Richie Says 'You Will Be Missed'

Jack IrvinMon, June 1, 2026 at 3:04 PM UTC

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Ronald LaPread in June 2004
Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty -

Ronald LaPread, a founding member of the Commodores, has died at age 75

His daughter Soraya shared emotional tributes on Instagram, calling him her “best daddy daughter duo” and asking for prayers

The Commodores and Lionel Richie honored LaPread’s legacy, with Richie sharing lyrics from their hit song “Zoom”

Ronald LaPread, bassist and cofounding member of the Commodores, has died. He was 75.

News of LaPread's death was shared on Saturday, May 30 by his daughter Soraya with a statement in a since-expired Instagram Stories post, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. "It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed," she wrote.

LaPread was a longtime resident of New Zealand and died in Auckland, according to The New Zealand Herald. The date and cause of his death are currently unknown.

Ronald LaPread
Credit: ronaldlapread/Instagram

Soraya shared a follow-up statement to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, May 31. "We were the best daddy daughter duo. If you know me you know my Dad," she wrote. "I am devastated. A piece of me is gone from this world."

She continued, "I have never felt a pain so deep in my life. It's because he loved me so unconditionally and so deeply that the loss is indescribable. Please pray for my Dad to be in the highest heaven... Do as he did and be kind to each other."

The Commodores shared a statement in tribute to LaPread on Sunday, May 31. "Today we mourn the loss of our brother, friend, and original bassist, Ronald LaPread," began the band in an Instagram post.

"Ronald was a phenomenal musician, an accomplished songwriter, and a vital part of The Commodores’ 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," said the band, who last performed with LaPread on stage in October 2025.

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The statement continued, "We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Farrah, his children Ronald Jr. and Soraya, and all who loved him. His legacy lives on through the music he helped create and the countless people he inspired."

"Rest easy, Ronald," concluded the post. "You will always be a Commodore."

Lionel Richie, the group's former lead singer, shared lyrics to the Commodores' hit "Zoom" alongside a statement on Instagram. "Pread, You will be missed my dear brother," he wrote. "What a ride!"

LaPread was a member of the Commodores from 1970 through his exit in 1986. He contributed to the band's first 11 albums, which included the hits "Easy," "Brick House," "Three Times a Lady," "Still" and "Nightshift," among others. The band won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance — Duo, Group Or Chorus with "Nightshift" in 1986.

The Commodores
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Following his departure from the Commodores, LaPread moved to New Zealand and pursued a solo career.

In a video shared to Instagram on May 17, LaPread spoke about the experience of becoming famous. "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," he said, noting how fame must've been a shock to the Jackson family when the Jackson 5 found success.

"You will get into a fictitious live that's not the real one. It's not the real one," continued LaPread.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”