Lionel Richie Honors Commodores Co-Founder Ronald LaPread After “Sudden” Death
on Jun 02, 2026
Ronald LaPread, bassist and co-founder of the funk and soul group the Commodores, has passed away. He was 75 years old.
LaPread’s death was first shared by his daughter, Soraya, through her Instagram Story on Saturday, May 30. According to the Los Angeles Times, a portion of the now-expired post read:
“If you know me you know my dad. I am devastated. A piece of me is gone from this world.”
She did not reveal her father’s exact cause of death at the time. However, an obituary published by the New Zealand Herald stated that LaPread died in Auckland after a “sudden medical event.” He had lived in New Zealand for decades after moving there from the United States in 1986 following his final tour with the Commodores.
Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, LaPread helped form the Commodores in 1970 alongside some of his college friends, including future American Idol judge Lionel Richie.
The group got its start performing on their college campus before quickly building a following across the country.
Their big break came in 1971 when they opened for the Jackson 5. A year later, they signed with Motown Records and went on to achieve major success. The band became the only Motown act to have three consecutive albums reach the top 3 on the Billboard pop charts.
Over the years, the Grammy Award-winning group released several songs that have become classics, like “Brick House,” “Easy,” and “Three Times a Lady.”
Although LaPread retired from the Commodores, he remained close with the band’s members. He would often reunite with them when they made stops in Australia and New Zealand during their tours.
His final performance with the Commodores was in October 2025, when the band visited New Zealand for their Greatest Hits tour.
The Commodores released a statement regarding LaPread’s death that read:
“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.”
The post continued, “His legacy lives on through the music he helped create and the countless people he inspired.”
Lionel Richie Pays Tribute To Ronald LaPread
After learning of LaPread’s passing, Lionel Richie took to his own social media to honor his longtime friend and bandmate’s legacy. Richie served as the lead singer of the Commodores until 1982.
His tribute included a black-and-white photo of the two together, along with a solo photo of LaPread. Richie also shared the lyrics from the Commodores’ 1977 hit “Zoom,” with a brief statement:
“Pread, You will be missed my dear brother. What a ride!,” Richie wrote.
Ronald LaPread is survived by his wife, Farideh, and his three children: Mark, Ronald Jr., and Soraya.
