Ronald LaPread, former Commodores bass player, dies in Auckland aged 75

Ronald LaPread, the former bass player for the American soul band The Commodores, has died in Auckland at the age of 75. LaPread spent the last 40 years of his life living in New Zealand after falling in love with a Kiwi woman, Farideh, on a flight from Sydney to Auckland. His daughter, music producer Soraya LaPread, confirmed the news on social media on Sunday. "It's with a very heavy heart that I must announce that my father Ronald LaPread has passed," she said on Instagram. LaPread was renowned for his bass lines on classic hits including 'Brick House', 'Three Times a Lady' and 'Easy', performing alongside well-known musicians including Lionel Richie. The Alabama native was a member of the group from 1970 to 1986 and played on 11 of its albums. LaPread later reunited with The Commodores and Lionel Richie when they toured New Zealand in recent years, including a performance at Spark Arena last year. He attended the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday night. While he left the group after moving to New Zealand, LaPread remained close with his former bandmates. In 2011 Richie invited LaPread and fellow former Commodore Thomas McClary on stage during a sold-out concert at Auckland's Vector Arena. During a 2014 interview with Auckland-based music website 13th Floor, Richie joked that LaPread was always "practising" for a reunion whenever The Commodores or Richie visited New Zealand. He would continue to make appearances alongside The Commodores and Richie whenever they came to tour in later years. Away from the international spotlight, LaPread became a familiar figure in Aotearoa's music community. In a 2025 interview with World Equal magazine, he described New Zealand's music scene as diverse and collaborative, with a relaxed culture. LaPread is survived by his wife, two sons and daughter Soraya.