Ronald LaPread, who co-founded The Commodores and played bass for the iconic funk band, died at the age of 75.
LaPread’s daughter, Soraya LaPread, confirmed her father’s death in a now expired post to her Instagram story on Saturday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed,” she posted, per EW.com.
TMZ reports the Grammy winner died after a brief illness but the cause of death wasn’t revealed. New Zealand Herald reports he died following a “sudden medical event” in Auckland.
Ronald LaPread was a longtime resident of New Zealand, but he was born in Tuskegee.
“Newstalk ZB” host and close friend Tim Roxborogh noted, “He just always looked so good and so healthy,” the New Zealand Herald reported on Saturday.
Soraya LaPread also posted the following message Sunday.
“We were the best daddy daughter duo,” she posted. “If you know me you know my Dad. I am devastated. A piece of me is gone from this world. 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.”
LaPread was a member of The Commodores for 16 years from 1970 to 1986 and played on 11 of their albums.
He played bass for the group’s biggest songs, including “Brick House,” “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” “Sail On” and more.
