Ronald Lapred, a founding member and former bassist of the Commodores who played on hits such as "Brick House," "Three Times a Lady," and "Easy," has died. He was 75.
His daughter, Soraya Lapred, confirmed the news on social media on Saturday. "It is with deep sadness that I must announce that my father, Ronald Lapred, has passed away," she wrote. The cause of death has not been disclosed. NZ Herald The bassist died in Auckland "due to a sudden deterioration in health." He had lived in New Zealand for the past 40 years.
More from Rolling Stone
-
Actress and sister of Jamie Lee Curtis, Kelly Curtis, has died at the age of 69.
-
John McClain, co-executor of Michael Jackson's will, has died at the age of 71.
-
Sonny Rollins, a jazz giant among saxophonists and a greatest improviser, has died at the age of 95.
Ronald LaPreda was a founding member of the Commodores, originally known as the Mystics, along with Lionel Richie, Walter "Clyde" Orange, William King, Milan Williams, and Thomas McClary. The group formed while attending Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and signed a contract with Motown in 1972. "Ron began his musical career while attending Tuskegee Institute High School and then Tuskegee University, where he helped lay the foundation for a remarkable career that has impacted music fans around the world," Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee wrote in a statement. "His talent, dedication, and success brought pride to Tuskegee and served as an inspiration to generations of young people who followed in his footsteps." Offering condolences to LaPreda's family, former bandmates, and fans, Lee added, "Ronald LaPreda's music and legacy will live on for generations to come.".
Lapred remained a member of this soulful funk band from 1970 to 1986, after which he moved to New Zealand. He appeared on 11 of their albums, playing on hits such as "Brick House," "Three Times a Lady," and "Easy.".
Although he left the band in 1986, Lapred reunited with the Commodores and Lionel Richie in recent years during their New Zealand tours, according to NZ Herald , including their performance at Auckland's Spark Arena last year.
Lapreda's death came after the current lineup of the Commodores announced they were canceling their appearance at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of the Freedom 250 event. King confirmed Rolling Stone by phone that the band would not perform at the event. "Our music has always been our voice, and we have chosen not to publicly associate ourselves with any political party," the band said in a statement on Instagram. "We support improving the lives of all Americans.".
The Best of Rolling Stone
-
«Ben E. King's "Stand by Me": 21 Must-Hear Covers.
-
25 Songs That Are Actually Horrifying
-
All 286 Taylor Swift songs, listed in descending order of popularity.
Subscribe to the RollingStone newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.