3 days ago
Ronald LaPread, nan bassist who co-founded nan Commodores, has died.
LaPread’s girl Sonya shared nan news successful an Instagram Story Saturday, writing, “It is pinch a dense bosom that I must denote that my Father Ronald LaPread has passed.”
Though she didn’t stock immoderate specifications astir his death, the New Zealand Herald reported that he died aft a “a abrupt aesculapian event.”
LaPread was 75 years old.
The musician co-founded nan Commodores successful 1968 alongside Lionel Richie, Walter Orange, William King, Milan Williams, and Thomas McClary. The set members met while attending nan Tuskegee Institute successful Alabama.
After they signed pinch Motown successful 1972, they became 1 of nan label’s astir successful funk and psyche groups. Their biggest hits see “Three Times a Lady,” “Brick House” and “Nightshift.”
The Commodores person sold complete 70 cardinal albums worldwide.
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They won a Grammy successful 1986 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo aliases Group pinch Vocals for “Nightshift.”
LaPread was successful nan group from 1970 to 1986. He later relocated to New Zealand, wherever he had lived for nan past 40 years.
Chris Lee, nan Mayor of Tuskegee, shared a connection on societal media Saturday paying tribute to LaPread.
“The City of Tuskegee mourns nan passing of Ronald LaPread, legendary bassist of Tuskegee’s very ain Commodores and 1 of our community’s astir distinguished autochthonal sons,” nan connection read. “Ron received his philharmonic commencement while attending Tuskegee Institute High School and later Tuskegee University, wherever he helped build nan instauration for a singular profession that would effect euphony fans astir nan world.
“His talent, dedication, and occurrence brought pridefulness to Tuskegee and served arsenic an inspiration to generations of young group who followed successful his footsteps,” he added.
“Ronald LaPread’s euphony and bequest will proceed to unrecorded connected for generations to come.”
