Ronald LaPread, Pioneering Commodore Bassist, Dies at 75

Ronald LaPread, a founding member and longtime bassist of the Commodores, died at 75, announced by his daughter on May 30. LaPread played with the group from 1970 to 1986 and helped anchor hits like Brick House and Three Times a Lady; after relocating to New Zealand, he spent about four decades there and died following a sudden medical event in Auckland. The Commodores recently pulled out of the Freedom 250 festival in Washington, D.C., though LaPread was not part of the current lineup.