Commodores co-founder Ronald LaPread has died at the age of 75, after suffering from a 'sudden medical event' in New ZealandDaniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor18:02, 31 May 2026Updated 18:29, 31 May 2026Ronald LaPread has died. The late Commodores co-founder is said to have suffered a "sudden medical event" in Auckland, New Zealand, just days after his final appearance in public – at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards on Friday.‌He had been living in New Zealand since the 1980s. On Saturday, Ronald's daughter, Soraya LaPread, announced the sad news of her father's death. She said on Instagram: "It is with a very heavy heart that I must announce that my father Ronald LaPread has passed."‌Meanwhile, local media reports that the bassist had suffered from a "sudden medical event". Tim Roxborogh, a friend of Tim and the host of Newstalk ZB said he was shocked by the death of the legendary musician. He said: "He just always looked so good and so healthy.‌"He loved New Zealand. He found a connection in the New Zealand music scene; he was often found in Auckland bars and in the music scene because he loved giving back so much."And if you're lucky enough to get to know him, then you are blessed to know a guy who's just so wonderful and so generous with his time." Ronald's death comes not long after the Commodores withdrew from Freedom 250, a festival celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States.The late musician started the Commodores alongside Lionel Richie, Walter 'Clyde' Orange, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary and William 'Wak' King. The group launched as The Mystics while students at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, releasing a string of instantly recognisable tracks.‌Ronald, originally from Alabama, played on 11 of their albums, including hits such as Three Times a Lady, Easy and Brick House. But in 1986, he decided to walk away from the group and start a new life in New Zealand, having fallen in love with a Kiwi woman he met on a flight between Australia and New Zealand.However, he did reunite with his former bandmates for gigs in New Zealand, most recently playing alongside them on tour last year.In a recent interview, Ronald said of his fame and life after death: "It's good to be remembered, but you must also know, that these people are human and they are fallible.‌"They make mistakes, they get sick, they die, they get hooked on drugs. This will blow your mind. You will get into a fictitious life that's not the real one. It’s not the real one."aThis is a breaking Showbiz news story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future on Google by simply by clicking this link .Article continues belowYou can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage .You can sign up for Twitter/X alerts for breaking news here and follow us @MirrorCeleb for all the latest updates. Or keep up-to-date with your must-see news, features, videos and pictures by following us on Facebook .