Have you ever heard a song that makes you want to close your eyes, forget your worries, and fly away to a happy place? A long time ago, two young friends wrote a beautiful song called “Zoom” to do exactly that.
Sadly, one of those friends has just passed away, leaving behind a massive musical legacy that changed the world.
On May 30, 2026, a renowned musician, Ronald “Pread” LaPread, passed away at age 75. Ronald was one of the founding members and bass guitarist of the legendary 1970s band The Commodores.
Even though he lived far away in New Zealand in his later years, music fans around the globe are mourning his loss. He was the man behind the cool, groovy rhythm of massive hit songs like “Brick House” and “Easy.”
Lionel Richie’s Message
When Ronald passed away, his old bandmate and longtime friend, the superstar singer and Idol judge, Lionel Richie, shared a heartbreaking message on Instagram. Lionel posted a picture of them together and wrote, “Pread, you will be missed my dear brother. What a ride!” Along with those sweet words, Lionel shared all the lyrics to their special song, “Zoom.”
To understand why Lionel chose this specific song, you have to look back at how their friendship started.
Ronald and Lionel met when they were just college students in Alabama. Together with a few other friends, they started The Commodores and eventually sold over 70 million records worldwide! Ronald played the bass guitar, the instrument that creates the deep, thumping heartbeat of a song.
Commodores – Zoom (Audio)
In 1977, while the band was working on a new album, Ronald’s first wife became very sick with cancer. To cope with the sadness, Ronald started writing a song about wanting to escape the pain of the world. Lionel helped him finish the words, and they named it “Zoom.” The beautiful song is about mentally flying away to a peaceful place where everyone can be happy and free.
By sharing the lyrics to “Zoom” today, Lionel is sending a poetic farewell to his dear brother. He wishes Ronald peace, suggesting that his friend has finally “zoomed” away to a beautiful new home in the sky. Ronald LaPread may be gone, but his legendary music will keep playing forever.