How a dictionary flip and a college talent show birthed a funk legend

Music · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed by students at the Tuskegee Institute in 1968, the Commodores evolved from a merger of two local groups into a global funk and soul powerhouse. Their journey from fraternity parties to selling over 70 million albums is a story of resilience, accidental naming, and a signature sound that defined an era.

The group originated from the merger of two student bands, the Mystics and the Jays, at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Their name was chosen by chance when William King opened a dictionary and pointed to a random word; they narrowly avoided becoming 'The Commodes.' After winning a freshman talent contest, the band refined their sound through local gigs and a strategic test-marketing phase managed by Benny Ashburn, who had them perform at summer festivals and in parking lots on Martha's Vineyard.

The band's trajectory was marked by significant personnel shifts, often driven by external circumstances. Early members James Ingram and Michael Gilbert were drafted for service in Vietnam, leading to the recruitment of drummer Walter 'Clyde' Orange and bassist Ronald LaPread. The group's musical identity balanced high-energy funk—exemplified by hits like 'Brick House' and the instrumental 'Machine Gun'—with smooth ballads such as 'Easy' and 'Three Times a Lady.' This versatility helped them secure their first number-one R&B album in 1976 with 'Hot on the Tracks.'

Following Lionel Richie's departure for a solo career in 1982, the band navigated a period of transition, eventually shifting toward a more commercial pop sound. In 1985, they achieved a late-career resurgence with 'Nightshift,' a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, which earned the group their first Grammy Award. Despite numerous lineup changes over the decades, including the loss of founding members and the passing of key figures like LaPread in 2026, the Commodores have maintained a legacy of endurance, continuing to perform globally with a lineup that now includes the next generation of the Orange family.

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