Home / Arts and Entertainment / Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dies at 50
Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dies at 50
14 Jan
Summary
- Musician John Forté, known for his Fugees work, died Monday.
- He was found by a neighbor and pronounced dead at his home.
- Forté previously served prison time for drug charges.
John Forté, a gifted recording artist and collaborator with the Fugees, passed away on Monday, January 12th, at his home in Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard. He was 50 years old. A neighbor found Forté alone on his kitchen floor and immediately contacted authorities. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and police have stated no foul play is suspected.
Forté's musical journey began in Brooklyn and included early studies in music. He later attended New York University and briefly worked for Rawkus Records before a significant legal setback. In 2001, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug possession and distribution charges. During his incarceration, he continued to write and record, releasing the album 'I John' with notable guest artists.
His sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush in November 2008, leading to his release shortly thereafter. Forté became an active figure in the Martha's Vineyard music community, releasing his latest album 'Vessels, Angels & Ancestors' in 2021 and composing the score for the Breonna Taylor documentary. He is survived by his wife and two children.
