John Forté, Grammy-nominated musician and a known associate of the Fugees, has been found dead at the age of 50 in his Martha's Vineyard home. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin conveyed there were no signs of foul play or a "readily apparent cause of death," CBS News New York reported.
The late artist, originally from New York City, was a standout talent, having emerged in the music scene in his early 20s. Forté's credits include contributing to the Fugees' "The Score" and to Wyclef Jean's "The Carnival." His career was abruptly interrupted in 2000 when he was charged with drug trafficking after being arrested at Newark International Airport. President George W. Bush later commuted his 14-year sentence down to seven, following extensive advocacy by public figures including Carly Simon, according to The Guardian.
A multi-instrumentalist and rapper, Forté released several solo albums, with his most recent work, "Vessels, Angels & Ancestors," dropping in 2021. The news of his death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from other artists, including Wyclef Jean who took to Instagram to express his sorrow, stating, "This one hurts my brother @john_forte has joined the Angels legends never Die look at the smile R I P my Refugee brother." Amy Schumer, also paying homage, described him as "prolific and beautiful," as reported by The Guardian.
John Forté is survived by his wife, Lara Fuller, and two children. A fundraiser organized to support his family has described his passing as leaving "a profound void in our community and in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him," as reported by The Guardian. His history as a cultural influencer and a mentor to many has been underscored by Carly Simon's Vanity Fair piece, where she wrote about Forté, "She’s my champion, my crusader, my mentor, my friend, my spiritual guru," demonstrating the close bond they shared. The investigation into the cause of his untimely death is ongoing.
