Nationwide — Grammy-nominated recording artist John Forté, known for his work with the Fugees, has died at 50. He died at his home on Martha’s Vineyard, leaving behind a lasting impact as a musician and composer.
Forté was found unresponsive in his Chilmark home on Monday, January 12. A neighbor discovered him and called authorities, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said no foul play is suspected, and a cause of death has not been confirmed. He had experienced a serious health setback last year following a seizure.
“It is such a small community, this death hits close to home. It’s the upside and the downside to living on such a small Island,” Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin said, according to People.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Forté began his musical journey on the violin and later studied at Phillips Exeter Academy and New York University. He left college to join Rawkus Records, diving into New York’s underground hip-hop scene.
In the 1990s, Lauryn Hill introduced Forté to the Fugees. He co-wrote and produced songs on their 1996 Grammy-winning album The Score, earning his first Grammy nomination at just 21. He toured with the group and worked on Wyclef Jean’s debut album The Carnival. In 1998, he released his debut solo album Poly Sci, produced by Jean.
Forté’s career took a difficult turn in 2000 when he was arrested with cocaine and sentenced to 14 years in prison. While incarcerated, he recorded his second album I John, featuring Carly Simon and Herbie Hancock. Simon and her son Ben Taylor advocated for him, and his sentence was shortened by President George W. Bush in 2008.
After his release, Forté became a key figure in Martha’s Vineyard’s music scene, living with his wife and two children. He composed the original score for the Breonna Taylor documentary Bree Wayy: Promise, Witness, Remembrance and released his latest album Vessels, Angels & Ancestors in 2021.
Reflecting on that album, Forté told Billboard, “Early on, I realized I had to get out of my own way and ride downstream with the experience.” His work continues to inspire a generation of musicians and fans.