John Forté, Fugees Collaborator, Found Dead at 50
John Forté, a Grammy-nominated musician and producer known for work with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, was found dead at Massachusetts home at age 50.
Overview
John Forté, 50, Grammy-nominated musician and producer, was found dead Monday afternoon at his Chilmark, Massachusetts, home; police reported no signs of foul play.
The Martha's Vineyard police chief said there was no readily apparent cause; the state medical examiner's office is investigating to determine cause of death.
Forté contributed writing and production to the Fugees' multi-platinum 1996 album The Score and worked with Wyclef Jean and the Refugee Camp All-Stars.
He released solo albums including Poly Sci and I, John, collaborated with artists such as DMX, Fat Joe and Carly Simon, and released 2021's Vessels, Angels and Ancestors.
In 2000 he was arrested transporting $1.4 million in liquid cocaine, received a 14-year sentence later commuted in 2008; he is survived by wife Lara Fuller and two children.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this obituary neutrally: factual, chronological reporting with no loaded language, attributing cause and investigation to police and the medical examiner, and balancing career achievements with legally reported troubles and commutation. Editorial choices prioritize verifiable facts and sourced statements (e.g., police chief, presidential commutation) rather than interpretive or moralizing commentary.
Sources (4)
FAQ
John Forté co-wrote and produced several tracks on the Fugees' 1996 multi-platinum album The Score, including his anchor verse on 'Cowboys', and was Grammy-nominated for the album at age 21.
In 2000, John Forté was arrested at Newark International Airport transporting $1.4 million worth of liquid cocaine, convicted of possession with intent to distribute, and sentenced to a 14-year mandatory minimum prison term.
John Forté's 14-year sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush on November 24, 2008, after advocacy from artists including Carly Simon, leading to his release four weeks later.
After release in 2008, John Forté recorded over 60 songs, performed numerous concerts, worked on a memoir, founded Le Castle for creative projects, advocated for prison reform, and released the 2021 album Vessels, Angels and Ancestors.
John Forté is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and their two children; he lived in Chilmark, Massachusetts, for the past decade.
History
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