{"id":695994,"date":"2026-01-14T19:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/695994\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T19:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:05:10","slug":"john-forte-grammy-nominated-musician-who-worked-with-fugees-dies-at-50-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/695994\/","title":{"rendered":"John Fort\u00e9, Grammy-nominated musician who worked with Fugees, dies at 50 | Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

John Fort\u00e9, the Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees<\/a> and the Refugee Camp All-Stars among others, has died at age 50.<\/p>\n

He was found dead Monday afternoon in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, according to police.<\/p>\n

The Chilmark police chief, Sean Slavin, said in a statement that there were no signs of foul play or \u201creadily apparent cause of death\u201d. The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner\u2019s office, according to Slavin.<\/p>\n

A native of New York City, Fort\u00e9 was a musical prodigy who broke through in his early 20s as a contributor to the Fugees\u2019 Grammy-winning The Score and to Wyclef Jean\u2019s Grammy-nominated The Carnival. A multi-instrumentalist and rapper, he also released such solo albums as Poly Sci and I John, with contributors including Carly Simon<\/a>, whose son, Ben Taylor, was a close friend of Fort\u00e9\u2019s.<\/p>\n

His final album Vessels, Angels & Ancestors was released in 2021.<\/p>\n

In 2000, he was arrested at Newark international airport and charged with possession of liquid cocaine and drug trafficking. Fort\u00e9 was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but the sentence was commuted after seven years by president George W Bush. Simon was among many public figures who advocated for his release.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s my champion, my crusader, my mentor, my friend, my spiritual guru,\u201d Fort\u00e9 once said of Simon. \u201cShe\u2019s an awesome human being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Writing for Vanity Fair in 2013, Simon referred<\/a> to him as her godson and called his punishment \u201chugely unfair\u201d.<\/p>\n

Survivors include his wife, the photographer Lara Fuller, and two children.<\/p>\n

On Instagram, Jean shared<\/a> a video of them together and wrote: \u201cThis one hurts my brother @john_forte has joined the Angels legends never Die look at the smile R I P my Refugee brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comedian and actor Amy Schumer also paid tribute<\/a>, calling him \u201cprolific and beautiful\u201d and sharing a link to a fundraiser helping his family.<\/p>\n

Fundraiser organizer Amber Knowles wrote that his death has left \u201ca profound void in our community and in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him\u201d.<\/p>\n