John Forté Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees and the Refugee Camp All-Stars among others, has died at age 50. He was found dead Monday afternoon in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, according to police. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin said in a statement that there were no signs of foul play or "readily apparent cause of death." The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner's office, according to Slavin. A native of New York City, Forté was a musical prodigy who broke through in his early 20s as a contributor to the Fugees' Grammy-winning The Score and to Wyclef Jean's 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, whose son, Ben Taylor, was a close friend of Forté's. In 2000, he was arrested at Newark International Airport and charged with possession of liquid cocaine and drug trafficking. Forté 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. Survivors include his wife, the photographer Lara Fuller, and two children. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up mark cuban Mark Cuban Invests in Emo Night Brooklyn Producer Burwoodland music BTS Announces Long-Awaited 2026-2027 World Tour Trevor Noah Trevor Noah to Host His Last Grammy Awards RIAA Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" Is First Country Song to Go Double Diamond John Mayer John Mayer Pays Tribute to Bob Weir: "I'll Meet You in the Music" THR, Esq L.A. Reid Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit From Former Arista Records Executive, Averting Trial mark cuban Mark Cuban Invests in Emo Night Brooklyn Producer Burwoodland music BTS Announces Long-Awaited 2026-2027 World Tour Trevor Noah Trevor Noah to Host His Last Grammy Awards RIAA Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" Is First Country Song to Go Double Diamond John Mayer John Mayer Pays Tribute to Bob Weir: "I'll Meet You in the Music" THR, Esq L.A. Reid Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit From Former Arista Records Executive, Averting Trial