John Forte, the Grammy-nominated musician who worked with the Fugees, has died at the age of 50 Music

John Forte, the Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees and The Refugee Camp All-Stars among others, has died at the age of 50.

He was found dead Monday afternoon at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, according to police.

Chilmark Police Chief Shawn Slavin said in a statement that there were no signs of foul play or “an obvious cause of death.” The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner’s office, according to Slavin.

A New York City native, Forte was a musical prodigy who rose to prominence in his early 20s as a contributor to the Fugees’ Grammy-winning The Score and to Wyclef Jean’s Grammy-nominated The Carnival. As a multi-instrumentalist and rapper, he has also released solo albums such as Poly Sci and I John, with contributors including Carly Simon, whose son, Ben Taylor, is a close friend of Forté’s.

His latest album Ships, Angels and Ancestors was released in 2021.

In 2000, he was arrested at Newark International Airport and charged with possession of liquid cocaine and drug trafficking. Forte was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but the sentence was commuted seven years later by President George W. Bush. Simon was among many public figures calling for his release.

“She is my hero, my crusader, my mentor, my friend, and my spiritual teacher,” Forte once said of Simone. “She is a wonderful person.”

Writing for Vanity Fair in 2013, Simon referred to him as her godson and called his punishment “wildly unfair.”

Survivors include his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and his two children.

On Instagram, Jin shared a video of them together and wrote: “This hurts my brother @john_forte he has joined the legends angels never die look at the smile rest in peace my refugee brother.”

Comedian and actress Amy Schumer also paid tribute, calling him “prolific and beautiful” and sharing a link to a fundraiser to help his family.

Fundraising organizer Amber Knowles wrote that his death left “a deep void in our community and in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”