John Forte is one of those great, classic stories that appear every once in a while from within the depths of music and entertainment world. It’s the kind of story that one can get behind.
Forte sprouted as a mild-mannered kid who managed to make it out of the hard Brooklyn neighborhood where he grew up, due mostly to his exceptional talent for playing the violin.
Over the years, as he developed as a musician, songwriter and producer, he would eventually find himself collaborating on top-notch, ground breaking projects, not the least of which was “The Score” with the Fugees, for which Forte was nominated for a Grammy.
Unfortunately, as often happens when being launched into the fast lane of success, Forte got caught up in drugs and ended up in jail, hit with a 14 year sentence. Amazingly, he was released after 8 years, thanks to some major support and campaigning by fans and industry figures. Since his release from prison, he has marched forth with positivity, showing that he is using the tougher experiences of his past as a source of inspiration and rebirth into a new, more spiritual phase in his life and career.
A prolific writer and collaborator, Forte has released four EPs since 2009, including “StyleFREE”, “The Bloomingales Acoustics”, “From Brooklyn To Russia with Love”, and “The Water Suite”, all showcasing a certain maturity he’s reached in working within his medium of raggae/rock/funk fusion. He is also the subject of “The Russian Winter”, a feature length documentary, following the ups and downs of his life’s journey, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival this year.
Sunday, April 22 // 9pm // $18 Advance, $20 Door // 6 Delancey Street
Splitting his time between performing and producing, contributor Ken Beasley primarily plays with his own roots/rock band, Ken Beasley & Co., as well as the power punk outfit,Missy Sport, while also curating the Underground at the Abrons music series on the Lower East Side.
