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John Forte

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Location: New York, NY

Websites:

• http://myspace.com/johnforte
• http://johnforte.com

Bio: Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer John Forté is set to debut StyleFREE the EP, his first collection of new music to be released in eight ... (more) years. The EP will be made available on July 14 – exactly nine years from the day he was arrested on charges of drug trafficking.

Forté’s undeniable talent as a lyricist and musician, far from diminishing during his incarceration, has grown and matured. His new songs, full of powerful social commentary combined with hope and inspiration, bear witness to the remaking of a man and his struggle to remain free – they are a testament to his spiritual journey and proof that the phoenix can, and will, rise from the ashes.

Best known for producing and co-writing tracks for The Fugees' multi-platinum album The Score, as well as recording two solo albums, PolySci (Columbia; 1998) and I, John (Transparent; 2002), which featured guest appearances by Herbie Hancock, Esthero and Tricky, and included a duet with Carly Simon, Forté dropped several MP3s into the blogosphere, including "Life Has Just Begun (Returning Home)," “Homecoming” (featuring Talib Kweli) and a remake of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”, shortly upon his return.

In addition to recording, Forté has been writing (he signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster for his memoir), touring (he recently joined fellow artists Talib Kweli, Chrisette Michelle, and Pharoahe Monch on stage as special guests of The Roots at Highline Ballroom, showcased at SXSW, and returned from Ireland having performed with Ben Taylor and David Saw) and is actively working with at-risk youth at In Arms Reach, a Harlem-based initiative for children of incarcerated parents. (less)