John Forté

January 30, 1975 - January 12, 2026

John Forté, my godson and Ben’s closest friend, died last Monday, a week and a half away from his 51st birthday. He had moved to the Vineyard and into our home in 2001. We were both writing songs for our respective albums and Ben was away on tour. John and I worked separately in various studios (barns with goats and guitars) during the day and got together for a quick dinner. During this time we shared what we had been working on and critiqued each other’s output. To what extent we influenced each other has never been analyzed, but there were other things taking our attention. John had been arrested and was under house arrest while waiting to be sentenced. The process was lengthy and complicated but would inspire both of us in our writing that summer.

Time passed, John went away for 7 years to serve an undeserved sentence. The songs, letters, and poems which he wrote while incarcerated are some of the most searing and beautiful words put into song that I have ever heard. They will be listened to for a very long time. His two children will fall in love with their Daddy in a way, heartbroken, having been too young at the time of their father’s death.

On Sunday, I listened to what I thought was the full collection of his commercially available music. Some of them were co-written with Ben. Some are love songs. Some are rebellious. Some are stabbing; some are gentle. Most of them made me cry.

When Instagram started to fill with posts from people who knew and loved him, I was moved to see just how many admiring fellow artists, friends and fans were affected by generous personality and spirit. I spoke to his mother, Flo, who comforted me with her spiritual and dignified words. I thought of so many mothers who had seen their sons go to early graves or a life behind bars that are undeserved. Shocking. It will take me a long time before I am not shocked by what our system of “justice” doles out. 

I am grateful for the almost two decades of time that John had to live as a free man. There is so much more to say. For now, I feel a deep bond with those who share with me and his family this love and pain.