Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant (San Francisco, CA)
Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter John Forte got his start as a producer and co-writer on the Fugees' classic album The Score. He released two critically acclaimed albums, and worked with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock to Carly Simon and Talib Kweli. In 2001, he was sentenced to prison; his sentence was commuted in 2008 following a nationwide campaign. He's rebuilding his musical career, teaching at the City College of New York, and telling his story of redemption.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Singer/Songwriter John Forte was Wednesday August 12, 2009 / 10:00pm. (view all dates)
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Great performer with incredible stories to tell. The man is his music and the music makes him so alive. Yoshi's was the perfect venue for him.
John Forte... sings with so much compassion... Loved it!
This was one of the most amazing shows I have ever been to, great Venue, Great Food, and phenomenal music John Forte is a beast! His lyrics speak volumes. Thanks GoldStar!
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and Yoshi's San Francisco. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant in San Francisco features two shows per night in a smoke-free atmosphere that welcomes all ages. Cocktail and dining service are available throughout each show, and a purchase of one item minimum from the food and beverage menu is required. The restaurant's executive chef, Shotaro "Sho" Kamio, specializes in modern Japanese cuisine with "a bit of a surprise."
Website: http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artistpopup?showid=841
John Forté is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer from Brooklyn, New York. Best known for his work with the multi-platinum group “The Fugees,” on November 24, 2008, Forté was granted a commutation by President George W. Bush after having served more than seven years of a fourteen-year federal prison sentence. Those who campaigned on his behalf include famed singer/songwriter Carly Simon and Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah.
This July, marking the nine-year anniversary of his date of arrest on charges of drug trafficking, Forté released StyleFREE the EP, his first collection of new music in eight years. 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.
On StyleFREE the EP, Forté delivers an eclectic group of songs, including tracks reminiscent of mixtape culture and throwbacks from Forté’s childhood in Brownsville, Brooklyn, such as the title track, “StyleFREE”. The EP also contains powerful ballads like “More Beautiful Now,“ and the self-affirming “There We Are” – each track being equally honest, poetic and creatively expressed. His first single, “Play My Cards for Me” is being offered as a free MP3, and is already in rotation on tastemaker radio stations such as WXPN.
Prior to his incarceration, in addition to producing and co-writing tracks for The Fugees’ multi-platinum album The Score, Forté recorded 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. Upon his return home, Forté has 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,” and recorded almost 60 songs.
Forté has also been writing (he signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster for his memoir and is a contributor to The Daily Beast), 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.