It was officially reported today that John Forte’s sentence was commuted by President Bush. I’m pretty psyched for him, since I think he’s going to have a lot to offer the music community upon his return to the big city. He’s been making music while he’s been locked up, and even though I haven’t communicated with him since around ’05, I am quite sure he’s got some sort of master plan to put out his new stuff.
I first corresponded with John back in ’97/’98 when he had his music site, and his message board was quite the rage. This is the board where I first met the people who would eventually lead me over to Okayplayer.com in 1999. John also came through Seattle with Wyclef and Canibus (who eventually got stationed at Fort Lewis by my house when he joined the army – that’s a whole other story), but I never spoke to him that time.
Through my crazy posts on his music site, John and I began conversing via email – generally about music, life and a bunch of nothing really. He was funny and smart, and I was absolutely shocked when I learned about his arrest. I couldn’t even believe it!
The first time I ever visited New York in September 2000, John was the person who convinced me to make the trip – despite the fact I had just left my job, had no money and no real plans for my future. He told me I HAD to come and see the city, and he let me stay at his mom’s house in East New Brunswick (talk about a five million mile cab ride!). He was on house arrest at the time, and we spent one day watching the first season of Sex & The City on DVD with one of his friends. He made sure that I got into the city to hang out with my Okayplayer friends in Brooklyn, and it was one of the greatest memories of my life.
Because of that trip, I fell in love with NYC, and finally moved her in 2004. Isn’t it funny how your life can change meeting just one person? Much less all the dozens of people who have inspired me along the way… oh, I have stories…
I’ll be eternally grateful for John’s kindness, and I hope he finds happiness as he comes back home to his family. Finally George Bush did something I approve of!
John Forte
