From the son of an organist and music store owner in Pensacola, Florida, John Forbes was destined for a life in music. His early years were shaped by private classical piano studies and summer workshops at Berklee College of Music, laying the groundwork for a remarkable career. John’s journey began as a keyboardist, notably with The Killer Bees in Austin, Texas, where their “Live In Berlin” album earned him a Reggae Grammy nomination.

A move to Los Angeles in 1989 marked the start of his tenure as keyboardist for Bobby Brown. This period quickly propelled John into the role of musical director for major label artists, including Jessica Simpson and Marc Anthony. A true highlight of his career was forming the first band for Tyler Perry, a collaboration that extended over seven years across Broadway, off-Broadway, and film projects. This extensive work with Perry naturally transitioned into producing music for a Ne-Yo tour and the acclaimed 2016 Broadway musical, Love Jones.

In a recent and exciting venture, John partnered with Thomas Gramuglia and Hindsight Records to create the innovative Reimagined Series. This project showcases his producing prowess, bringing new life to albums from legendary artists such as Doris Day, Patti Page, Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney, and Sarah Vaughan. Beyond his performance and production work, John has a prolific career composing for film and television, and he actively develops and manages film and episodic television series for various production companies.

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