John Forbes (music producer)

Biography

John Forbes was born in Mobile, Alabama and raised in Pensacola, Florida to the son of a music store owner. John started his classical piano training at age four with Harrison Newkirk then summer workshops at Berkelee College of Music in Boston. After playing in a regional reggae band for a few years, John moved to Austin, Texas and then to California. In Austin John played with The Killer Bees, a reggae band nominated for the Reggae Grammy in 1989. After arriving in California, John got the gig playing with Bobby Brown, at the time the undisputed "king of the stage." The gig with Bobby lasted almost six years in which time John established himself as an accomplished R&B Hip Hop keyboardist, programmer and later as a producer. In 1994 John worked with Reality Entertainment CEO, Warren Croyle, producing a rock band from Miami by the name of Farrcry. This short deluge into rock was an introduction into the realm of high end analogue production. Also in 1994, John lost his home in the Norhtridge, CA earthquake sending him south to Orange county to write and play in a band called "The Gnarley Braus." The"Gnarlies" was a quartet featuring guitarist Philip Gough (now guitarist with "Bow Wow Wow) where John's keyboard skills could shine. The Gnarlies later became "Cross Culture" signed to G Recordings Warner Bros. G Recordings was founded by legendary Mc G Nichols, director of the Charley's Angels films as well as The OC and many others. 1997 brought the release of Rick James from jail, and John had the honor of arranging and performing keyboards on Urban Rhapsody as well as performing with Rick on the support tour. Shortly after the run with Rick James, John was introduced to an up-and-coming playwright by the name of Tyler Perry. John would work with Tyler as a keyboardist and orchestrator on and off Broadway on six of Tyler's plays. John also worked with composer Elvin Ross on Tyler's debut movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" for Lion's Gate Films. John has recently been working with international recording star Shawn Rivera of Azyet fame as well as composing and producing music for Leona Lewis. Currently living in Atlanta, GA, John operates a private recording studio for record and film music production.

Composer and producer credits

Performance credits

Nina Foxx's "Marrying UP" Composer-Producer, Musical Director 2008? Thomas Miles' "Where's Papa Ray's Money" Composer- Producer, Musical Director 2008 Tyler Perry’s Media’s Class Reunion Orchestrator-Keyboards 2003 Tyler Perry’s Media’s Family Reunion Orchestrator-Keyboards 2002 Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman Orchestrator-Keyboards 2001 Tyler Perry’s "I Can Do Bad" Orchestrator-Keyboards 2000 Jessica Simpson for Sony Music, Musical Director 2000 Coco Lee for Sony Music Conference Tokyo, Musical Director 2000 Bosson for Capitol Records, Musical Director 2000 Coco Lee in Hong Kong, Tokyo, U.S.A. for Sony Music, Musical Director 1999-2000 Bishop T.D. Jakes’ “Woman Thou Art Loosed” Orchestrator-Keyboards 1999 Tyler Perry’s “I Know I’ve Been Changed” Orchestrator-Keyboards 1999 Tevin Campbell 1998 Pamela Williams 1998 Teena Marie 1998 Rick James U.S. Tours 1997-1998 Puff Daddy 1997 The Platters North American Tour 1996-1997 Bobby Brown in Brunei 1994 Bobby Brown Cool Jazz Festival 1993 Bobby Brown “Bobby” World Tour 1993 Whitney Houston 1993 Bobby Brown “Humpin Around” Video 1993 Bobby Brown American Music Awards Concert Series Japan 1991 ADOBO and Wish United States Concerts 1990 Bobby Brown “Dance YA Know It” World Tour 1990 Bobby Brown “Don’t Be Cruel”l World Tour 1989 Killer Bees “Live in Berlin Tour” 1987-1989

John F. Forbes has performed in

•Grammy Awards •American Music Awards •Soul Train Awards •MTV Awards •Billboard Live •The Tonight Show •Saturday Night Live •The David Letterman Show •Keenan Ivory Wayans Show •Rosey O’Donnel Show •U.S. Open 2000 •CBS Morning Show •CBS Christmas Special 2000