Behind the Scenes Photos from Forum Music Fest

What happens when you bring three musical greats together for a live, unscripted Forum conversation? Nothing short of magic!

We'll be sharing some highlights and memorable behind the scenes moments from last night's Forum Music Fest over the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy these fantastic shots taken by the one and only Nick Caito!

Rock Legend Patti Smith autographs copies of her iconic album covers and new book, Just Kids.


Singer, Songwriter and former Fugees Producer John Forte signs autographs at the panelist meeting.




John and Patti get better acquainted during the panelist meeting.



Forum Founding President Richard Sugarman admiring Patti's poetry.



Connecticut YOUTH Forum members pose with panelists and moderator Bill Flanagan after the YOUTH Forum press conference. Check out this clip from their press conference!



Patti and John Forte swap their guitars during the sound check.


The panel takes the stage.


Patti is a Rock Star...from head to toe!



Patti looks on as John Forte wows the crowd with a powerful, inspirational performance.



John Legend's beautiful performance left the Forum audience speechless.


Patti Smith was so moved by her experience with members of our YOUTH Forum that she dedicated her performance to them. Rock on!



The perfect ending to an incredible evening-and season!


Check back soon for video clips from the conversation, and performances!

CT Forum Brings Music to the Streets of Hartford

Don't forget your dancing shoes this Saturday! We're bringing music to the streets as part of our Forum Music Fest celebration, with live performances by more than a dozen local musicians including jazz and brass ensembles, Haitian music, salsa, classical musicians and others. See them live on Pratt Street, Capital Avenue and in and around the Bushnell theater, beginning at 5PM.

The Brian Bartus Quartet

The schedule of musicians is as follows:

4:45pm, Pratt Street: The Sweetest Key
The Sweetest Key is a female acapella group from the Greater Hartford area. They arrange their own work and sing music of all genres and styles!

7:00pm, The Courtyard at The Bushnell: D'Tay
D'Tay is a group of talented musicians who perform Haitian Kompa. Their main focus and goal is to make a difference and touch people's lives through their music.

7:00pm, The Founders Lobby at The Bushnell: The Brian Bartus Quartet
The Brian Bartus Quartet is a modern jazz quartet made up of collegiate level musicians. The quartet is made up of a bass, guitar, tenor sax and drums.

7:00pm, Seaverns Room at The Bushnell: Modern Masters from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Two masters from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra - Jason Vieaux on guitar and Leonid Sigal on violin, under the artistic direction of Leonid Sigal.

7:00pm, Belding Staircase at The Bushnell: WEBQ (West End Brass Quintet)
The West End Brass Quintet has performed regularly in performance halls at The University of Hartford, as well as other performance venues around Connecticut. It is made up of a French horn, trombone, tuba and two trumpets.

7:30pm, the Mortensen Theater at The Bushnell: Kris Allen
Kris Allen is a saxophonist and composer who was the young protoge of the great Jackie Mclean, with whom he studied at the Artists Collective and The University of Hartford. Allen is the director of The Hartford Jazz Society New Directions Ensemble.

In collaboration with the Haitian Health Foundation, we will also be collecting items in The Bushnell lobby to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake, specifically: multi-vitamins with iron for children, adult multi-vitamins, new children's underwear, and protein-rich fatty foods like Spam, tuna in oil, and peanut butter.

At 8PM, we will welcome renowned musicians Patti Smith, John Legend, and John Forte to the Bushnell stage for a live, unscripted panel conversation about everything from performing and creating, to their personal lives and causes, to the power music has over us all. The evening will include a lively audience Q&A exchange, surprise musical moments from the panelists, and so much more! See you there!

John Forté to join Patti Smith and John Legend at Forum Music Fest

We are excited to announce that John Forté
will join us at The Forum Music Fest on May 1.

John Forté's life has been an amazing story of twists and turns, major accomplishments and hard knocks. Today he tells his story and the lessons learned with music as his vehicle for sharing and healing.

John Forté is famous for his work with the multi-platinum group The Fugees. He wrote and produced two songs on their Grammy winning album, The Score. After the breakup of The Fugees, he recorded two solo albums, PolySci and I, John, which featured industry legends Herbie Hancock and Carly Simon, and will soon release an album titled Water Light Sound.

Few understand second chances better than John Forté.

After serving seven years of a 14-year sentence following a conviction on drug charges, he was granted a rare commutation of his sentence by President George W. Bush. His strong advocates included Carly Simon and Sen. Orin Hatch. Recognizing prison as an opportunity to redeem himself, Forté created a music program, conducted weekly round table forums for inmates and began pursuing his degree at the London School of Economics.

Released from Fort Dix on December 22, 2008, Forté resumed his career by starting to record in the studio, writing a book and serving as the subject of a feature-length documentary about his life. He teaches a music course to teenagers at In Arms Reach, a Harlem-based initiative committed to promoting a positive environment for children of incarcerated parents and at-risk youth. Forté uses music as a therapeutic means of addressing anger, stress and pain, and hopes that the catharsis of song composition will help children deal with the stigma of having an incarcerated family member. His historic commutation has also made him an ardent supporter of prison reform. He argues that a sentence need not be unreasonably long to provide just punishment, deter criminal conduct and protect the public from harm.

Raised by a single mother in Brooklyn, John was a brilliant young musical prodigy. A dedicated student, Forté was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy and attended New York University until his career in the music industry took off. He is a classically-trained violinist.

Hear John tell his story in his own words...

Other Links

Live @ Joe's Pub-NYC

Blog @ The Daily Beast-How I Went From Prep School to Prison

Rock Legend Patti Smith Added to The Forum Music Fest with John Legend and Wyclef Jean

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Poet, Author, and Creative Spirit Patti Smith will join John Legend and Wyclef Jean at The Forum Music Fest on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Patti Smith has been making a mark as a musician and artist since the 1970s. Her recently released memoir, Just Kids, about the music scene in New York City in the 1970s and her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, has become a best seller.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and this April awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) highest award, the Founders Award, ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams said, "Patti fused raw rock energy with the heart of a poet and ignited the 1970s New York punk scene. She expanded the boundaries of artistic expression, musically and otherwise, inspiring generations of rockers worldwide. She continues to be a vibrant, prolific artist, working in a wide variety of media.”  

Smith has described her work as “three chords merged with the power of the word.” Her first album Horses (1975) fused punk rock with poetry, and the cover photo by Mapplethorpe became a rock classic. Her album Easter (1978) included her best known hit, Because the Night, co-written with Bruce Springsteen.

In 1988 Smith and then husband Fred “Sonic” Smith recorded Dream of Life that included the classic anthem, People Have the Power. A documentary about Smith, Patti Smith, Dream of Life, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008.

Smith has released 18 music albums, published 14 books of poetry and art, and performed and exhibited around the world. She has been nominated for two Grammy awards, has received poetry awards and an honorary doctorate, and was awarded the highest honor given to artists in France, the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres. Smith also received the prestigious Women of Valor Award at the ROCKRGRL Music Conference on November 10, 2005 - exactly 30 years to the day since Horses’ release.

Smith is politically active and participates in benefit work and in various human rights organizations, including the Neil Young Bridge School, Jewel Heart, and the Tibet House Foundation. The song 1959, about the Chinese invasion of Tibet from the album Peace and Noise, was nominated for a Grammy in 1998.

John Legend Discusses Education on Morning Joe

Today, Forum Music Fest panelist John Legend discussed the nation's Education system on MSNBC's Morning Joe alongside (former CT Forum panelist) Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mike Barnicle, and others.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Click here to watch the entire discussion

John Legend is Coming to The CT Forum!

Just Announced!

Six-time Grammy Award winning musician and philanthropist John Legend will join Wyclef Jean as a panelist for the Forum Music Fest on Saturday, May 1, 2010!

Legend has performed all over the world including the recent Hope for Haiti telethon, The Democratic National Convention, and President Obama's Inauguration Celebration. His music is a blend of pop, soul, and r&b that is fueled by his intelligence, intuition, sensuality and spirit. He has released three albums that have sold in the millions: Evolver (2008); Once Again (2006); and Get Lifted (2004).

Legend considers his awards and record sales to be fringe benefits, and focuses on making a difference and touching lives beyond his music. He is known for his philanthropic work and for encouraging fans to get involved. In 2007, he started the Show Me Campaign, calling on fans to help in his philanthropic work for the Ghanaian village of Bossaso. Nearer to home, he partnered with Tide Detergent to raise awareness about the need of families in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, still reeling after Hurricane Katrina. Legend is also the national spokesman for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a non-profit organization that assists the next generation of African American, Hispanic and Native American leaders in major corporations, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial ventures.

For more information about John Legend and his music, you may visit our website and John Legend's official website.

For more information about Forum Music Fest or to purchase tickets - including "Ultimate" ticket packages, please visit our website or call us at (860) 509-0909 ext. 23.