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On January 22, 1994 : Rhett Forrester
dies at the age of 37.
Love song for Rhett's daughter Jade
Real Audio 198K.
Rhett Forrester was the tall, lean blonde
whose soulful voice and charismatic, pirate like, personality
helped launch Brooklyn's RIOT into near superstar status in the
early Eighties. With Forrester as their vocalist and frontman,
RIOT played alongside such stadium acts as Rainbow, Scorpions,
Kiss, Rush and Aerosmith . In Japan, Burrn ! magazine voted Forrester
the number one vocalist of the year. He combined the commanding
presence of Robert Plant with the soulful voice of Paul Rodgers.
The son of a Ballroom dance
instructor, Forrester had the looks, the cocky nature and sweeping
locks of golden hair, perfect for rock stardom. In 1982 Forrester
joined New York cult band RIOT and brought them to the adult radio
market. It marked (the first time RIIOT had steady rotation on
New York City's top rock stations.
 Forrester recorded three successful
albums with RIOT . They included Restless Breed, Riot Live, and
Born In Amenca. Howewer un 1983. plagued with managerial and record
company woes, RIOT eventually disbanded. Forrester remained in
New York working on a number of side projects. They included the
vocal tracks on Jack Starks solo album, Out Of The Darkness and
the New York cornpilation, Thrasher.
Taking a year off, he moved
to Paris, France to record his first solo album Gone With The
Wind. With his solo career in full swing, Forrester returned to
the States to record Even The Score, a cult classic which landed
him squarely as one of Rock's premiere vocalists.
Recently Forrester had begun
work with the Canadian band DR DIRTY. After recording an album
and on the very edge of success the band dissolved days before
signing to a major label . Forrester then joined forces with the
talented, Texan guitarist, Jonathan Grell in a project they called
MR DIRTY. After finishing a superb four song demo, Forrester returned
home to visit his mother.
Atlanta Newspapers January,
22 1994:
Man dies after being shot at
intersection . A 37 year old Tucker man died Saturday morning
after being shot in his car at a northwest Atlanta intersection
on the corner of Lovejoy and Merritt off Techwood. Atlanta police
stated that two men approached Forrester while he was stopped
at an intersection. A witness said he overheard arguing then one
of the men shot Forrester in the back. The bullet pierced his
heart, yet Forrester was able to drive a few blocks where he flagged
down a police cruiser. The only words he spoke to the officer
were "I've been shot!" He then collapsed and died. Police
have no motive or suspects.
Ms. La Fortune Forrester, Rhett's
mother, has continued to fight on her son's behalf raising efforts
to have him inducted into Atlanta's own Hard Rock Cafe. The ceremony
was held June 22nd 1996, two weeks before the '96 Olympics. Local
media coverage included live TV interviews and a host of many
of Rhett's closest fans and friends. Two large shadow boxes containing
Rhett Forrester memorabilia now adorn the walls of the "Georgia" room. A lasting tribute to all the fans whose lives were touch
by his music.
Friends and family of Rhett
Forrester have set up a reward fund for the " arrest and
conviction" of Rhett's murderer who is known by the Atlanta
police but they need more evidence for a conviction.
Please send all correspondence
and contributions to,
" THE RHETT FORRESTER
REWARD FUND" P.O.Box 748, Tucker, Georgia, 30085 USA
Rhett and Jade in 91" Photo with kind permission
from Windi Forrester-Grace.
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