Fallen Hott ‘soldier’ saluted

Starcom Network’s on-air personality Warren John Doe Forte was today eulogized as a man who touched thousands of lives, was dedicated to his family, was an outstanding friend and irreplaceable employee.

In a tear-filled, thanksgiving service at New Dimensions Ministries on Barbarees Hill, Forte featured in one last broadcast as his family, friends, local cultural celebrities, colleagues, fellow deejays and radio personalities took part in a final farewell to the man who dominated morning radio on Hott 95.3 FM for several years.

Due to COVID-19 protocols only specially-invited relatives and friends gathered physically for the service, however, thousands witnessed the tributes through a livestream.

Many of those gathered struggled to keep the tears away, as the tributes reflected on Forte’s outstanding contribution to radio in Barbados, the dedication to relatives and friends and his love he shared with his wife of 23 years Tracy Morgan-Forte.

Forte’s close friend, entertainer Geoffrey Biggie Irie Cordle cried as he sang Always Around, a touching rendition that drew tears from many of those gathered. And as Rupert Rupee Clarke delivered his song God Needed An Angel, the tears streamed down his widow’s cheeks.

Programme Director at Starcom Network Ronnie Clarke said Forte, who according to two surveys dominated the airwaves between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., spent 17 years with the station and could never be replaced.

He said the former Harrison College student’s preparation, insight, dedication, professionalism and understanding of the various genres of music, along with a desire to learn and know, meant that as a broadcaster, as well as a critically-thinking, trained financier, he was more than just a deejay.

Clarke said Forte mastered the art of using just enough to get the job done brilliantly, and always having additional in the event that there was a requirement to produce more. He said Forte admitted to his mistakes, offered and accepted solutions and moved on.

“A man so good, that a week after his last show, his last show was played and I believe that at least 50 per cent of Barbados was tuned in. I saw the outpouring of love and affection and support in the various posts across social media platforms. I heard it on SLAM 101.1 FM, on CAPITAL, on 98.1… a soldier had fallen and the rest of the broadcast army paid tribute,” Clarke said.

He noted that Starcom’s records show that during 2020, when COVID-19 dominated all aspects of life, Forte, also known as Shelley Fingers, carried HOT 95.3 FM through, leading from the front.

“Colleagues, clients, listeners, and all stakeholders, were blessed and fortunate to have a man of such calibre present and performing as the leading personality and host once more. Recommendations, seeking to utilize Warren’s knowledge and discernment in a greater managerial role must be considered. His attitude and strength of character should be channelled in the form of training and insight for others to benefit from,” Clarke said, as he read a section of Forte’s most recent performance appraisal.

Forte, was born in Canada, and moved to Barbados with his parents in the late 1970s.

Another friend Rickie Neblett said although the well-loved personality accomplished much in his career as a deejay, he remained humbled and deliberately sought to keep his inner circle small, and his work life and private life separate.

According to him, Forte loved his godchildren, took his role seriously and was often seen doing school pickups, drop offs and spending quality time at outings and social events with three of them.

“At 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 7 Warren and I were old talking. He congratulated me on becoming a pop pop as Ashley was now a mother. We were laughing heartily and wondering exactly when did we become our parents. He explained how rough it was coping with Dennis Johnson’s passing and we reconfirmed our commitment to friendship and said that time and distance meant nothing in a real friendship.

“We said we would talk later and he went off to prepare for an ad he was recording at the studio for an event. The next thing I knew Tracy was calling me saying ‘Rickie, Warren is gone, I need you here’ and my initial response was ‘where he gone now?’ I hustled down to the QEH and held my still warm brother’s hand. My brother from another mother, my friend who is gone,” Neblett said.

He assured all attending that he and Forte’s other claimed brothers will take care of their “sister-in-law”.

On November 7, Starcom’s Network’s Station Manager Anthony Greene announced that Forte, who joined the company in 1999, collapsed suddenly at the River Road studios and efforts by paramedics and doctors to revive him were unsuccessful.

Forte’s remains will be cremated at a later date. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb