Justin Cary, the longtime bassist for Sixpence None the Richer, has died at the age of 50.
Cary passed away peacefully on June 18 after suffering complications from a stroke, according to updates shared by his family and a GoFundMe page created to support him and his wife, Linda.
The fundraiser said Cary suffered a serious stroke the week before his death and was treated at Albany Medical Center in New York. While hospitalized, he underwent two surgeries as doctors worked to save him.
In the days leading up to his death, Cary remained in the intensive care unit and was on a respirator.
His passing has left fans and fellow musicians heartbroken, especially those who knew him from his years with Sixpence None the Richer.
Lead singer Leigh Nash paid tribute to her longtime bandmate on social media, remembering him not only as a talented musician, but as a beloved friend.
Nash praised Cary’s humor, professionalism and musicianship, saying the impact he left on the band and those around him would not be forgotten.
“We love you forever,” she wrote.
Cary joined Sixpence None the Richer in 1997, becoming part of the lineup that helped the band reach international success.
The group became best known for its massive hit “Kiss Me,” which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most recognizable songs of the late 1990s.
“Kiss Me” also earned the band a Grammy nomination in 2000, cementing its place as a defining track of that era.
For fans, Cary’s death is a painful loss. He was part of a band whose music became the soundtrack to countless memories, and his contributions helped shape one of the most beloved pop songs of a generation.
He is survived by his wife, Linda.