Justin Cary, the bassist for the indie pop band Sixpence None the Richer, has died at 50 following complications from a stroke. Cary suffered the serious stroke last week and underwent two surgeries in the days that followed before his death.
Sixpence None the Richer achieved mainstream success in the late 1990s with their acoustic-driven sound and whimsical arrangements. The band became best known for their 1998 hit "Kiss Me," which topped charts globally and secured their place in the alternative pop canon. Cary's bass work provided the rhythmic foundation for the group's signature sound throughout their career, which spanned from their formation in the early 1990s through various reunions and touring cycles.
The band originally formed in Albuquerque before relocating to Nashville, where they recorded their breakthrough album on the independent Geffen Records label. Beyond "Kiss Me," Sixpence None the Richer released several albums and became fixtures on college radio and MTV throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Their music blended folk sensibilities with pop accessibility, appealing to audiences who gravitated toward the alternative mainstream of that era.
Cary's death marks another loss within the alternative music community that defined a generation of listeners. His contributions as a bassist helped shape the textural richness that made Sixpence None the Richer's recordings distinctive. The band has maintained a devoted fan base through streaming platforms and periodic reunion performances over the years, keeping their catalog accessible to longtime listeners and introducing their work to new audiences discovering 1990s alternative pop.