Justin Cary, the bassist who helped power Sixpence None The Richer through its biggest years, has died at the age of 50 after suffering a serious stroke. His wife, Linda, was at his side when he passed at Albany Medical Center in New York, The Sun reported.
A GoFundMe page set up for the Cary family delivered the news bluntly: "Justin passed peacefully this morning and Linda was next to him." The update asked for continued prayers during what organizers called "a very difficult time."
Cary's death marks the loss of a musician who spent decades doing the unglamorous work behind some of the most recognizable pop songs of the late 1990s, and who, by every available account, carried himself with gratitude rather than ego throughout his career.
The timeline of Cary's final days, drawn from GoFundMe updates posted by family associates, traces a rapid decline. Cary suffered a serious stroke on a Thursday evening and was rushed to Albany Medical Center, where doctors performed two surgeries. He was placed in the ICU.
An earlier update described the situation with painful honesty:
"The road ahead is uncertain and scary so if you are so inclined to pray, send good vibes and healing energy it would be truly appreciated."
The fundraiser's organizers, who were not named, said they wanted to allow Linda Cary to remain at her husband's bedside while updates were shared online. The cause of the stroke has not been disclosed.
Cary died on a Thursday. Whether that was the same Thursday as the stroke or a later date remains unclear from available updates, which used only relative time references.
Sixpence None The Richer formed in 1992, and Cary joined five years later, just in time for the band's commercial breakthrough. The group's self-titled album, released in 1997, produced "Kiss Me," a song that climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination in 2000 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
That single became inescapable. It soundtracked romantic comedies, television shows, and high school dances across the country. For millions of Americans, it was the soundtrack to a particular moment in the late '90s, bright, unironic, and unafraid of sincerity.
Cary's own description of his career, posted on his personal website, reflected the same straightforward spirit. He wrote that he had been "fortunate to perform and/or record with a lot of talented artists, musicians and producers." Of his time with Sixpence None The Richer, he said he had been "fortunate to ride a wave of experience that taught me a lot about the music industry."
Then the characteristic dry note: "Sometimes easily, and sometimes the hard way!"
That kind of self-awareness, a working musician who understood the industry's rough edges but stayed grateful for the ride, is rarer than it should be. Cary also worked with vocalist Leigh Nash, the band's frontwoman, on her solo projects.
Cary's death comes during a period that has seen the music industry lose several figures in quick succession. The New York Post reported the death of choreographer Paul Roberts, 52, who passed away on September 26, 2025, after a battle with cancer. Roberts had worked with One Direction, Harry Styles, the Spice Girls, Katy Perry, and Ed Sheeran over a celebrated 25-year career. His partner, Phil Griffin, confirmed the news on Instagram, writing that Roberts's departure "much like his life, was filled with grace."
Both men were in their early fifties. Both spent their careers in the service of other artists' success. Neither was a household name, but both shaped the sounds and performances that defined eras of popular music.
Sixpence None The Richer had not publicly responded to Cary's death at the time of reporting. The GoFundMe fundraiser did not list a financial goal or amount raised, and the specific organizers behind it were not identified. Whether Cary was still an active member of the band or had moved into other musical work at the time of his stroke remains unclear.
The fundraiser page, titled "Healing and Hope for Justin and Linda," continues to accept donations. Its organizers wrote simply: "Justin and Linda need our love, prayers and support more than ever now."
At 50, Justin Cary leaves behind a body of work that millions of people know by heart, even if they never knew his name. That's the life of a sideman done right: the music outlasts the credit.
