Justin Cary, Longtime Sixpence None the Richer Bassist, Dies at 50 Following Stroke
Justin Cary, the longtime bassist for Sixpence None the Richer whose playing helped shape some of the band's most recognizable recordings, has died at the age of 50 following complications from a stroke.
News of Cary's death was confirmed Thursday by Sixpence None the Richer frontwoman Leigh Nash, who shared tributes to her bandmate and close friend of nearly three decades. Cary had reportedly suffered a stroke the previous week and was hospitalized in intensive care, where he underwent two surgeries before his death.
"We sure had a great time" was an understatement, Nash wrote in a social media post announcing the loss. She described Cary as family and asked fans to keep his wife, Linda, in their thoughts during what she called an incredibly difficult time.
In a separate tribute shared to Instagram Stories, Nash reflected on Cary's personality, musicianship, and the friendship they built over years of touring together. She described him as kind, talented, and endlessly entertaining, recalling how bandmates would stop whatever they were doing whenever Cary began telling a story.
Nash also shared personal memories from their time on the road, including one late-night incident during a tour stop in Chile when Cary came to her aid after she accidentally broke a sink in her hotel room. She praised both his musicianship and his sense of humor, noting that even after performing the band's signature hit hundreds of times, she still looked forward to hearing the distinctive bass flourish he added near the end of "Kiss Me" each night.
Cary joined Sixpence None the Richer in 1997, replacing founding bassist J.J. Plasencio during a pivotal period in the band's history. His arrival came shortly before the release of the group's self-titled breakthrough album, which would introduce the band to a global audience and establish them as one of the defining pop acts of the late 1990s.
That album featured "Kiss Me," the song that transformed Sixpence None the Richer from a respected alternative Christian band into an international mainstream success. The single climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most recognizable pop songs of its era, earning extensive radio airplay and appearing in numerous films and television shows.
The band's momentum continued with its cover of the La's classic "There She Goes," which also became a Hot 100 hit in 1999 and further cemented the group's place in popular music. Cary remained an integral member of the band throughout the decades that followed, contributing to its recordings, tours, reunions, and live performances.
Although Sixpence None the Richer experienced lineup changes and periods of inactivity over the years, Cary's presence remained a constant. His musicianship and professionalism earned the respect of both bandmates and fans, while his personality made him a beloved figure within the group's extended community.
Earlier this week, Nash had informed fans of Cary's medical emergency, revealing that he had suffered a stroke several days earlier. At the time, she described him as a brother and reflected on the qualities that had made him such an important part of the band's history.
