Welcome to the home of

The Forefathers !

Voted 2007 Best Acoustic Act by the Orlando Weekly

Now heard on National Public Radio's "Echoes" program hosted by John Diliberto (www.echoes.org)

Click here for upcoming shows!

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JOIN our E-Mail List !! Send your email address to ForefathersMusic@aol.com for periodic show updates and information!

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*** New album "Manataka" is here ! ***

12 brand new tracks !

The new CD is $12.99 and can be securely ordered using your major credit card by clicking this "Buy Now" button:

Track Listing

Manataka (Place of Peace) ~ Silhouettes ~ Return of The Ancients ~ Mountain Rose ~ The Amazon ~ Red ~ Awake ~ Fanga ~ Warriors & Doves ~ Need More Love ~ Worlds Collide ~ Peace Dance

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Click below to hear MP3's from "Manataka"

Manataka (Place of Peace)  (full song)

Red (30 second clip)

Mountain Rose (30 second clip)

The Amazon (30 second clip)

Return of The Ancients (30 second clip)

Warriors & Doves (30 second clip)

Also, you can go to www.myspace.com/TheForefathers to hear songs from "Manataka" (but then come back here) !

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What's being said about "Manataka":

"The Forefathers - A Global Fusion Treasure!

We've got 'acres of diamonds' right in our Orlando backyard!  The Forefathers are, in a word, awesome!  The Forefathers' "Manataka" cd has become a gift for me.  In the long hours of laying out this magazine, I play Manataka and can't help but remark to myself how superb and richly textured this album is.  Its global essence is obvious and will stir your soul...The chemistry shows up in a full-bodied, different kind of sound that's mature, but hip.  I played a couple selections for a large group of people and they were all on their feet in no time...What a beautiful tribute this album is to the Place of Peace.  Manataka resurrects the vision and the incredible zeal our hearts all hold for peace all over the world...I can't wait to meet up with these four guys in person to hear the Forefathers live!  Someday we'll be saying, "We know them when!" - Pursusha K. Radha, Velocity Magazine, May/June 2008 Issue

"(5 stars) ~ The Forefathers is a band that is hard to put in a particular category - the closest I can think of would be world music.  To help put into perspective, the liner notes refer to the album's title, Manataka, as a mystical and sacred ground where Native peoples would pilgrimage to celebrate peace.  With that out of the way, this 12-song CD is a pleasure to listen to.  It's all instrumental and very percussive with instruments like a flute, penny whistle, mandolin, and lots of chants throughout.  Manataka is a vast array of professional musicianship and belongs in any world music fan's collection." - Sara Wilsey, Connections Magazine, February 2008

"Love the new album.  Expect to hear it on the show starting next week." - John Diliberto, Host of "Echoes" on National Public Radio

"A unique sound" - Benoit Glazer, band leader for Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba

"If you love good music (and who doesn't?) there is a new CD out by our own Dr. Rich Marcil...Rich performs with his group "TheForefathers"...The CD has 12 brand-new tracks that are just wonderful." - Gloria Yousha, Heritage News, 9/7/2007

"Just like to add my endorsement to the Forefathers music which is thoughtful, emotional and paints wonderful musical landscapes. And, it is excellently produced. Oh, and the milkman can whistle the tunes. What more do you want?" - Dave H.

"Just checked the webpage (My Space) out, one of the playable tracks "The Amazon" is just excellent !  Best o` luck guys." - Killieboy

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Forefathers' songs are now available on these digital music download sites:

Apple iTunes * Bitmunk * BuyMusic * Choice Records * Daiki * Destra * DigitalKiosk * Goodstorm * GreatIndieMusic * GroupieTunes * Inprodicon * Intent Media Works * Interia * Liquid Digital Media * MOD Systems * Mouzika * MP3-Extension * MP3tunes * MPGreek * MSN Music * MusicIsHere * MusicNet * MusicNow * Muze * Napster * Nareos * NTT * PassAlong * PayPlay * PlayIndies * Puretracks * Rhapsody * Ruckus * RuleRadio * SNOCAP * Sony Connect * Starzik * Tradebit * USEN * Verizon * WrapFactory

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About The Forefathers...

   The Forefathers are an instrumental ensemble based in Orlando, Florida, performing original World Music Fusion.  Formed in early 2005, the band blends various genres such as World, Acoustic, Celtic, New Age, Afro-Beat, and Rock into an energizing and uplifting sound.

     The Forefathers have performed many well-received live shows such as the Florida Folk Festival, Taste of the Nation Gala, International New Age Trade Show, Orlando Fringe Festival, the Orlando Science Center, various art festivals, clubs, convention shows, & private parties.  The band is receiving airplay for tracks from their self-titled debut CD "The Forefathers" (released in 2006) and from their current CD "Manataka."  Songs are also being promoted to film and multimedia projects.

       The Forefathers released their 2nd CD, "Manataka," in July 2007.  The tracks "Mountain Rose", "Manataka", "Silhouettes", and "Awake" have appeared on National Public Radio's popular Echoes program hosted by John Diliberto.  "Mountain Rose" has also been selected for the CD compilation "Tribute to Stuart Adamson" (late singer/guitarist of Big Country) due for release in 2008.

       The story behind the new CD "Manataka" is this:  Hot Springs National Park is known to most people as a place of recreation.  To Native Americans, this region was, and continues to be, a mystical and sacred ground known as Manataka.  For thousands of years, Native peoples would pilgrimage to Manataka at regular intervals to celebrate peace.  Even nations at war with each other would put aside their disputes to meet at Manataka.  The music on this CD is inspired by the themes of Manataka: peace, healing, respect for our natural world, and a harmonious bond between all peoples of Earth.

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The Forefathers are:

Arturo Escamilla    drums, percussion, & electronic pad

Ross Jarrett    percussion & harmonica 

Rich Marcil    12-string guitar, E-Bow, & mandolin

Thuan Nguyen    bass guitar

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What's Been Said About The Forefathers...

"I can't even remember the last time I've listened to a world music CD - probably never.  But if all world music is like The Forefathers, then maybe I've been missing out...a pretty diverse sound... well-produced, jacketed, and I've heard no other band like them from this area..." - Connections Magazine, July 2006

“I saw/heard Forefathers perform at INATS (International New Age Trade Show) last week.  I think your music is fantastic…” – Sandra Kynes, Celtic Soul, East Brunswick, NJ

“You guys were fantastic!” - Kirsten Reynen, Director,  Orlando Science Center

“You guys were great!” – Rafael Okure, New Leaf Distributing Company, Lithia Springs, GA

“We really enjoyed the Forefathers' performance at INATS east. We would love to sell your cds in our store…we're sure they will be great sellers!” – Lynn Williams, Spice of Life Herbs, Deland, FL

"...all instrumentation was exquisite...and it left a feeling that all good music should leave in a person..." - Karnal Film & TV Promotions, Martinez, GA

“…saw you at INATS and LOVED your music…” – Christopher, Tampa, FL

"...you were an asset to the event..." - Alex Eissinmann, Events Coordinator, Celebration Arts Festival

“…Rich Marcil is a guitarist and composer who will soon be nationally recognized…in this time of war and turmoil it is just the music to relax by…” – Gloria Yousha, Heritage, Orlando, FL

“…your music is some of the best I’ve ever heard.  A musical soundscape journey that transports you from today into tomorrow, and all the way back in to the past.  I love it!” – George, Marietta, GA