The Forefathers

Artist Information

Biography

New CD "Aurora" Airplay Update: The Forefathers have made it to #8 in National Public Radio's "Echoes" program's Top 25 for the 1st half of 2011! The band's interview with Echoes host John Dilberto is being rebroadcast on the 7-20-11 program.

The band's music is also currently being featured on Radio Marabu (Europe), Radio Crystal Blue, Indie 104 iRADIO LA, GRM Radio Network, UnderWorldMixRadio.com, Underground Music Spot, Sirius 104 FM (Australia), and KSBR-FM (California). The Forefathers were interviewed live for 40 minutes by the NPR station WGCU-FM (Ft. Myers, FL) on 5-19-11.

The Forefathers are a 4-piece instrumental ensemble performing original Ambient World Rock. The band fuses various genres such as Celtic, New Age, Afro-Beat, Folk, & Rock into a distinctive sound. The Forefathers’ music evokes a spirit of positive energy, mystery, and adventure that stimulates the listener’s imagination to new frontiers.

The Forefathers are comprised of Rich Marcil (12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, & E-Bow), Thuan Nguyen (bass guitar), Russ Gaspard (violin, keyboards, & harmonica), and Curtis Michelson (drums). Together since 2005, The Forefathers have released 3 CD’s and 1 EP.

Their latest, entitled “Aurora“, debuted in January 2011 and is comprised of 11 tracks that features, in addition to The Forefathers, several highly talented guest musicians who contributed woodwinds, keyboards, and vocals. The band is performing shows throughout 2011 to promote the new album.

“Aurora” debuted on National Public Radio’s “Echoes” program in February 2011 and reached #4 on the show’s Top 25 for February 2011 and #5 for March 2011. The tracks “Evening Rain”, “Not Forgotten”, “Seven”, and “Dreamland” have appeared on the show.

The Forefathers' previous release, "Manataka", contained the tracks "Mountain Rose", "Silhouettes", "Manataka (Place of Peace)", & "Awake" that were featured on many radio shows, including National Public Radio‘s “Echoes“. The track "Mountain Rose" was also selected for inclusion on the compilation "Tribute to Stuart Adamson" (late singer/guitarist of the Scottish band Big Country). Velocity Magazine called the album “superb and richly textured ... its global essence is obvious and will stir your soul…”. Upon hearing the “Manataka” album, it was also enthusiastically endorsed by the Manataka American Indian Council.

The Forefathers have performed numerous well-received live shows at music, art, and eco-awareness festivals, as well corporate events and music clubs. The band was once recognized as the "Best Acoustic Act" in the Central Florida region by The Orlando Weekly while guitarist Marcil was, in 2009, selected among 10 finalists for Musician of the Year by the Songwriters Showcases of America.

In 2010, The Forefathers created a soundtrack to accompany spoken word artists and the “Emotions Dance” company’s presentation of “Poetry In Motion” that premiered to an enthusiastic theatre audience. In January 2011, the band celebrated the release of “Aurora” with a CD Release Celebration and performance at Timucua, a beautiful custom-built concert venue within the home of Benoit Glazer, the conductor of Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” at Orlando’s Downtown Disney.

For more information, CDs, photos, or interviews, contact The Forefathers via email at ForefathersMusic@gmail.com or through their websites:
www.facebook.com/theforefathers or www.theforefathers.com .

Instrumentation

Rich Marcil - 12-string acoustic guitar, e-bow
Thuan Nguyen - Bass Guitar
Curtis Michelson - Drums
Russ Gaspard - keyboards, Harmonica, Violin

Discography

"Aurora" - 3rd CD, released January 2011

"Comfort & Joy" - EP, released December 2007

"Manataka" - 2nd CD, released July 2007

"The Forefathers" - debut CD, released February 2006

Official Website

http://www.theforefathers.com

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Dreamland
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• Aurora
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• Evening Rain
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• Vision Quest
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• Not Forgotten
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• A Global Fusion Treasure [+ Show ]
  

  The Forefathers are, in a word, awesome! The Forefathers' "Manataka" cd has become a gift for me. ...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 [+ Show ]
  

  "(5 stars) ~ The Forefathers is a band that is hard to put in a particular category - the closest I ..."(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 [+ Show ]
  

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

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

• I've Heard No Other Band Like Them [+ Show ]
  

  "I can't even remember the last time I've listened to a world music CD - probably never. But if all..."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

• Music Is Fantastic [+ Show ]
  

  “I saw/heard Forefathers perform at INATS (International New Age Trade Show) last week. I think your...“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
  

• Will Soon Be Nationally Recognized [+ Show ]
  

  “…Rich Marcil is a guitarist and composer who will soon be nationally recognized…in this time of war...“…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
  

Setlist

The Forefathers typical set list is comprised of their original, instrumental songs. The band is capable of playing 4 hours of non-repeated material. The songs "Evening Rain", "Dreamland", "Not Forgotten", "Aurora", "The Seven", "Mountain Rose", "Silhouettes", "Manataka (Place of Peace)", & "Awake" have been featured on numerous radio stations and shows including National Public Radio.

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