Fogo Azul's powerful drums help motivate TCS New York City Marathon runners

The pounding drums of Fogo Azul have become a familiar sound for New York City Marathon runners, and this Sunday the group will once again take its place along the course to help motivate athletes chasing the finish line.

Fogo Azul, which means “blue fire” in Portuguese, is a women-led samba reggae drumline whose mantra is simple: percussion is power.

Founder Stacy Kovacs said the group’s energy is a natural match for New York.

“New York is big, we’re big ..we’re loud, New York is loud,” Kovacs said.

The drumline has become a marathon tradition that both members and runners look forward to each year. According to Kovacs, runners can hear the band long before they arrive.

“It looks like the bridge is bouncing and then they’re all there,” she said. “They can hear us like six blocks prior and they can keep hearing us, so we help them with pacing.”

Nearly 200 members strong, Fogo Azul recently gathered for rehearsal in Harlem. The group is made up of people from all walks of life, including students, doctors, lawyers and teachers. No musical experience is required to join.

“You feel the music, you start to feel the rhythm, you feel the energy and it kind of grows into you,” member Millie Peguero said.

As conductor, Kovacs leads the ensemble without sheet music. Instead, members learn through Brazil’s oral tradition, relying heavily on hand signals and visual cues.

“Each song has its own signal, either numbers or moving hand symbols, and they all mean different things,” Kovacs said.

The group’s powerful rhythms have made it a fixture at events throughout the city. Fogo Azul performs about 150 times each year, bringing its signature sound to audiences across the region.

Kovacs believes the connection between the musicians and the crowd is what makes the experience special.

“They say when you drum and play music together, your heartbeats sync together,” she said. “You can just see the body language of people change. You can see them get excited, from children to 100-year-old people. They just love it.”

On Sunday, as runners from around the world make their way through New York City’s five boroughs, Fogo Azul will once again provide the soundtrack, helping carry thousands of athletes one beat at a time.

The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1. Coverage on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7 New York begins with pre-race coverage, Marathon Sunday, at 7:00 a.m. Live coverage of Sunday’s marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. only on Channel 7 and ESPN2.