Frank - Guitar/VocalsIn 1968, my earliest friends, (all this at the age of four, mind you!) were a Sears record player and a stack of 45's from the era of Motown ,British Invasion, American pop and Soul. My only interest was hearing what was going on in the music that was making me play them over and over again. Very early on I could listen to the harmonies on a Beach Boys or Beatles record and tell one of my four older sisters what part to sing while I sang counterpoint. I would love to tell you that this was the beginning of an Osmond Brothers or Jackson 5 type of story ,but there wasn't that type of talent in my home in Brooklyn U.S.A. ! Pretty soon after that my parents heard that I had a good ear for a melody. THEY BOUGHT ME A SET OF DRUMS ! After a few years toiling around in rythmnic mediocrity, I traded my drums in for a guitar and began my career of musical mediocrity. Learning the instrument was slow and painful, (and still is), but I was soon adept enough to play in local cover bands, and later on, many, many, many, Punk and New Wave bands . After that was an endless stream of Hair bands, (wish I had some of that back),song writing projects, and college credits in the music field, (yes I actually can tell you what I'm playing!). All the rest is really inconsequential, until of course, I met my current musical foils. Now I play great songs every couple of weekends with five of the best and nicest musicians in the state of New Jersey and actually get paid to do it! Such is my plight as a ROCK STAR!
Influences include: The Beatles ,Keith Richards,Les Paul,Sinatra,Sam Cook,and Frankie Trombino |
Sergio - Drums/Sound/DJ Sergio Salzano came to the shores of America in a rubber raft equipped only with one drumstick, a cowbell, and his trusty metronome. In 1968, after making it through the locks of the Panama canal, Sergio set his sites on being a part of the first wave of The Spanish Invasion. Such groups as Santana and Trini Lopez were then topping the Billboard charts, but Sergio had no such luck catching on. He then settled for a stint as a Dunkin' Donuts counterperson, and became hopelessly addicted to cafeine, an addiction which he carries with him till this very day. After leaving Dunkin' Donuts he headed in the direction of an ill fated audition for Los Lobos, after which Sergio swore never to play the drums again. During the 80's and most of the 90's, Sergio played the role of mad scientist, while stuggling with his caffeine addiction. During this time he invented the rolling rack, professional stage lighting, and the wheelie bag. Those are just the few of his inventions that are musical industry standard of today. Then one day Frank C. approached Sergio with a bunch of lies and empty promises about playing Latin Percussion for the Secret Agents. After realizing that we were not Hispanic (and never could be), Sergio settled into the drummers chair and now has been handling that responsibility for over five years. Sergio is now the driving inspiration that keeps us heading in the right direction.
Influences include the Energizer Bunny and that Monkey drum playing toy ! |
Al - Bass/VocalsHaving been raised on the eclectic music of the late 60s/early 70s, Al picked up his first bass at age seventeen. His decision to learn the instrument was based less on choice than it was on necessity when in 1975 he met a group of young musicians including a drummer and two guitarists (one being the incredible Foofie Quaf). Eager to form a band, the guys suggested that Al learn the bass thus beginning a long and magical journey. Through the 70s, Al played and sang for bands such as Woodenickel, Outerbridge Crossing and Euphoria. By the early 80's Al was co-writing and performing originals and copies with punk/new wave bands such as the Gaps, the Neutrinos, and Petey & the Pit-Bulls.Al once again rejoined Foofie in 1990 to form the Secret Agents with guitarist Bruce Calari (currently of the Blueshawks) and drummer Kevin Colligan (now of Gravity Feed). The original Agents were a powerful blues/rock combo,performing and recording great original pieces through the mid-90s. Also during this period Al revisited his punk past joining Foofie in a side-project, the Hooligans, playing the grunge/alternative music of the era. In 1999, based on popular demand, Al and Foof reformed the Agents by joining up with Frank C and Sergio, later being joined by Dan and Linda to complete the current lineup. Al's bass of choice, his prized possesion is his 1982 Red Fireglo Rickenbacker 4001S. His style is heavily blues influenced with classic rock riffs thrown in to make it interesting. His bass heros include Jon Entwistle, James Jamerson, Jack Casady, Chris Squire, Graham Maby, Frankie Trombino and the amazing Paul McCartney. |
Foofie - Guitar/Vocals Frustrated because his parents thought the drums were to loud Foof started playing guitar at age 9. He took lessons at Sickles Music on Newark Ave. in Jersey City and private lessons until age 15. Foof's first gig (age 11) was a Girl Scout communion breakfast. He played The Doors - Light My Fire (take from that what you may). At 17 he formed Woodenickel with Al (current Agents bassplayer). They played Smoke on the Water and most of The White Album over and over again. (god bless Al's mom and dad for letting us practice in their basement). Throughout the 70's and early 80's Woodenickle morphed into other bands (Outerbridge Crossing, Euphoria, The Gaps) and went thru more drummers than Spinal Tap. The early 80's found Foof writing and performing originals in the Nutrinos and 'Petey and the Pitbulls'. By the mid-80's he was playing originals at The Dirt Club, CBGB's, and Kenny's Castaways with Broken English. Lots of fun, no income. The 90's brought about Secret Agents: The Band. The original lineup played lots of originals as well and spent alot of time in the recording studio (You can here the agents playing 'Hard Mans Hand' on the first annual 'New York Jazz and Blues CD' - a link to that recording and the NYJB website is on our 'Hear Us' page). When Sergio (drummer) and Frank C. (guitar) joined the band we started playing classic rock / dance / and party songs, finally becoming The Agents. Foof's guitar collection includes a '65 Hagstrom II, a '67 Gretch Monkee's Rock-n-Roll Guitar, a 1976 Ibanez Les Paul lawsuit edition, and his latest an Ibanez Artist. Influences include George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Benson, Tommy Giambusso (High School Buddy) and Dickie Betts. |
Dan - Keyboards/Vocals/Percussion/Bass... Dan began listening to classic rock and pop before he was born. His Dad would put the head phones on his Mom's belly and play The Beatles and Billy Joel. By the age of 5 or 6 he could sing just about any Beatles song you could name. Dan started playing guitar at age 12, but didn't take lessons until he was 15. He quickly realized that reading music was not something that interested him since it was far easier to hear a song and play it, then to read those dots. So he decided to stop the lessons. His thinking -- If Paul McCartney can do what he's done without reading music, then it can't be too important. Throughout High School, Dan was in all of the musical shows and became a very comforatable and capable performer. Over the years he picked up the bass and finally the keyboards. Having listened to The Secret Agents Band his whole life he told his dad (guitarist Frank G) that they should add him as a keyboard player (even though he didn't play keys). Within two months he was playing 1/3 of the songs in the set list. Now, playing for a number of years, the band picks songs that feature horns, and strings, and all kinds of things that his Korg Triton can imitate. Quite a long way to go in such a short time.
Dan plays a Korg Triton and a Casio thru a Roland amp. His influences include Roger Mancini, Brandon Flowers and Jools Holand. |
Linda - Vocals A founding member and former lead singer of ITS ALL GOOD. Linda has been singing and performing since childhood. Her background includes performances throughout the tri-state area in choral groups, theater productions, clubs and weddings as well writing and recording originals in the studio. This polished performer is a natural talent who possesses power and versatility which allow her a range strong enough to handle the raunch of rock, the soul of r&b, the sweetness of a ballad, and the drive for dance. She’s a strong presence on stage and guarantees to get you up on the floor and dancing. She’s inspired by Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hydne, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Donna Summer, Madonna and Englebert Humperdink ???. |
(Mouse over picture of band member to see bio)
The Secret Agents Band is a mature and seasoned six piece band from Old Bridge, Howell and Bayonne, and has been performing for more than seven years. The band has a powerful female vocalist who is supported by 2 guitars, keyboards, bass and drums. Five of the six bandmembers sing, making for dynamic background vocals and the ability to play many styles. We play a great mix of party music; dance, pop, and classic rock. Most of the songs are familiar to everyone. We tell people, "If you don't like what you are hearing just wait three minutes" because they are bound to like whatever is coming up next.
Our playlist includes: Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Journey, Lipps Inc., The Supremes, Kiki Dee, Gloria Gaynor, Temptations, Gretchen Wilson, Pink, Guns N Roses, The Killers, The Beatles, Stones, Hollies, Jet, Heart, Eurythmics, Pat Benetar, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Ethridge, Led Zep, Bee Gees, Rick James, Billy Joel, B-52's, Squeeze, Greenday, ZZ Top.... and many many others.
The two founding members, Frank (aka Foofie Quaff) on guitar and Al (aka Soupy) on bass have played together, in various bands, since 1975. They are joined by another Frank (aka David Que Se Dice) on guitar, Sergio (aka The Technician) on drums, Dan (aka Conan) on keys and most recently Linda(aka '99') on vocals. Together, they create the classic sound of a six piece band, including three/four/five part harmonies.
Their mix of of dance, pop, classic rock, new wave and recent songs makes them a great party band. The songs are familiar and with a few notable exceptions, not cliche.
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