"The best classic rock band in South Texas"
Celebrating over 30 years,"The Agency" is a Rio Grande Valley-based six-piece veteran band that has been entertaining people throughout Texas since 1993.
We specialize in authentic versions of rock, soul and Motown classic hits from the 60's to the 2000s. We also play a variety of country, waltzes and more.
Composed of seasoned musicians. "The Agency" is well-known for finely crafted vocals, tight, blended sound and danceable arrangements.
Katie Gomez
Vocals
Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Katie has been singing and dancing since before she could talk. She grew up listening to her favorite songs from Simon and Garfunkel, The Eagles, TIna Turner, and The Agency as her Dad, Chris Wiley, has been a member since the early 1990's.
Katie grew up singing at St. Mary's Catholic Church with her parents, who were the music directors. She continued singing through elementary, middle school and high school. Katie is an active member of the Performing Arts Community in Brownsville, Texas.
Together with her family, Katie is the owner and Director of MOVE - Academy of Dance in Brownsville, Texas. She and her husband, JP Gomez, have two children, Christopher and Rosalie.
Alan Hollander
Bass Guitar/Vocals
Alan was born and raised in New York City. His interest in rock music was cultivated as a young child by hearing original Doo Wop music sung in neighborhood schoolyards in the 1950's. Inspired by early groups and musicians such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan and more, Alan began playing guitar, bass and keyboards in bands at the early age of 14. He played in numerous New York area bands and was in the popular Greenwich Village group, "Hot Lanta" for a number of years.
Relocating to South Texas in 1981, Alan played with a variety of bands including: "G.T.O.," "Doubletake," "Brian Robertson and Los Blues Guys" and many others.
Alan is a fine artist and has had exhibits in different states.
An art director, Alan is currently a partner of the advertising agency, The Tequila Group. He is married with two grown children.
Eric Hugonnett
Guitar/Vocals
Guitarist Eric Hugonnett has been a local performer for 35 years, playing in numerous groups in a variety of genres throughout his career. Eric studied music at the University of Texas at Brownville where he earned his Bachelors of Music degree and Texas Education Agency teaching certification concentrating on classical guitar under the direction of world-renowned classical guitar educator Dr. Michael Quantz.
As member of UTB Classical Guitar Ensemble and a founding member of the Brownsville Guitar Quartet, Eric experienced many performance opportunities as a soloist and ensemble member on college campuses and private events throughout Texas. Eric also studied jazz under the direction of Mr. Terry Tomlin as the principal guitarist for the University of Texas at Brownville 1 o’clock jazz band with which he toured the U.S. and Mexico, performing at competitions and festivals from Notre Dame to the Fort Myers Latin Jazz Festival, Washington D.C., Disney World in Orlando, Mexico City and many places in between.
Eric is a current member of the Charles Hern Jazz Quintet, The Remedy and The Agency performing RGV wide as well as working as a session guitarist for multiple studios. Eric is currently the head director for the Mariachi, Estudiantina and Classical Guitar programs at Porter Early College High school. He has held this position for 15 years and has been employed as a music educator for Brownsville ISD for 20 years.
“It is a blessing to do what you love for a living.”
-E. Hugonnett
Denny Lester
Drums/Vocals
Denny was born in Boscobel, Wisconsin. He grew up in Fennimore, Wis. At around age seven he began playing drums on his own. He learned to reading in school band in 6th grade. At age 12 he began playing in local clubs with his step-father, Francis Eisele, who played Jazz Organ. In 1969, he joined a group of guys in Boscobel to form Dr. Rumley’s Snuff Band and won the State Jaycees Battle of the Bands. He played in The Freymiller Trio his Junior and Senior years of High School, three nights a week.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in Instrumental Music Education on his birthday in 1979.
While living in Eau Claire, Wis., for 13 yrs., Denny performed and recorded with a few of the top bands in the area including Conrad Johns and The Jerry Way Express for about seven years. He also performed with Nationally known Stars, such as Myron Floren, The Lennon Sisters of the Lawrence Welk Show and Shari Lewis & Lambchop. He also got to run sound for The Statler Brothers and The Mickey Finn Show (visiting out of Las Vegas).
Here in the Valley Denny gets called by many musical organizations including; The Valley Symphony Orchestra (for 16 yrs.), The McAllen Wind Ensemble, (on&off since 1986), The Harlingen Community Theater (completing 37 Musical productions), The Swing Street Big Band (for 5 yrs.) and many Bar Bands.
Denny taught at Mt. Scenario College, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin for seven years. After that he taught at Winona State University for one year.
Denny taught Percussion students for the Harlingen School District for 34 years.
He is married to Jan (49 yrs.) and they have one daughter, Courtney.
Tyrone Phelipa
Keyboards
A native of the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, Tyrone began his musical journey at the early age of 6. His first grade teacher was also a music teacher and saw his apparent love for music early on. Originally a woodwind player, “Ty” developed a love for classical music and composition right around the time he started learning the piano at 12 years old.
He formed and led a very successful band with some high-school friends and went on to win several international band competitions and release two albums during their run. Although they tried to keep the band together during their college years , it proved difficult as the band members were all in different countries. After finishing his college studies , Ty returned to his island to enroll in medical school. He also ran an after school music program founded by his original music teacher. It was during this time he discovered his love for teaching. He took what was supposed to be a year off from med school to teach high school science and run the music program. As they say , the rest is history. He never returned to med school as he felt he had found his true passion and calling.
In 2012, he moved to Los Fresnos, TX and has been active in the local music scene for the past several years, playing with many bands before finding a home with The Agency.
He is also a master of the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira , and runs a successful school in Brownsville, where he continues to follow his passion in teaching.
Chris Wiley
Keyboard/Saxophone/Vocals
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Chris moved to Weslaco, Texas as a young child. His musical interests began early. Learning saxophone, he joined the seventh grade band. He fell in love with jazz and big band music by artists such as John Coltrane, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.
In high school, he taught himself the piano and became influenced by the music of Jethro Tull, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Yes and others.
For several years Chris was an organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brownsville. He taught music and religion at St. Mary's School for nine years.
He is a teacher at Olmito Elementary in Los Fresnos. Chris is married with four children. He has three grandchildren.
