The music world is mourning the loss of Dave Burgess, the pioneering bandleader of the early rock and roll group The Champs, who has died at the age of 90. Burgess was the driving force behind the group that gifted the world the timeless instrumental hit 'Tequila'.
The Making of an Accidental Legend
According to his obituary, Burgess passed away on October 19 in Dover, Tennessee. His musical journey with The Champs spanned from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, but it was their 1958 release that secured their place in history. The song 'Tequila', written by Burgess' bandmate, saxophonist Chuck Rio (real name Daniel Flores), rocketed to the top of the Billboard pop charts in a matter of weeks.
Its success was an industry surprise. The track was an instrumental, punctuated only by the shouted title, and it served as the B-side to the group's debut single. The A-side, 'Train To Nowhere', penned by Burgess himself, was the track their label, Challenge Records, had pegged for success. Instead, it was the 'throwaway' B-side that achieved immortality.
Released in January 1958, 'Tequila' didn't capture public attention until March, when radio DJs began flipping the single and playing the energetic instrumental. This sparked a phenomenon, sending the song to number one for five weeks beginning March 17, 1958. It also topped the Canadian charts and clinched the award for Best R&B Performance at the inaugural Grammy Awards in 1958.
A Lasting Cultural Impact
Ironically, The Champs were not a formal band when they recorded the future hit in December 1957. Burgess, a rockabilly singer and guitarist, had been enlisted by Gene Autry's Challenge Records to assemble a session group in a bid to create a hit. The core of 'Tequila' came from saxophonist Chuck Rio's trio, who were later absorbed into The Champs.
Attempting to recapture the magic, the group released a sequel, 'Too Much Tequila' in 1960, which became a top 40 hit, peaking at number 30 on the pop charts. Decades later, Burgess revived The Champs, releasing the album 'Tequila Party' in 2020, which featured a fresh take on the iconic tune.
The song enjoyed a massive resurgence in popularity with a new generation thanks to its iconic use in Tim Burton's 1985 film, 'Pee-Wee's Big Adventure'. In a now-famous scene, Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman performs a quirky dance to the track while wearing platform shoes, charming a hostile biker gang.
Life Beyond the Spotlight
Burgess was born on December 3, 1934, in Los Angeles. He initially used his stepfather's surname, Burges, but added an 'S' for distinction before making it legal in 1959 following his success. That same year, he married dancer and actress Deon Adair Raab, who had appeared in several Elvis Presley films.
After his time in the spotlight, Burgess and his wife left California to operate an art gallery in Montana. The call of music proved too strong, however, and the family eventually relocated to the musical hub of Nashville, Tennessee.
Though he didn't write his most famous hit, Burgess was a prolific songwriter, amassing a catalogue of over 700 songs. His obituary also remembers him as an 'avid hunter and fisherman'. Burgess was preceded in death by his wife Deon and his daughter Charmaine. He is survived by his son, David. A ceremony honouring his life was held on November 8.
