Tequila - Music
Tequila by The Champs
The Champs
Artist Biography For The Champs
The Champs Were An American Rock And Roll Band Most Famous For Their Latin-Tinged Instrumental "Tequila". The Group Took Their Name From The Name Of Gene Autry's Horse Champion And Was Formed By Studio Executives At Gene Autry's Challenge Records To Record A B-Side For The Dave Burgess A.K.A. Dave Dupree Single "Train To Nowhere". The Intended Throwaway Track Became More Famous Than Its A-Side As "Tequila" Went To No. 1 In Just Three Weeks And The Band Became The First Group To Go To The Top Spot With An Instrumental That Was Their First Release. The Song Was Recorded At Gold Star Studios In Fall 1957 And In 1959 Won The Grammy Award For Best R&B Performance. It Sold Over One Million Copies And Was Awarded A Gold Disc By The RIAA. "Tequila!" Was Written By The Saxophone Player Danny Flores Although He Was Credited As Chuck Rio Because He Was Under Contract To Another Record Label At The Time. Flores Who Died In September 2006 Was Known As The "Godfather Of Latino Rock." Flores' "dirty Sax" And His Low-Voiced "Tequila!" Are The Hallmarks Of The Song. Flores Signed Away The U.S. Rights To The Song But Retained Worldwide Rights Until His Death. There Are Many Cover Versions Of The Tune Including A Jazz Version By Guitarist Wes Montgomery In 1966. It Has Also Been Recorded By Rappers A.L.T. And XL Singleton. The Champs Also Had Success With Instrumentals Such As "Limbo Rock" And "El Rancho Rock". In 1985 "Tequila" Featured Prominently In The Film Pee Wee's Big Adventure. The Champs Also Recorded A Sequel To Tequila Entitled "Too Much Tequila".
Frogtoon Music - Song Info: Tequila
The-Champs - Tequila
"Tequila" Is A 1958 Latin-Inspired Surf Instrumental Written By Chuck Rio And Recorded By The Champs. "Tequila" Became A No. 1 Hit On Both The Pop And R&B Charts At The Time Of Its Release And Continues To Be Strongly Referenced In Pop Culture To This Day. In 1957 Gene Autry's Record Label Challenge Records Signed Dave Burgess Born 1934 A Rockabilly Singer-Songwriter From California Who Often Recorded Under The Name "Dave Dupree". At The End Of 1957 Having Produced No Hits Challenge Records Looked To Burgess Who Organized A Recording Session On December 23 In Hollywood. In The Studio That Day Were Burgess On Rhythm Guitar Cliff Hils On Bass The Flores Trio Danny Flores Saxophone And Piano Gene Alden On Drums And Lead Guitarist Buddy Bruce And Huelyn Duvall Contributing Backing Vocals. They Gathered Primarily To Record "Train To Nowhere" A Song By Burgess As Well As "Night Beat" And "All Night Rock" A Song That Has Never Been Released . The Last Tune Recorded Was "Tequila" Essentially Just A Jam By The Flores Trio. It Is Based On A Cuban Mambo Song Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos By Cachao. The Word "Tequila" Is Spoken Three Times Throughout The Tune. There Were Three Takes And Danny Flores Who Wrote The Song Was Also The Man Who Spoke The Word "Tequila!" Solo. The Song Served As The B-Side For "Train To Nowhere" Which Was Released By Challenge Records No. 1016 On January 15 1958. Duvall Recalls That The Record Initially Found Little Success But After A DJ In Cleveland Played The B-Side "Tequila" Reached No. 1 On The Billboard Chart On March 28 1958. Daniel Flores Had Written "Tequila" But Because He Was Signed To Another Label The Tune Was Credited To "Chuck Rio" A Name He Adopted For The Stage. Those Present For The December 23 Session Began Recording Together Again On January 20 1958 Under The Name The Champs The Group Technically Formed After Recording "Tequila". The Tune Has Been Noted To Have A Similar Rhythm Structure To Bo Diddley's 1958 Release "Dearest Darling". The Champs Recorded A Sequel To "Tequila" Titled "Too Much Tequila". Released As A Maroon-Label Challenge Single It Reached No. 30 On The Billboard Hot 100. In 2020 Group Leader Dave Burgess Resurrected The Champs And Recorded 12 New Tracks For An LP Titled Tequila Party. The Album Contains A "party" Version Of "Tequila".
50 Similar Tracks:
Ritchie Valens - La Bamba The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock Little Richard - Tutti Frutti Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue Little Richard - Long Tall Sally Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation Del Shannon - Runaway Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven The Coasters - Yakety Yak Buddy Holly - Rave On Johnny & The Hurricanes - Red River Rock Danny & The Juniors - At The Hop The Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace Dion - Runaround Sue Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love Buddy Knox - Party Doll The Platters - Sixteen Tons Chubby Checker - The Twist Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser Roy Orbison - Ooby Dooby Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go Bill Haley & His Comets - Shake, Rattle & Roll Frankie Ford - Sea Cruise Bobby Darin - Dream Lover Buddy Holly & The Crickets - That'll Be The Day The Chordettes - Mr. Sandman Bobby Freeman - Do You Wanna Dance Fats Domino - I'm Walking Bobby Day - Rockin' Robin Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame The Chordettes - Lollipop Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee Bobby Darin - Splish Splash Connie Francis - Stupid Cupid Ricky Nelson - It's Late The Coasters - Charlie Brown Bill Haley - Rock Around The Clock Bill Haley - Rip It Up Buddy Knox - Storm Clouds Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Peggy Sue Gene Vincent - Baby Blue
POPULAR
TRACKS
MIXES
ALBUMS
Video 1 : 50
Music Tags for The Champs:
Biography - The Champs
The Champs Were An American Rock And Roll Band Most Famous For Their Latin-Tinged Instrumental "Tequila". The Group Took Their Name From The Name Of Gene Autry's Horse Champion And Was Formed By Studio Executives At Gene Autry's Challenge Records To Record A B-Side For The Dave Burgess A.K.A. Dave Dupree Single "Train To Nowhere". The Intended Throwaway Track Became More Famous Than Its A-Side As "Tequila" Went To No. 1 In Just Three Weeks And The Band Became The First Group To Go To The Top Spot With An Instrumental That Was Their First Release. The Song Was Recorded At Gold Star Studios In Fall 1957 And In 1959 Won The Grammy Award For Best R&B Performance. It Sold Over One Million Copies And Was Awarded A Gold Disc By The RIAA. "Tequila!" Was Written By The Saxophone Player Danny Flores Although He Was Credited As Chuck Rio Because He Was Under Contract To Another Record Label At The Time. Flores Who Died In September 2006 Was Known As The "Godfather Of Latino Rock." Flores' "dirty Sax" And His Low-Voiced "Tequila!" Are The Hallmarks Of The Song. Flores Signed Away The U.S. Rights To The Song But Retained Worldwide Rights Until His Death. There Are Many Cover Versions Of The Tune Including A Jazz Version By Guitarist Wes Montgomery In 1966. It Has Also Been Recorded By Rappers A.L.T. And XL Singleton. The Champs Also Had Success With Instrumentals Such As "Limbo Rock" And "El Rancho Rock". In 1985 "Tequila" Featured Prominently In The Film Pee Wee's Big Adventure. The Champs Also Recorded A Sequel To Tequila Entitled "Too Much Tequila".
read less
read more
16 Similar Artists To The Champs - Frogtoon Music
Danny & The Juniors The Tokens Dion & The Belmonts Little Richard Chubby Checker The Diamonds Duane Eddy Eddie Cochran Bill Haley & His Comets Bobby Day The Coasters Jerry Lee Lewis Ritchie Valens The Platters Lloyd Price Fats Domino.
"Tequila" is a 1958 Latin-inspired surf instrumental written by Chuck Rio and recorded by the Champs. "Tequila" became a No. 1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release and continues to be strongly referenced in pop culture to this day.
In 1957, Gene Autry's record label, Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (born 1934), a rockabilly singer-songwriter from California who often recorded under the name "Dave Dupree". At the end of 1957, having produced no hits, Challenge Records looked to Burgess, who organized a recording session on December 23 in Hollywood. In the studio that day were Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hils on bass, the Flores Trio (Danny Flores saxophone and piano, Gene Alden on drums, and lead guitarist Buddy Bruce), and Huelyn Duvall contributing backing vocals. They gathered primarily to record "Train to Nowhere", a song by Burgess, as well as "Night Beat" and "All Night Rock" (a song that has never been released).
The last tune recorded was "Tequila", essentially just a jam by the Flores Trio. It is based on a Cuban mambo song Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos by Cachao. The word "Tequila" is spoken three times throughout the tune. There were three takes, and Danny Flores, who wrote the song, was also the man who spoke the word "Tequila!" solo. The song served as the B-side for "Train to Nowhere", which was released by Challenge Records (No. 1016) on January 15, 1958. Duvall recalls that the record initially found little success, but, after a DJ in Cleveland played the B-side, "Tequila" reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart on March 28, 1958.
Daniel Flores had written "Tequila", but, because he was signed to another label, the tune was credited to "Chuck Rio", a name he adopted for the stage. Those present for the December 23 session began recording together again on January 20, 1958, under the name the Champs; the group technically formed after recording "Tequila". The tune has been noted to have a similar rhythm structure to Bo Diddley's 1958 release "Dearest Darling".
The Champs recorded a sequel to "Tequila" titled "Too Much Tequila". Released as a maroon-label Challenge single, it reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, group leader Dave Burgess resurrected The Champs and recorded 12 new tracks for an LP titled Tequila Party. The album contains a "party" version of "Tequila". Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.