Dave Burgess, the guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of the pioneering rock and roll group The Champs, has died on the age of 90.
Photograph: Dave Burgess
His dying was confirmed in an obituary stating he handed away on October 19, 2025, in Dover, Tennessee.
Burgess was finest often called the driving pressure behind The Champs, the band that shot to fame with their 1958 instrumental smash hit Tequila. Although the observe was initially launched because the B-side to Practice to Nowhere, it rapidly eclipsed its A-side counterpart after radio DJs started spinning it closely. Inside weeks, Tequila topped the Billboard pop chart and went on to win the first-ever Grammy Award for Greatest R’n’B Efficiency.
Born on December 3, 1934, in Los Angeles, Burgess started his music profession through the early days of rock and roll. He adopted his stepfather’s surname and initially recorded as a solo artist earlier than forming The Champs within the late Fifties. The group’s lineup included saxophonist Chuck Rio (actual title Daniel Flores), who penned Tequila and delivered its iconic shouted chorus.
The Champs loved a string of hits all through the late ’50s and early ’60s, however it was Tequila that cemented their place in music historical past. The track’s enduring reputation was additional boosted by its memorable use within the 1985 cult basic Pee-wee’s Large Journey, the place it soundtracked a now-famous dance scene.
Past his work with The Champs, Burgess was a prolific songwriter and producer, credited with over 700 copyrighted compositions. His affect prolonged throughout genres, and his contributions helped form the sound of early American rock and roll.
Burgess is survived by his son, David. He was predeceased by his spouse, Deon, and daughter, Charmaine. A celebration of life service was held on November 8 at Anglin Funeral Residence in Dover.
