The Champs

Genres:	Country & Bluegrass • Easy Listening • Instrumental • Pop / Rock
Descriptive "tags":	oldies • rock n roll • 50s • instrumental • rock • rock and roll • classic rock • 60s • american
Decades Active:	1950s • 1960s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

Best known for the classic 1958 rock ‘n’ roll near-instrumental ‘Tequila’, a US number 1 song, the Champs were formed in Los Angeles, California, USA, in December 1957. The five musicians initially comprising the group were Dave Burgess (rhythm guitar), Danny Flores (Daniel Flores, 11 July 1929, Santa Paula, California, USA, d. 19 September 2006, Huntington Beach, California, USA; saxophone/piano), Cliff Hills (bass), Buddy Bruce (lead guitar) and Gene Alden (drums). The musicians were united by Joe Johnson, co-owner of Challenge Records, for the purpose of providing backing for the Kuf-Linx vocal group. With time left after that session, the musicians recorded three instrumentals written by Burgess. Flores, who also went under the name Chuck Rio, as he was already contracted to the RPM label, taught the others ‘Tequila’ from a riff on which he had worked for performance at club bookings in Los Angeles. The recording was considered a...

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