'Tequila' bandleader Dave Burgess dies, aged 90

14 November 2025, 11:52

Dave Burgess was the leader of The Champs.

Guitarist, songwriter and The Champs band leader Dave Burgess has died at the age of 90.

Burgess passed away on October 19 in Dover, Tennessee, his obituary records, and a celebration of life service held on November 8, with news of his death only now becoming more widely reported.

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The Champs were originally formed in 1958 to record a B-side for Burgess's single 'Train to Nowhere'.

Their throwaway 'Tequila', written by saxophonist Chuck Rio, swiftly outshone the A-side and became a number one single.

"Dave was a musician, songwriter, and producer," read the obituary.

Tequila

"His band, The Champs, wrote the song 'Tequila' which became a number one hit in March 1958."

No cause of death was announced.

'Tequila' won the prize for Best R&B Performance at the first-ever Grammy Awards ceremony and became an enduring hit, popping up in countless adverts, TV shows and movies.

Train to Nowhere

While he didn't write 'Tequila', Burgess went on to write and record hundreds of songs across his career

He would lead a new lineup of The Champs in 2020 for the Tequila Party album, which included a reworked version of their signature hit.

Burgess, whose wife Deon and daughter Charmaine have already passed away, is survived by his son David.