Biography

The Champs were a well-known American rock and roll band recognized for their Latin-inspired instrumental track called "Tequila". Originally formed by executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records with the intention of creating a B-Side for Dave Burgess' single under the name Dave Dupree, the unexpected success of their "throwaway" track surpassed the popularity of its A-Side, "Train to Nowhere". Surprisingly, "Tequila" reached the number one spot on the charts in just three weeks, making The Champs the first group to achieve this feat with an instrumental as their debut release. This iconic song was recorded at Gold Star Studios in 1958 and later received the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording in 1959.