Tequila (The Champs song)

History

In 1957, Gene Autry's record label, Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (1934-2025), 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 pop chart on March 28, 1958. The song reached No. 1 in Canada, March 24, 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" from his self-titled compilation album.

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".

Covers and references in popular culture

• Eddie Platt took the tune to No. 20 in the U.S. in 1958.{{cite encyclopedia | access-date = 15 September 2025}}
• Hot Butter, known for their 1972 single "Popcorn", released "Tequila" as a single the same year.(#61 CAN AC)
• Jazz guitarist Larry Carlton recorded a version of the tune, with scat vocals by Al Jarreau, on his 1983 album Friends.{{cite web | access-date = November 21, 2019
• A Latin hip hop cover in 1992 by A.L.T. & the Lost Civilization became a top-ten hit in Australia and New Zealand and reached number 48 in the United States.
• David Sanborn covered the tune from his 2003 album Time Again.
• "Tequila" is the University of Washington Husky Marching Band "dynasty" song, with Washington Huskies fans sporting "Tequila!" bumper stickers and T-shirts. The band plays the song at every home and away football game.
• The 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure featured a scene in which Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is at a bar and knocks over a row of parked motorcycles angering the bikers, but then proceeds to win them over by selecting "Tequila" from the jukebox and comically dancing to it while wearing platform shoes. The "Pee-wee dance," as well as the character himself, have since been closely linked with the tune in popular culture.
• Professional wrestler Danhausen is also known to do the "Pee-wee dance" to the tune of Tequila in the middle of matches.
• The song was featured in the famous carnival scene from the 1993 film, The Sandlot, where the main characters get sick from Big Chief chewing tobacco
• A recomposition of the song was used as the theme song for Banana Split from 2009 until 2011.
• In 2011, Ben Makinen published lyrics to the song.
• The song was adopted by supporters of Arsenal in 2022 in honour of their defender William Saliba, replacing the word "Tequila" in the song with "Saliba". Celtic fans did the same beginning in 2025 with their striker Daizen Maeda.

References

References

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8. "RPM AC Playlist - February 3, 1973".
9. "Australian-charts.com – ALT & The Lost Civilization – Tequila". [[ARIA Charts.
10. (August 29, 1992). "Billboard Hot 100".
11. "A Thousand Kisses Deep overview". [[Allmusic]].com.
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13. "Husky Marching Band Facts and Traditions".
14. (July 31, 2023). "Flashback: Pee-wee Herman Dances for His Life in 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'". [[RollingStone]].com.
15. "Meet & Greet with Danhausen".
16. (July 8, 2022). "The Sandlot "Big Chief" Clip (1993".
17. (September 23, 2009). "Banana Split - Daily Servings".
18. "Tequila by Ben Makinen & Leslie Brown".
19. (August 20, 2022). "WATCH: Arsenal's incredible new Saliba chant to the tune of Tequila | Goal.com UK".
20. https://celtsarehere.com/listen-daizen-maeda-chant-debuts-at-celtic-park/