Pioneering rock and roll guitarist Dave Burgess of The Champs dies at 90
Dave Burgess, the guitarist of pioneering rock and roll group The Champs has died at the age of 90.
The Champs guitarist, songwriter, and founding member, Dave Burgess, has died at the age of 90. The pioneering rock and roll band shot to fame with their 1958 instrumental smash hit Tequila.
The musician’s death was confirmed in an obituary from the Anglin Funeral Home, stating he passed away on October 19, 2025, in Dover, Tennessee. No cause of death has been revealed.
Burgess was best known as the driving force behind the band with their biggest hit originally released as the B-side to Train to Nowhere, which quickly eclipsed its A-side counterpart after radio DJs began spinning it heavily. Within weeks, Tequila topped the Billboard pop chart and went on to win the first-ever Grammy Award for Best R'n'B Performance.
Born in 1934 in Los Angeles, Burgess was raised by his mother Mariet Eck and stepfather Austin "Tex" Burges from the age of four. He adopted his stepfather’s name with an additional ‘s’.
During the early days of rock and roll Burgess began his music career initially recording as a solo artist. After forming the band in the late 1950s, they needed a name, originally considering the name The Champions, after Gene Autry's horse, before shortening it to The Champs.
The group’s lineup included saxophonist Chuck Rio (real name Daniel Flores), who penned Tequila and delivered its iconic shouted refrain. The Champs enjoyed a string of hits throughout the late ’50s and early ’60s including The Midnighter, El Rancho Rock, Chariot Rock, Caramba, Too Much Tequila, Tequila Twist, Limbo Rock and Limbo Dance.
But it was Tequila that cemented their place in music history. The song’s enduring popularity was further boosted by its memorable use in the 1985 cult classic Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, where it soundtracked a now-famous dance scene.
Burgess married professional dancer and actress Deon Adair Raab in 1959. The couple moved from Hollywood to Montana where they ran an art gallery. With their son and daughter, David and Charmaine, they then moved to the Nashville area to continue Burgess’ music career.
He is survived by his son, David. His wife and daughter both died before him. A celebration of life service was held on November 8 at Anglin Funeral Home in Dover.