Grammy-winning musician Dave Burgess, leader of the instrumental group The Champs and the voice behind the iconic 1958 hit “Tequila,” has died at the age of 90.
Burgess passed away in Dover, Tennessee on October 19, 2025, according to his obituary.
No cause of death has been publicly announced. He leaves behind a son named David.
Tributes Pour In
Tributes have poured in from around the music world, with many acknowledging the way Burgess and The Champs captured the fun, funky energy of rock’s early days.
“Rest in peace to an absolute legend, thanks for the timeless music,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “A true musical legend has passed, a remarkable life ended.”
Others noted how they will always love the song.
“RIP, your song will continue to be cool for decades to come,” another continued.
One user noted it was “My go to Karaoke song.”
“The great ole day’s when music was music,” one noted. “RIP and thank you for giving the world something to calm the savage beast.”
Burgess and The Champs were awarded the Grammy for Best R&B Performance in 1959, making the track one of the earliest instrumental records to receive such recognition.
Burgess, originally from Los Angeles, led The Champs during their heyday and remained active in music for decades—with over 700 songs to his name and a legacy of shaping early rock-and-roll instrumentation and style.
His work earned him a place among the architects of the era, and “Tequila” in particular became an enduring part of popular culture.
How ‘Tequila’ Came to Be
The track’s reach extended far beyond the charts.
It found a new life in film when “Pee‑wee’s Big Adventure” featured the song in a scene where the character played by Paul Reubens—dressed as his cult-favorite alter-ego Pee‑wee Herman—knocks over a row of motorcycles and then wins over a biker gang by dancing to “Tequila” on a jukebox.
The late Reubens previously stated he actually got injured during the iconic scene, according to the New York Post.
“While I was up on the bar, I banged the hell out of my head on a beam,” he said. “It’s the take we used.”
For fans of the arcing “Tequila” shout and dance, the news of his passing prompts nostalgia.
The track, which was written by the band’s saxophonist Chuck Rio, originally viewed the song as a just a throwaway track on the B-side of the album.
The A-side featured a song written by Burgess titled “Train To Nowhere.”
