Dave Burgess was writing songs, recording as an artist, and running the Challenge label for owner Gene Autry. Using studio musicians, he had produced his composition Train To Nowhere. With some time left over after a Jerry Wallace session, again using studio musicians, they quickly recorded Tequila for a B-side. Of course, thats the side that became a huge hit, launching the band that they named after Gene Autrys horse. Over the next 4 years and through many personnel changes, the Champs landed 3 more top 40 hits and 4 additional minor chart 45s.
Original Tequila musicians (not yet an actual band with a name):
Dave Burgess (b: 1931 Beverly Hills, Cal)
Danny Flores (Jul 11, 1929; Santa Paula, Cal Sep 19, 2006; Westminster, Cal)
Buddy Bruce (1930; Springfield, Miss Jul 1, 2014 Tulsa, Okla)
Cliff Hills (b: Nov 15, 1918 Pittsburgh, Pen)
Gene Alden (b: 1931, Sioux Falls, S Dak)
First touring lineup of the Champs:
Dave Burgess
Danny Flores aka Chuck Rio
Gene Alden
Dale Norris (b: 1934; Maple Grove, Miss)
Joe Burnas (b: Aug 15, 1923, Chicago)
Notable early replacement members:
Bob Morris, Jimmy Seals, Dash Crofts, Dean Beard, Glen Campbell, Jerry Cole, Johnny Meeks, followed by many other later members.
Name Vars
- Champs
- Chuck Rio and the Champs
- Los Campeoncitos
- Los Campeoncitos (The Champs)
- The Camps
- The Chammps
- The Champ
- The Champs (I 5 Dello Swing)
- The Champs (I Cinque Dello Swing)
- The Champs Vocal With Instrumental Accompaniment
- The Champs With Instrumental Accompaniment
- The Shamps
Aliases
- The Originals
- The Cherokees
Members
- Dave Burgess
- Glen Campbell
- Dash Crofts
- James Seals
- Jerry Kolbrak
- Dean Beard
- Johnny Meeks
- Bob Morris
- Dale Norris
- Gary Nieland
- Danny Flores
- Moe Marshall