Home / Arts and Entertainment / Legendary 'Tequila' Songwriter Dave Burgess Dies at 91
Legendary 'Tequila' Songwriter Dave Burgess Dies at 91
14 Nov
Summary
- Dave Burgess, leader of The Champs, wrote the hit song "Tequila"
- Burgess won a Grammy in 1958 for "Tequila" as Best R&B Performance
- Burgess had a long, successful career, writing over 700 copyrighted songs
Dave Burgess, the leader of the band The Champs and the creative force behind the hit song "Tequila," has passed away at the age of 91. Burgess, a musician, songwriter, and producer, died on October 19th in Tennessee, though the cause of death remains unclear.
In a long and successful career, Burgess wrote over 700 copyrighted songs and earned a Grammy at the first-ever Grammy Awards in 1958, when "Tequila" won the award for Best R&B Performance. The song, which topped the charts in March 1958, is still widely recognized and beloved today. Burgess played rhythm guitar for The Champs, which he formed in the mid-1950s.
After spending a few years running an art gallery with his wife in Montana, Burgess returned to the music industry in Nashville, where he continued to create new music. When he wasn't making music, Burgess was an avid hunter and fisherman. His legacy as the creative force behind the iconic "Tequila" song will undoubtedly live on.
