The Champs--Tequila (1958)

     The Champs were not even a group. They came together as a studio backup group to Dave Burgess, who had recorded the A side, ("Train to Nowhere") with the The Daniel Flores trio. There was some studio time, and it was during that time that the group came up with an impromptu riff that was developed into a song. This song was put on the "B" side of the record, and soon after it's release became a hit on Gene Autry's, Challenge Records. 
     Wanting to capitalize on the success of the record, they took the name "The Champions" (named after  Gene Autry's horse), then shortened to "The Champs". As the new band hit the road things did not jell, and some changes were soon made to the group, with Jimmy Seals (sax) and Dash Crofts (drums) being added to the mix. Both stayed with the group for a few years, and later made a name for themselves as the 70's soft rock group, Seals & Crofts.
     The song shot up to #1 for five weeks in the spring of 1958, and although hitting the charts 7 more times, with three of them reaching the top 10, nothing compared to the success of  "Tequila!". The group folded in 1965 for good, but not before having Glen Campbell, and for a very short time Delaney Bramlett  passing through.