Dave Burgess, the guitarist who led the Champs to radio domination with their Latin-tinged, Pee-wee Herman-approved instrumental rocker “ Tequila ,” has died. An obituary on the website for the Anglin Funeral Home in Dover, Tennessee, reports that Burgess died on Oct. 19. He was 90.

Named after Gene Autry’s horse Champion, the Champs lived up to their name when they knocked Elvis Presley’s “Don’t” from the top of the Billboard chart with their hit “Tequila” in 1958. The jaunty, saxophone-fueled chant-along was initially a B side — credited to the band’s saxophonist Danny Flores (though Burgess and later claimed he and guitarist Buddy Bruce also deserved credit) — to Burgess’ “Train to Nowhere,” but it took hold on radio and stayed in the top position for five weeks.

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