Overview
- An Anglin Funeral Home obituary says he died Oct. 19 in Dover, Tennessee, with no cause announced.
- As The Champs' leader and rhythm guitarist, he assembled the session that produced 'Tequila' as a B-side to 'Train to Nowhere.'
- The single reached No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts in 1958, displaced Elvis Presley’s 'Don’t,' sold over a million copies, and won the 1959 inaugural Grammy for Best R&B Performance.
- Songwriting credit for 'Tequila' is officially held by saxophonist Danny Flores, though Burgess later asserted that he and guitarist Buddy Bruce also deserved credit.
- Beyond the hit, he registered more than 700 works with BMI, wrote and produced for major artists, managed Hank Williams Jr.’s publishing for over 40 years, led a 2020 Champs reunion, and was honored at a Nov. 8 celebration of life.