Grammy-winning Tequila Hitmaker Dave Burgess is Dead at 90 | By Brian Marks, DailyMail .com | Dave Burgess, the band leader of an early rock and roll group that recorded the iconic tune Tequila, has died at 90. According to his obituary, Burgess died on October 19 in Dover, Tennessee.
From the late ’50s through the mid-’60s, Burgess led his group The Champs, which found lasting fame thanks to its 1958 hit Tequila.
The song, which was written by Burgess’ bandmate, the saxophonist Chuck Rio (real name: Daniel Flores), rose to the top of the charts in just a few weeks.
Tequila’s success was particularly unusual, as the song is instrumental aside from its shouted title, and it was part of The Champs’ first release.
Ironically, Tequila wasn’t the song Burgess’ label Challenge Records was eyeing as a possible hit.
The tune was instead released as the instrumental B-side on the group’s debut single, which featured a Burgess-penned song, Train To Nowhere.
That song was expected to have the greatest chance of success, but it was instead the throwaway song rounding out the single that went to be immortalized.
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Burgess, a rockabilly singer and guitarist, had been brought in by Challenge Records, the label founded by the singer and actor Gene Autry, to assemble a recording session in hopes of generating a hit for the label.
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Burgess was born on December 3, 1934, in Los Angeles, according to his obituary.
When he started his career in music, the performer took on his stepfather’s last name, Burges, but added an ‘S’ to distinguish it before legally changing his name in 1959 after his Tequila success.
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Burgess was preceded in death by his wife Deon, as well as his daughter Charmaine. He’s survived by his son David.
A ceremony honoring Burgess was held on November 8.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/grammy-winning-tequila-hitmaker-dave-burgess-is-dead-at-90
[Barb: Tequila was one of the first songs I learned to play on drums in high school jazz band!]The Kessler Twins Have Died
By Dr. Spot, Spot on News USA
Alice and Ellen Kessler, better known as the Kessler Twins, have died together at the age of 89, according to a media report.
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Alice and Ellen Kessler, who were born on August 20, 1936 in Saxony, shaped European show business as singers, dancers and entertainers for decades. From their early successes at the Parisian Lido to TV appearances in Italy, France and the USA, as well as film roles and musical engagements, they were considered international stars of entertainment.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/media-the-kessler-twins-have-died
Kessler Twins Ellen and Alice Cause of Death: What We Know
Ellen and Alice Kessler, the renowned German twin entertainers internationally known as the Kessler Twins, died on Monday by assisted suicide at their home in Grünwald, a suburb of Munich, Germany, the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS) confirmed to Newsweek. They were 89.
The Kesslers’ deaths bring renewed focus to the rights and choices surrounding assisted suicide and highlight evolving attitudes on autonomy in dying. Their joint passing marks the end of an era for European and American entertainment.
DGHS spokesperson Wega Wetzel confirmed the manner and circumstances of their deaths, stating that the sisters “had been considering this option for some time.”
“People who choose this option in Germany must be absolutely clear-headed, meaning free and responsible,” Wetzel said. “The decision must be thoughtful and consistent, meaning made over a long period of time and not impulsive.”
Wetzel added that just days before their deaths, the Kessler twins wrote the DGHS a letter that read: “We are glad that the DGHS exists and that we can end our lives with dignity.“
Medically assisted dying is legal under certain conditions in Germany. A 2020 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court established that individuals have the right to end their lives with third-party assistance free from external influence, The Guardian reported at the time.
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If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help is available in the United States by calling or texting 988, or visiting 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support.
Todd Snider Cause of Death Revealed as Folk Singer Dies at 59
By Megan Cartwright, Newsweek
Folk singer-songwriter Todd Snider died on Friday at the age of 59 in Nashville, Tennessee. His cause of death has been revealed as pneumonia, his publicist confirmed to The New York Times.
Newsweek reached out to Snider’s representative via email for comment on Monday.
Snider’s death marks the loss of a pivotal figure in Americana, alt-country and folk music. Known for his wit, sharp lyricism and storytelling, Snider influenced a generation of songwriters and cultivated a devoted fanbase during his decades-long career. His passing closes a chapter for fans and fellow artists who saw him as a crucial bridge between genre icons and new voices, embodying the restless spirit of the American troubadour.
Snider’s death was announced in a statement posted to his social media on Saturday.
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/todd-snider-cause-of-death-revealed-as-folk-singer-dies-at-59/
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’70s Pop/Rock Legends Reveal Death of Bandmate: RIP to Hilly Michaels
By Craig Garrett, Suggest
A legendary drummer, Hilly Boy Michaels, has passed away, with his former Sparks bandmates paying tribute to him on social media.
“We are saddened by the passing of Hilly Boy Michaels,” Ron & Russell Sparks wrote on Instagram over the weekend. “He was Sparks’ drummer during the Big Beat (1976) era, but stayed in the ‘Sparks realm’ throughout the years. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”
No cause of death was provided for the 77-year-old.
Michaels, born Michael Hillman, was best known as the drummer for Sparks in the 1970s, according to All Music. A New York-based session musician, he played on Sparks’ 1976 album Big Beat, produced by Rupert Holmes. Michaels was the only session musician to join Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks on their North American tour.
He appeared with Sparks in the film Rollercoaster, performing the songs “Big Boy” and “Fill’er Up” from the album.
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/70s-pop-rock-legends-reveal-death-of-bandmate-rip-to-hilly-michaels/