Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: The Champs "Tequila" wins first Grammy for Best R&B Performance 1959

Danny Flores (Chuck Rio), who became known as the Godfather of Latino rock, wrote Tequila for a B-side to Dave Burgess's single Train to Nowhere.  However, Tequila became much more famous than the A-side and went to #1 in just three weeks.  Flores also played saxophone.

It won the 1959 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance at the first ever ceremony held May 4, 1959.

1st Grammy Awards 1959

The very first Grammy Awards ceremony was held May 4, 1959 in Los Angeles.  Ella Fitzgerald won two Grammys: Best Jazz Performance, Individual for her recording Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook; and Best Vocal Performance, Female for her recording of Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook.  

Henry Mancini won Album of the Year and Best Arrangement for The Music from Peter Gunn.  The Champs won Best Rhythm and Blues for Tequila.  The Music Man won Best Original Cast Album.  

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas, Don't be Late) won three Grammys: Best Recording for Children, Best Comedy Performance, and Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical.