◇ image via WikipediaThe Champs
The Champs is an act on the Starverb influence map. Their sound grew out of Gene Autry, Billy Strange and Gene Vincent. Those roots explain a lot about how The Champs arrange songs and choose their tones. They run in the same orbit as Duane Eddy, Ritchie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and Fats Domino, sharing audiences, venues and reference points rather than a straight line of influence. Their influence carried into Seals & Crofts, Wes Montgomery, Chubby Checker and Jørgen Ingmann, where the same ideas turn up rearranged for a later generation. Altogether the chart holds 27 connections around The Champs, reaching back through Gene Autry and forward to Seals & Crofts. Follow any of those threads to keep travelling the influence between bands and genres on Starverb.
Background
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged 1958 instrumental single "Tequila". The group took their name from that of Gene Autry's horse, Champion, and was formed by studio executives at Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-side for the Dave Burgess single "Train to Nowhere". The intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-side, as "Tequila" went to number one in just three weeks, and the band became the first group to go to the top spot with an instrumental that was their first release. The song was recorded at Gold Star Studios in fall 1957, and in 1959 won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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The Champs connections
The Champs grew out of Gene Autry, Billy Strange and Gene Vincent, shares an orbit with Duane Eddy, Ritchie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly, went on to shape Seals & Crofts, Wes Montgomery, Chubby Checker and Jørgen Ingmann. 27 connections mapped across roots, kindred and legacy.
Who influenced The Champs
Sounds and acts that shaped The Champs.
Artists similar to The Champs
Artists and scenes sharing an orbit with The Champs.
- Duane Eddyartist
- Ritchie Valensartist
- Jerry Lee Lewisartist
- Buddy Hollyartist
- Fats Dominoartist
- The Everly Brothersartist
- Carl Perkinsartist
- Bobby Veeartist
- Bobby Darinartist
- Dionartist
- Mungo Jerryartist
- Elvis Presleyartist
- Neil Sedakaartist
- The Archiesartist
- The Shadowsartist
- Bo Diddleyartist
- The Tokensartist
- The Driftersartist
- Harry Belafonteartist
- Jay & The Americansartist
Bands The Champs shaped
Where the influence of The Champs travelled next.
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