September 23, 2006
-
Tequila!
for Kylie
“Time disappears
with tequila.
It goes elastic,
then vanishes.”
From today’s AP
“Obituaries in the News“–
Danny Flores
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Danny Flores,
who played the saxophone and shouted the word ”tequila!” in the 1950s
hit song ”Tequila!”, died Tuesday [Sept. 19, 2006]. He was 77.Flores, who lived
in Westminster, died at Huntington Beach Hospital, said hospital
spokeswoman Kathleen Curran. He died of complications from pneumonia,
the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.The man sometimes called
the ”godfather of Latin rock” was born in Santa Paula but grew up in
Long Beach. By age 5, he was playing guitar in church and at 14 he was
a member of a trio that performed Mexican music.In 1957, Flores
was in a group that recorded some work with rockabilly singer Dave
Burgess. One of the songs was based on a nameless riff Flores had
written. He played the ”dirty” saxophone part and repeatedly growled
the single-word lyric: ”Tequila!””Tequila!” went to No. 1 on
the Billboard chart and won a Grammy in 1959 for best rhythm and blues
performance. Flores continued to play it for the next 40 years.Related material:
“Echoes (Aug. 11)” –
– and
Two-Bar Hook
