Danny Flores was a talented saxophonist and singer who was also proficient on keyboards; in December 1957, he headed the Flores Trio, consisting also of Gene Alden on drums and Buddy Bruce on guitar; they participated in a recording session at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood for Gene Autry's Challenge Records where Flores's song "Tequila", originally a stage vamp by the Flores Trio, was recorded; it was released as a "B" side by Challenge Records the following January, with credit being given to "Chuck Rio" as Flores was under contract elsewhere. The song rocketed to the top of the charts by the middle of March. Flores adopted "Chuck Rio" as a stage name, subsequently heading a group called "Chuck Rio & the Originals". Although he was able to profit from the European royalties from the song, he sold the American rights to the song for a "pittance."
