“It was in church that he developed his musical abilities...” and the scene of a many practice sessions with friends.“It was a communal type of thing,” that included Lola - who Michael said still plays at the church - and other family members.Flores was also a loving father who, although divorced, “Had a wonderful relationship with all his children,” said Michael. “He passed on his musical ability to us. At one time or another we all had our musical moment with him,” and Jimmy Flores, Michael’s brother, often played with their father.“They were musical partners together, total musicians, but each of us had a special relationship with Dad, each in our way.”Together “24-7,” Sharee Flores, Danny’s wife and musical partner of 33 years, noted at the eulogy that her husband “Never tired of playing ‘Tequila,” never ever, and never tired of entertaining, that was his life. Music wasn’t just a job to him it was a part of his life,” said Michael.Michael was visiting his hospitalized father when he fell asleep: “I heard him singing in English and Spanish, then I saw his hands go up and he was playing the piano in his sleep. Music meant so much to him...it was just a job to him, it was his life.”Aside from Sharee and Michael, children -Jimmy, Cynthia, Michael, Sonjia, Ricky, Sheila and Kellye - survive Flores, as well as what he described as a “quiver” of grandchildren.“He was a wonderful grandfather,” who stressed his love of family before his death noted Michael.“Even though he had been raised in a Christian home some might say he stepped away for a moment...and he came back. Dad loved people, he loved music and he loved God.”When he performed at the Centennial Concert, Flores’ Chuck Rio & The Champs had just returned from an engagement in England.Although he regularly performed across the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, “everywhere,” Flores, when asked what was his most memorable concert, said with a laugh “All of them...but Santa Paula is home, and that’s extra, extra special.”
Brassy sax, shouts of ‘Tequila’ made SP native Danny Flores a legend
October 13, 2006
Santa Paula News
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By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesIt wouldn’t be a stretch to claim that everyone knows the song with the brassy saxophone and snappy beat only interrupted by occasional shouts of “Tequila!”“Tequila” won the first Rhythm & Blues Music Grammy in 1959 and later made Chuck Rio & The Champs enthusiastically cheered inductees into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.Ironically, “Tequila” was the B side of a tune, “Road to Nowhere,” but Danny Flores, the Santa Paula native who as Chuck Rio wrote and recorded the song became the Godfather of Latino rock ‘n’ roll with his off the cuff hit.Flores was 77 and a longtime resident of Westminster when he passed away in a Huntington Beach hospital from the complications of pneumonia.Winning the Grammy was a “Thrill I’ll never forget,” Flores said in a 2002 interview, but recognition by his hometown was equally thrilling.His signature composition, “Tequila,” has been ranked as the most popular instrumental single ever released and has been featured in dozens of films.Flores last appeared in Santa Paula at the city’s 2002 Centennial Celebration and was lauded with a special City Proclamation for his musical accomplishments.Although Flores’ September 19, 2006 death received wide media coverage it was erroneously reported that he had left Santa Paula as a child and grew up in Long Beach.“He was born in Santa Paula (on July 11, 1929) and raised in Santa Paula,” said his son Michael Flores of Ventura. “Dad was gifted musically but he was also a great performer and when Santa Paula declared Danny Flores Day that was very much one of the incredible highlights of his life.”Flores was presented with the Proclamation noting the honor when he performed at the Centennial Concert.“He was a proud Santa Paulan,” noted Michael. “I could always give him a gift of anything that had Santa Paula on it and he would love it. I was able to snag him a 12th Street sign,” at the Santa Paula California Oil Museum, a reminder of the 12th Street church that Flores had attended.“Dad’s sister, my Aunt Lola (Delores) Morales, lives in Santa Paula in the same house on South 7th Street that my dad and grandparents live in,” noted Michael.Before Flores moved to Long Beach he was already a familiar figure to music lovers throughout Ventura County but his musical roots were at church.
