Challenge Records (1950s–1960s label)

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Challenge Records was a Los Angeles-based rock and roll label started in 1957 by cowboy singer Gene Autry and former Columbia Records A&R representative Joe Johnson. Autry sold his stake in October 1958. The label’s first big hit came from The Champs with Tequila, an instrumental recorded in December 1957 and released in January 1958 as the B-side to Train to Nowhere. Tequila climbed to No. 1 on both the pop and R&B charts by March 1958 and is still widely referenced in pop culture. The song was written by Danny Flores but credited to Chuck Rio. The Champs formed after the December session and also scored a hit with Too Much Tequila, which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Challenge Records used several label designs, including blue with silver print, light blue with red print, maroon with silver print, and later green with silver print. A crest bearing the letters GA appeared on early releases to note Gene Autry’s ownership. Jackpot was a short-lived sublabel active from 1958 to 1959.

In 1957 the label signed Dave Burgess (also known as Dave Dupré), who organized a recording session on December 23, 1957, in Hollywood. The session featured Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hills on bass, the Flores Trio (Danny Flores on sax and keyboards, Gene Alden on drums, Buddy Bruce on lead guitar) with Huelyn Duvall on backing vocals. They recorded Train to Nowhere, Night Beat, All Night Rock, and Tequila (the latter essentially a Flores Trio jam). Tequila’s rise came after a Cleveland DJ played the B-side, leading to its national success.

Other Challenge Records artists included Jerry Wallace (Primrose Lane), Wynn Stewart (Wishful Thinking), Jan and Dean, Gary Usher, the Knickerbockers, and Jerry Fuller. The label went out of business in the late 1960s. Today the catalog is owned by Sony/ATV Music Publishing.