San Diego Super Chargers - History

History

In the 1970s, the Chargers were owned by Gene Klein and ticket sales were lagging after losing seasons. In 1979, the team was playing a winning and exciting style under head coach Don Coryell, popularized by its high-scoring offense, nicknamed Air Coryell. Klein started an aggressive marketing campaign that included the song. Klein's son, Michael, brought some friends from the recording industry to a few Chargers games, and he requested the creation of a song based on the Chargers' playing style. "We wanted something that would light up the crowd," said Michael Klein.

The disco song was written in almost a day by David Sieff and Jerry Marcellino, a producer and songwriter for A&M Records who had worked with artists such as Bobby Darin, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Studio musicians in Los Angeles collaborated with the vocalist, Los Angeles R&B singer James Gaylen, to record the song. Marcellino, who also produced the song, named the band Captain Q.B. and the Big Boys on a lark. A 7-inch, 45 rpm single of the song was sold in San Diego, and Marcellino received a quarter for each one sold.

Under new Chargers owner Alex Spanos, who acquired the team in 1984, the song was not played for a few seasons. It was brought back in 1989 with a more modern sound. The cover version was recorded by San Diego singer Leonard Tucker and produced by Bo Donovan. However, the recording was lost when Qualcomm Stadium, the home of the Chargers, renovated its sound-system room in the late 1990s.

Around 2002, the Chargers resumed playing the original version by Captain Q.B. and the Big Boys. The song is played by the Chargers at home games after San Diego scores and victories.