I have been to Allsups stores but did not know there was a connection.
Just in the family, I don't know if it was Tommy's immediate family.
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Waylon, Waylon Jennings of course, was in the Crickets as well; he replaced someone from the original lineup but this is an anecdote he told of the crash:
After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly decided to charter a small plane for his band (consisting of himself, Tommy Allsup (guitar) and Jennings.Ritchie Valens and Tommy Allsup flipped a coin for the last seat, Valens won and took Allsup’s seat. Since the Big Bopper was sick, he asked Jennings if he could take his seat on the plane. Jennings said that as long as Holly was okay with it, he was too. When Holly found out Jennings was not going to be on the plane, he jokingly told him, “I hope your ol’ bus freezes up!” Jennings responded back, “I hope your plane crashes!” Those words would haunt Jennings for decades.
http://www.historybyzim.com/2012/06/buddy-holly-waylon-jennings/So, an unbelievably ironic incident. Of course, friends often rib each other by saying things like this imo.
It's worth reiterating, if one missed it the first time, Tommy Allsup survived because he LOST the coin toss on whom was going to ride on the plane.
Tommy Allsup, Guitarist, Dies at 85; a Coin Toss Saved His Life
Tommy Allsup, a guitarist best known for losing a coin toss that kept him off the plane that later crashed and killed the rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, died on Wednesday in Springfield, Mo. He was 85.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/arts/music/tommy-allsup-guitarist-dies-at-85-a-coin-toss-saved-his-life.html?_r=0
Feb. 3rd, the day the music died, anniversary in a few weeks. I should try to remember it here. For the Big Bopper and Richie Valens too.