Tommy Allsup was an American rockabilly and swing musician. He was well known as a famous member of the Cherokee Nation. He worked with famous artists like Buddy Holly, Bob Wills, His Texas Playboys, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, the Ventures, The Crickets, Ronnie Smith, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, to name a few. In 1959, Tommy was supposed to be in the plane with Buddy Holly when he died but ended up giving his seat to Ritchie Valens by losing a coin toss. In 1979, he started a night club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Dallas. He died on January 11, 2017, at 85 years old Show less «