An exclusive interview with Legendary Rockabilly and Swing Musician, Tommy Allsup presented by The Church Studio “Legends.” Tommy was instrumental in Leon's early career! Learn more and watch the full video.

Location: The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Artists: Tommy Allsup (1931-2017)
Edited By: Grassfire Creative
Photo Credits: Church Studio Archive, Don Nix
Interviewer: Steve Todoroff

Artists and Places Mentioned in this Interview:
Snuff Garrett
Buddy Holly
Leon Russell
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Lou Adler
Elvis
Lorrie Morgan
Grady Martin
Willie Nelson
Jimmy Vaughn
Chuck Blackwell
David Gates
Barney Kessel
Cliff Crawford
Floyd Cramer
Johnny Burnett
Everly Brothers
Jan & Dean
Jackie DeShannon
George Morgan
Hargus “Pig” Robbins

About :
Allsup was born in Oklahoma in 1931 and was an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. The last surviving member of Buddy Holly's "touring" Crickets for the 1959 Winter Dance Party, Allsup died on January 11, 2017, at 85 years old.

Allsup worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly, including playing lead guitar on "It's So Easy!" and "Lonesome Tears" as well as playing with Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Allsup was touring with Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson when he serendipitously lost a fateful coin toss with Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, killing Valens, Holly, Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson on February 3, 1959. Investigators initially thought that Allsup had died in the crash due to the fact that he had given Holly his wallet so that Holly could use Allsup's ID to claim a mailed letter on his behalf. Allsup moved to Los Angeles, played with local bands, and did session work, including a songwriting credit for The Ventures, "Guitar Twist.”

He returned to Odessa, Texas, where he worked with Ronnie Smith, Roy Orbison, and producer Willie Nelson. He was also a producer on the futuristic, prophetic trans-Atlantic and Australasian hit, "In the Year 2525" by one-hit-wonders Zager & Evans. Later in 1968, he moved to Nashville, where he did session work and produced Bob Wills' 24 Great Hits by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. In the mid-1970s Allsup served as the producer for a pair of Asleep at the Wheel albums

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