Tommy Allsup flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens in the dressing room of the Surf Ballroom on Feb. 2nd, 1959. Ritchie had been bugging him all day for his seat on the plane, and Tommy kept telling him “no.” He was already in the car with Buddy, and Buddy said, “Tommy, can you go back in and do a dummy check?” When he went back in through the dressing room door…….there Ritchie was signing autographs…….the rest is rock “in” roll history. I can recount the above story, because i’ve heard it about 60 times from Tommy while on tour together!!!! Here he is in his own words from the dressing room of the Surf Ballroom on Feb. 2nd, 2009…..exactly 50 years later.
I was very lucky to be a part of the 50 Winters Later celebration at the Surf Ballroom this year, and videoblogged a bunch. Check out more interviews, live performances, and backstage scenes. I also interviewed Maria Elena Holly from the dressing room. Check that out in this blog. If you have enjoyed this video, and want me to continue sticking my neck out, then please consider making a donation:
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Check out more interview and live performances from the 50 Winters Later week at this earlier blog http://www.kevinmontgomery.com/2009/02/09/live-from-the-buddy-holly-celebration-at-the-surf-ballroom-interviews-and-more/
