Tommy Allsup
Encyclopedia
Tommy Allsup is an American
musician
.
He worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly
and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. He moved to Los Angeles, played with local bands, and did session work, including writing credit for the Ventures', "Guitar Twist".
He returned to Odessa, Texas
, where he worked with Ronnie Smith, and Roy Orbison
, and producing Willie Nelson
.
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 1979, he started a club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Fort Worth. The club was named after a coin flip
Allsup had with Ritchie Valens
on February 2, 1959 that saved Allsup's life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
He worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. He moved to Los Angeles, played with local bands, and did session work, including writing credit for the Ventures', "Guitar Twist".
He returned to Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
, where he worked with Ronnie Smith, and Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, and producing Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
.
In 1968, he moved to Nashville, where he did session work, and produced Bob Wills
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
', "24 Great Hits by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys".
In 1979, he started a club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Fort Worth. The club was named after a coin flip
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
Allsup had with Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
on February 2, 1959 that saved Allsup's life.