A legendary guitarist whose life was saved by the toss of a coin is taking part in his first Scottish tour, aged 75.
Tommy Allsup was a member of Buddy Holly's band on the fateful 24-city Winter Dance Party tour of 1959. The last remaining seat on Holly's charter plane to his next concert in North Dakota was decided by the flip of a coin, Tommy lost out.
The plane crashed into a cornfield in Iowa shortly after take-off, killing the rock-and-roll pioneer, two other performers and the pilot.
The tragic event was referred to as "the day the music died" in Don McLean's 1971 hit song American Pie.
Now Allsup is set to make his first tour of Scotland, playing four gigs between June 7 and June 10 in Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Borders and Glenfarg, Perthshire.
He will be performing with Nashville singer/songwriter Kevin Montgomery, whose father, Bob, wrote many songs for Holly.
Wardlaw Jackson, organiser of the concert at Selkirk Rugby Club in the Borders on June 9, said it was down to an astonishing piece of luck that Allsup is playing in Scotland. "It is an amazing story," he said.
"Buddy wanted to get his band, who included Tommy Allsup, to the next concert so he decided to charter a plane.
"Allsup tossed a coin with Ritchie Valens for the last seat and Ritchie won."
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