Buddy Holly Plane Crash - Man Who 'Won' Coin Toss Has Now Died.

Tommy Allsup: Guitarist who avoided Buddy Holly plane crash dies.

By Mark SavageBBC Music reporter.

Image copyrightWIKIMEDIA / ERIC SHAIMAN / GETTY IMAGES

Image captionRockabilly guitarist Tommy Allsup, who narrowly avoided boarding the plane that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, has died aged 85.

The musician famously lost a coin toss for a seat on the plane. His place was taken by teen star Ritchie Valens, who also perished when the plane crashed.

Allsup went on to become a Grammy-winning musician, who played with Merle Haggard, Roy Orbison and Willie Nelson.

He said he thought about the crash, and thanked God, every day of his life.

The musician died on Wednesday at a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, due to complications from a hernia operation, said his son Austin.

"Tommy Allsup was one of western swing and rockabilly music's finest," said Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy. "The Oklahoma native and was admired by his peers and fans alike [and] heralded by Paul McCartney as one of the finest guitar players in the world.

"Our deepest condolences go out to Tommy's family, friends, and creative collaborators." BBC News.