Biography
This grammy award winner started his musical career in Claremore, Oklahoma in 1949 with the "Oklahoma Swingbillies." 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.
He has produced 5 LPs with the great Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys, 2 LPs with the Original Texas Playboys, and 2 LPs with the great Western Swing vocalist Leon Rausch. Tommy has produced Swing LPs with Jody Nix, Curley Chalker, Mack Sanders, Johnny Bush, Willie Nelson, Tex Williams, and Billy Mize. Tommy produced “Bob Wills’ A Tribute to Bob’s 100th Birthday” while living in Azle, Texas. He has played guitar or bass on over 6500 recording sessions. (Source Tommy Allsup Website )
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.
He has produced 5 LPs with the great Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys, 2 LPs with the Original Texas Playboys, and 2 LPs with the great Western Swing vocalist Leon Rausch. Tommy has produced Swing LPs with Jody Nix, Curley Chalker, Mack Sanders, Johnny Bush, Willie Nelson, Tex Williams, and Billy Mize. Tommy produced “Bob Wills’ A Tribute to Bob’s 100th Birthday” while living in Azle, Texas. He has played guitar or bass on over 6500 recording sessions. (Source Tommy Allsup Website )