An emotional event as well as time can alter recollections. I DO know this: I reported on the coin toss the following day to several radio stations. In fact my report about that night, and the coin toss moment, was responsible for my next job. Immediately following my report, which included the coin incident, I was offered a job at WMAY in Springfield, Illinois. The toss came at intermission right after Buddy made the call to hire the plane. The toss could not have come AFTER I left the ballroom, because Kathy and I said goodbye to the boys as Carroll Anderson left for the airport with the boys in the car. Had I left before the coin toss, there would have been no way for me to have known about it! Had I left ahead of time this discussion would not be taking place; there would have been no way for me to have reported or written about it.

So there you have two recollections of the same incident. Does this mean we must dwell on two versions of the same incident and make some sort of verbal war over it? Good grief! There are some things in life getting worked up over; a coin toss is not one of them. Must this small issue cause people to explode in anger? I'd rather see us talking about the contribution the BOYS MADE to American music. The focus should be on them, not on small facts that, in the bigger picture, are unimportant.

I completely understand Tommy having a different recollection than do I. He came close to dying; that's an emotional experience. But, I cannot fathom why some people have become so highly agitated over this to the extent they express themselves in nasty terms, making personal attacks.

I suspect Tommy, like I, does not see this as a big life-changing issue. If some folks see it as such, I think some reflection is in order; reflection about the shortness of the three lives snuffed out in the place crash; about the contributions they made in such a short lifetime. The importance is not what happened backstage, or who remembers what. The real story is the world of music lost three great young stars, and a mom and dad in Clear Lake lost a promising young son. THOSE are the important facts. If there are those who choose to overlook those facts, then I suggest everyone take some time to reflect on the shortness of their own lives to see how time is being spent.

I'd like to read more exchanges about the contributions of the Three Stars.

So, if there are those around who are now going to raise the temperature one more time about this issue, count me out. Such a scene is not worthy of the memories of four young men who had just begun to exhibit their worth. And their worth was expressed in positive terms at all times.

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Tommy Allsup, Buddy's guitarist on the Winter Dance Party tour

Buddy told me that he had to get his stuff out of the bus and would be right back. Valens was signing autographs in the dressing room, and when he was done and the fans moved on, I met him at the door. He again asked me if I’d give up my seat and I suggested flipping a coin. He agreed and I flipped a 50-cent piece that I had in my pocket. There was no one else around that witnessed the flip. I still have the coin.