[Preachin']

I heard that Waylon Jennings (one of Budd Holly's Crickets) gave up his seat to the Big Bopper, because the Big Bopper was ill.

[Texas Deb]

Here's a link to the Buddy Holly Center here in Lubbock.

http://www.buddyhollycenter.org/

And a link to a reprint of the original article in the evening Lubbock AJ on February 3, 1959, reporting the crash.

http://www.buddyhollyarchives.com/crash1.shtml

[lunarbicep]

Jennings’ big break came when he joined Holly's band, and one of the turning points in his life and storied career was his decision to give up a seat on the ill-fated flight that took the lives of Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper on Feb. 3, 1959.

Jennings told CMT.com that the brutal crash left scars that still haunted him 40 years after Holly’s death. Jennings never came to terms with his last words to Holly, the joking refrain, "I hope your ol' plane crashes."

[Revolting cat!]

There have been a number of people over the years who have claimed they had given up a seat on that plane. Just as there have been a number of people who have claimed they had been asked to join the Rolling Stones after Mick Taylor left in mid 1970s. A nice thing to add to your resume, but I see no reason to believe any of them.