He was supposed to be on the plane that ended up killing Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper.
"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. That fateful evening has been referred to as ?the day the music died,? the symbolic end of 1950s rock 'n' roll." (
http://www.halloffame.org/news/archi...n-mg-0202.html)