JIMMY BUFFETT,
1946-2023
Jimmy Buffett, whose country- and Caribbean-spiced pop musical palette was filled with tales of sea adventures, beach bums and sots, died Friday (9/1). He was 76.
His death was announced on his website: “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.” No cause was given.
Buffett cracked the Top 10 only once—with “Margaritaville” in 1977—but that one song’s milieu of boozing on the beach to deal with life’s curveballs would infuse his work for decades and eventually blossom into a lifestyle brand. Of course, there were plenty of songs about tossing back a few cold ones in celebration as well; he hit the Top 20 in 2003 with “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere," a duet with Alan Jackson.
He scored 20 Top 40 albums, including his lone chart-topper, License to Chill (2004). His 1985 hits collection, Songs You Know by Heart, was certified septuple platinum. The 1992 boxed set Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is quadruple platinum.
Buffett’s appeal as a live performer was consistently strong. He took his Coral Reefer Band on countless summer tours that were as much a party for his followers, the Hawaiian-shirt-wearing Parrotheads, as a performance. In 2022 Pollstar reported that Buffett had grossed $575m over the previous 40 years of touring and sold 13.3m tickets. According to Forbes, his net worth reached $1b, making him one of the world's wealthiest musicians.
Elton John wrote on Instagram, “Jimmy Buffett was a unique and treasured entertainer. His fans adored him and he never let them down.”
Born on Christmas Day, 1946, he grew up in Mobile, Alabama, where his grandfather taught him to sail. After college in Mississippi, he moved to Nashville. He started recording in 1970 and toured with Jerry Jeff Walker.
After signing with ABC/Dunhill and setting up shop in Key West, he appeared on the country album charts with 1973's A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean.
His first pop Top 30 came in 1974 with "Come Monday" from his fourth studio album, Living and Dying in ¾ Time. It led to Buffett's touring the country for the first time, playing folk venues.
"Margaritaville" would rule the airwaves three years later, bringing him a large national audience and a string of hit albums. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included “Margaritaville,” peaked at #12. 1978’s Son of a Son of a Sailor went to #10. Volcano hit #14 in 1979.
Late in the '80s, Buffett started using Margaritaville for branding and marketing, opening the first Margaritaville store in 1985 and Margaritaville Café in 1987. He topped the New York Times bestsellers list with 1989’s short story collection, Tales From Margaritaville.
He created the Margaritaville label, distributed first by MCA and then Island, reaching the Top 10 with four of the five studio albums he released in the 1990s.
The jukebox musical Escape to Margaritaville opened on Broadway in 2018 and went on a national tour a year later. A Margaritaville Resort opened in Times Square in 2021.
The Library of Congress put “Margaritaville” in the National Recording Registry in April.
Buffett’s biggest recent singles were country collaborations: a version of Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’,” with Jackson, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait hit #8 on the country chart in 2004, and “Knee Deep” with the Zac Brown Band topped the country singles chart in 2011.
It seems that so many wonderful people are leaving this world, and now Jimmy Buffett is one of them. I’ve known Jimmy for some time and found him to be one of the kindest and most generous people.
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) September 2, 2023
I remember once on holiday when I had forgotten to bring my guitar and was… pic.twitter.com/k5B6xgpAh7
No one did music, or life, quite like Jimmy Buffett. His laid-back, island vibes brought his fans endless joy through his music and live performances. Sending a heartfelt farewell to the music legend. pic.twitter.com/BBYQLCu416
— Live Nation (@LiveNation) September 2, 2023
A poet of paradise, Jimmy Buffett was an American music icon who inspired generations to step back and find the joy in life and in one another.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 2, 2023
We had the honor to meet and get to know Jimmy over the years, and he was in life as he was performing on stage – full of goodwill and…
Heart broken this morning hearing of Jimmy Buffett's passing. What an incredible talent and man. His songs will live on forever. I’ll bet most of y’all don’t know that he wrote the theme song for @BarmageddonUSA for me about 2 years ago. Raising a glass today to the Son of a son…
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) September 2, 2023
Key West will honor Jimmy Buffett with a Second Line Procession starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3 at the corner of Front and Duval Streets. Participants are encouraged to wear tropical attire and leis. The event benefits the Bahama Village Music Program. 🌸🌴🦜🥥 pic.twitter.com/Lta1d7UVcm
— The Florida Keys (@thefloridakeys) September 2, 2023
