James William Buffett was an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He was best known for his music, which often portrays a lifestyle described as “island escapism”. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett recorded hit songs including “Margaritaville” (1977), which is ranked 234th on the Recording Industry Association of America’s list of “Songs of the Century”, and “Come Monday” (1974). His music developed a devoted base of fans, known as “Parrotheads”.
Jimmy Buffett Early Life and Age
Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and spent part of his childhood in Mobile and Fairhope, Alabama. He was the son of Mary Lorraine (née Peets) and James Delaney Buffett Jr, who worked for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He has two younger siblings, Lucy (1953) and Laurie Buffett (1948). By the time of his death on September 1st 2023, he was 76 years old. According to his website, His grandfather, James Delaney Buffett, “was a captain on a steamship and his father J.D. traveled to India and Africa with the Army Corps of Engineers before settling in Mobile,”
Jimmy Buffett Professional Career
Buffett made his musical breakthrough with his 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included the song Margaritaville, which enjoyed 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
His other hits include Fins, Come Monday and Son of a Son of a Sailor.
Buffett was nominated for two Grammy awards and was a prolific artist – releasing more than 20 albums. Earlier this year he revealed that he had recorded a new work.
His songs were also turned into a musical, Escape to Margaritaville, which made its Broadway debut in 2018.
Buffett’s music and the “beach bum” lifestyle he promoted earned him a devoted following of millions of fans who refer to themselves as Parrotheads. According to his Website, The beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island on Friday September 1, 2023 surrounded by family and friends. Buffett, 76, had been fighting Merkel Cell Skin Cancer for four years. He continued to perform during treatment, playing his last show, a surprise appearance in Rhode Island, in early July.
With a recording career that spanned more than fifty years and included hits such as “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” Buffett was one of the most successful performers in popular music. He filled arenas with fans who called themselves “Parrot Heads,” and popularized a signature blend of folk, country and Caribbean music with lyrics that often reflected Buffett’s world travels. A pilot and a sailor, Buffett wrote songs about his plane being shot at by Jamaican police (“Jamaica Mistaica”), getting lost in the Sahara Desert (“Buffet Hotel”) and smugglers he had known around the Florida Gulf Coast (“A Pirate Looks at 40”).
Although he was best known for upbeat party songs (others include “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and “Fins”) Buffett first achieved notoriety for thoughtful ballads that showed the influence of Texas songwriters such as Jerry Jeff Walker and Canadian Gordon Lightfoot.
Bob Dylan praised lesser-known Buffett compositions “He Went to Paris” and “Death of an Unpopular Poet” – songs that reflected the observational, storytelling skills Buffett developed in his early career as a journalist for Billboard magazine.
Buffett had a second career as a successful author. He was one of a handful of writers who had number one best-sellers on both the fiction and non-fiction lists of the New York Times Book Review.
He had a third career as an entrepreneur, building a diversified lifestyle brand business, including Margaritaville hotels, restaurants, and retirement communities, along with sidelines such as Land Shark beer. Buffett’s branding and business acumen made him one of the most financially successful musicians of all time.
Jimmy Buffett Personal Relationship
Buffett is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jane (Slagsvol) Buffett, his daughters Savannah Jane (Joshua) and Sarah Delaney, his son Cameron Marley (Lara), his grandson Marley Ray and devoted pack of dogs Lola, Kingston, Pepper, Rosie, Ajax and Kody. Also survived by his Montana sister, Laurie Buffett McGuane (Tom), their children Heather Hume, Anne Buffett McGuane, Maggie McGuane and Thomas McGuane IV; his Alabama sister, Lucy Buffett and daughters Mara Delaney Buffett O’Dwyer and Melanie Leigh Buffett; and many more wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jimmy Buffett Death
A statement on his Website indicated that the beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island on Friday September 1, 2023 surrounded by family and friends. Buffett, 76, had been fighting Merkel Cell Skin Cancer for four years. He continued to perform during treatment, playing his last show, a surprise appearance in Rhode Island, in early July. Jimmy was eulogized by among others the President of the United States who stated,
"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. 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 joy, using his gift to bring people together. Jill and I send our love to his wife of 46 years, Jane; to their children, Savannah, Sarah, and Cameron; to their grandchildren; and to the millions of fans who will continue to love him even as his ship now sails for new shores."
A twitter user by the name Dash Rip Rock
Sail on #jimmybuffet pic.twitter.com/fs5kM7AvyD
— Dash Rip Rock (@dashkicksass) September 2, 2023
He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.
One fan stated on Instagram ”
Adam waldman; I first met Jimmy Buffett living on St. Somewhere in 1983. He was a friend of my parents and sometimes brought his guitar out to their small sailboat to play.
His music became the joyful soundtrack across decades for me and anyone reading this.
“Alone on a midnight passage
I can count the falling stars
While the Southern Cross and the satellites
They remind me of where we are
Spinning around in circles
Living it day to day
And still twenty four hours, maybe sixty good years
It’s really not that long a stay.”
Jimmy was 76. R.I.P
