Jimmy Buffett, the chill musician and entrepreneur who turned a few simple songs into a way of life for many, has passed away. He was 76.
The news was shared in a message posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) page this morning: “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.”
Jimmy Buffett began his career as a country artist in Nashville but by the time he released his first album in 1970, he was drifting directly into the clear seas, with a style dubbed both “drunken Caribbean rock ‘n’ roll” and “gulf and western.” Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett released more than two dozen albums, nearly half as many live albums and close to 70 singles, with “Margaritaville”, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”, “Come Monday”, and “Fins” proving to be some of his most popular. And let’s not forget the concerts and tailgates, which remain the stuff of legend, packed with Parrotheads – the official name for his devotees – and newcomers alike coming together year after year.
Jimmy Buffett’s legacy as one of the good guys and a proponent of an easygoing, sand-in-the-toes, tequila-in-the-glass lifestyle is undeniable. He was so synonymous in pop culture with such that he even had a crustacean named in his honor: Gnathia jimmybuffetti. And hey, you don’t turn up in a movie called The Beach Bum without a certain reputation.
There, too, were the restaurants Margaritaville, which has more than 20 locations, and the now-defunct Cheeseburger in Paradise, named after his 1978 single, which hit #32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On the movie front, Jimmy Buffett was so respected within the industry that he earned cameos in movies ranging from Repo Man to Hook to Jurassic World, where he’s seen with, yes, margaritas in hand.
Certainly Radio Margaritaville – the SiriusXM channel devoted to all things Jimmy Buffett – will be paying tribute to the singer-songwriter. Whether or not you’ll tune in over the weekend, it couldn’t hurt to make yourself a margarita (with Salt! Salt! Salt!) and do a little relaxing.
What is your favorite Jimmy Buffett song? Have you ever experienced a live concert or tailgate? Let us know in the comments section below.