Jimmy Buffett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jimmy Buffett
Buffett performing at Clemson University in 1977
Background information
Birth name	James William Buffett
Born	(1946-12-25)December 25, 1946 Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	September 1, 2023(2023-09-01) (aged 76)
Genres	Gulf and western country country rock folk rock trop rock calypso easy listening pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician author businessman
Instruments	Vocals guitar ukulele
Years active	1964–2023
Labels	Barnaby ABC Dunhill MCA Margaritaville Island Def Jam PolyGram Mailboat Atlantic RCA
Associated acts	Alan Jackson Glenn Frey Jerry Jeff Walker The Neville Brothers James Taylor Eagles Steve Goodman Mark Knopfler Zac Brown Band Kenny Chesney John Hiatt Roy Orbison

Jimmy Buffett (born December 25, 1946 – died September 1, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and businessman. He was famous for his music, which often made people dream of a relaxed island life. With his band, the Coral Reefer Band, Jimmy recorded hit songs like "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday." His loyal fans are known as "Parrotheads."

Besides music, Buffett was also a very successful author. He started two restaurant chains named after his famous songs. He owned the Margaritaville Cafe and helped create the Cheeseburger in Paradise chain. Jimmy Buffett was one of the richest musicians in the world.

Early Life and Family

Jimmy Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He spent parts of his childhood in Mobile and Fairhope, Alabama. His parents were Mary Lorraine and James Delaney Buffett Jr. In grade school, he played the trombone in the band at St. Ignatius School.

His grandfather taught him about sailing when he was a child. These early experiences later inspired many of his songs. He finished high school at McGill Institute for Boys in Mobile in 1964. He started playing guitar during his first year at Auburn University. He then went to Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned a history degree in 1969.

Buffett married Margie Washichek in 1969, but they divorced in 1971. He later worked as a first mate on a yacht in Key West. There, he developed his unique "Caribbean Rock n' Roll" style.

Jimmy and his second wife, Jane Slagsvol, had two daughters: Savannah Jane and Sarah Delaney. They also had an adopted son, Cameron Marley. The family lived in Sag Harbor, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida. They separated for a while in the 1980s but got back together in 1991.

Buffett also had a home on the Caribbean island of Saint Barts. He lived there off and on in the early 1980s. He was also a part-owner of a hotel and restaurant there. In the summer, he would sail along the East Coast.

Jimmy was a passionate pilot and owned several planes. He often used his Dassault Falcon 900 jet for concert tours and travel. He also owned a Boeing Stearman, Cessna Citation, Lake Amphibian, and Grumman Albatross.

On August 25, 1994, Buffett had a small plane accident in Nantucket, Massachusetts. His Grumman G-44 Widgeon airplane flipped over during takeoff. He was able to swim to safety with only minor injuries.

In 2015, Buffett gave a speech at the University of Miami's graduation. He also received an honorary degree in music. He told the graduates to "see the world, kiss a girl, and cross the wild meridian." This line came from one of his songs.

A new type of crustacean discovered in 2023 was named Gnathia jimmybuffetti after him.

Jimmy Buffett passed away peacefully on September 1, 2023, at age 76. His family shared that he was surrounded by loved ones, music, and his dogs. They said he "lived his life like a song till the very last breath."

Music Career and Style

Starting His Music Journey

Jimmy Buffett started his music career in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 1960s. He began as a country artist. His first album, Down to Earth, came out in 1970. During this time, he often played music for tourists in New Orleans.

In 1971, fellow country singer Jerry Jeff Walker took him to Key West. Buffett then moved to Key West and developed his relaxed, beach-loving image. He started playing music for drinks at the Chart Room Bar. After moving, Buffett mixed country, rock, folk, calypso, and pop music. He added coastal and tropical themes to his lyrics. This unique sound is sometimes called "gulf and western" or tropical rock. He often visited Caribbean islands like Saint Barts for inspiration.

Buffett's second album, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, was released in 1973. Albums like Living & Dying in 3/4 Time and A1A followed in 1974. Havana Daydreamin' came out in 1976. Then, in 1977, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes was released. This album included his huge hit song, "Margaritaville."

Buffett performing in 2010

During the 1980s, Buffett earned a lot of money from his concerts. He became known for his popular live shows. He released many albums for his dedicated fans over the next 20 years. He also started writing books and selling merchandise. In 1985, he opened a "Margaritaville" store in Key West. In 1987, he opened the Margaritaville Cafe.

In 1994, Buffett sang with Frank Sinatra on a cover of "Mack the Knife." This was on Sinatra's last album, "Duets II." In 1997, Buffett worked with author Herman Wouk on a musical. It was based on Wouk's novel, Don't Stop the Carnival. The musical only ran for six weeks in Miami. Buffett released an album of songs from the musical in 1998.

In January 1996, Jamaican police accidentally shot at Buffett's plane, the Hemisphere Dancer. The plane had minor damage. U2's Bono, his wife, and two children were also on board. The Jamaican government apologized for the mistake. Buffett wrote the song "Jamaica Mistaica" about the experience. It appeared on his Banana Wind album.

In 2003, he sang with Alan Jackson on the song "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." This song became a number-one hit on the country music charts. It won the 2003 Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year. This was Buffett's first award in his long music career.

Buffett's album License to Chill came out on July 13, 2004. It sold over 238,000 copies in its first week. This was the first time Buffett topped the U.S. pop albums chart.

He continued to tour regularly until shortly before he passed away. Later in his career, he had a more relaxed schedule. He preferred to play only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This schedule gave his 1999 live album its title, Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays.

In 2005, Buffett started Radio Margaritaville with Sirius Satellite Radio. Before this, it was only an online station. The channel still broadcasts today.

In August 2006, he released the album Take the Weather with You. The song "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On" honors survivors of Hurricane Katrina. His version of "Silver Wings" on the same album was a tribute to Merle Haggard. On August 30, 2007, he received a star on the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame.

In 2011, Buffett sang as Huckleberry Finn on Mark Twain: Words & Music. This project helped raise money for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.

Of his more than 30 albums, eight have gone Gold and nine have gone Platinum or Multiplatinum. In 2007, Buffett was nominated for a CMA Award for his song "Hey Good Lookin'." He sang it with Alan Jackson and George Strait.

In 2020, Buffett released Songs You Don't Know by Heart. This album featured his lesser-known songs, re-recorded with his favorite guitars.

Jimmy Buffett's Musical Style

Buffett performing in January 2008

Jimmy Buffett called his music "drunken Caribbean rock 'n' roll." He said this on his 1978 live album, You Had To Be There. Earlier, he and others used the term "gulf and western" to describe his music. This name comes from his early music, which was influenced by country music. It also had lyrics about the Gulf Coast.

One music critic said Buffett's music mixed "tropical relaxation with country fun." This was sometimes called the "Key West sound" or "Gulf-and-western." The term is a play on "Country & Western."

In 2020, The Associated Press described Buffett's sound. They called it a "special Gulf Coast blend of country, pop, folk and rock." They noted his swaying voice and how he easily mixed steelpans, trombones, and pedal steel guitar. DC Metro Theatre Arts magazine said his music "blends Caribbean, country, rock, folk, and pop music." They called it a "good-natured mix" known as "trop rock" or "gulf and western."

His Dedicated Fans

Fans of Jimmy Buffett are often called Parrot Heads or parrotheads. Younger fans, or children of Parrotheads, are sometimes called "parakeets" or "keets."

At a 1985 concert, Buffett noticed many fans wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats. He said they kept coming back to his shows, like the fans of the Grateful Dead (called Deadheads). Timothy B. Schmit, a member of Buffett's band, came up with the name "Parrot Head."

In 1989, the first Parrothead club started in Atlanta. Today, there are many Parrothead clubs. They hold events from small gatherings to the annual Meeting of the Minds in Key West, Florida. This event attracts about 5,000 Parrotheads. In 2011, there were 239 Parrothead Club chapters in the United States, Canada, and Australia. They had almost 28,000 members.

Writing Career

Buffett in Hawaii in June 2003

Jimmy Buffett wrote three books that became number-one bestsellers. Tales from Margaritaville and Where Is Joe Merchant? were on The New York Times Best Seller fiction list for over seven months.

His memoir, A Pirate Looks at Fifty, was published in 1998. It went straight to number one on the New York Times Best Seller nonfiction list. This made him one of the few authors to have a number-one book on both the fiction and nonfiction lists.

Buffett also wrote two children's books with his oldest daughter, Savannah Jane Buffett. These books are The Jolly Mon and Trouble Dolls. The first hardcover edition of The Jolly Mon came with a cassette tape. On it, Jimmy and Savannah Jane read the story with music by Michael Utley.

Buffett's novel A Salty Piece of Land was released in November 2004. The first edition of the book included a CD single of the song "A Salty Piece of Land." This book also became a New York Times bestseller quickly.

His last book, Swine Not?, was released in May 2008.

Jimmy Buffett quote on Himank/BRO signboard in the Nubra Valley, Ladakh, Northern India

Jimmy Buffett is one of several famous people whose quotes appear on road signs. These signs are part of Project HIMANK in the Ladakh region of Northern India.

Film and Television Appearances

Buffett wrote the music for and helped produce the 2006 film Hoot. He also played a role in the movie. The film was based on a book by Carl Hiaasen and focused on protecting nature, which was important to Buffett.

He also wrote music for other films. These include "Turning Around" for the 1985 film Summer Rental and "Hello, Texas" for the 1980 film Urban Cowboy.

Buffett made several small appearances in movies. He appeared in Repo Man, Hook, Cobb, Hoot, and Congo. He also appeared as himself in Rancho Deluxe and FM.

He was a guest star on the TV show Hawaii Five-0 multiple times. He played a character named Frank Bama. In the 2015 film Jurassic World, he had a cameo. He was seen holding two margaritas while dinosaurs caused chaos in the park.

In 2017, Buffett was the musical guest on an episode of NCIS: New Orleans. He sang "I Will Play for Gumbo" in the main character's bar. In 2019, he played himself in the film The Beach Bum.

Business Ventures

The outside of a Margaritaville restaurant in Orlando, Florida

Jimmy Buffett used his fame and fan base to start many businesses. Most of them had a tropical theme. He opened the first Margaritaville Cafe in Key West, Florida, in 1987. He also owned LandShark Bar & Grill in Baltimore, Maryland. He used to own the Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant.

As a baseball fan, he was a part-owner of two minor-league teams. These were the Miami/Fort Myers Miracle and the Madison Black Wolf. Buffett also licensed Margaritaville products. These included Tequila, footwear, and foods like chips, salsa, and guacamole. Between his businesses, album sales, and tours, he was very wealthy.

Music Labels

In 1993, he started Margaritaville Records. It worked with MCA Records for distribution. After his deal with MCA ended, he moved Margaritaville Records to Chris Blackwell's Island Records. In 1999, he started Mailboat Records to release live albums. He also partnered with RCA Records for some studio albums.

Beer Production

In 2006, Buffett worked with the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. They created a beer called Land Shark Lager under the Margaritaville Brewing label.

Casinos

The Margaritaville Casino opened at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in May 2013. It had a restaurant, bars, a coffee shop, a store, and a gaming area.

Real Estate

Latitude Margaritaville is a large retirement village project. It is being built in Daytona Beach, Florida. This project is a partnership between Minto Communities and Buffett's Margaritaville Holdings. The community will have 3,900 homes when finished.

Minto Communities and Margaritaville Holdings have also started Latitude Margaritaville communities in Bluffton, South Carolina, and Panama City Beach, Florida.

Theatrical Works

In 1994, Buffett began working on a musical. It was based on Herman Wouk's 1965 novel, Don't Stop the Carnival. Buffett wrote the music and lyrics, and Wouk wrote the story. Don't Stop the Carnival opened in Miami, Florida, in 1997. Critics did not like it. Buffett refused to remove Wouk from the project, so no more shows were planned. Buffett then turned the show into an album in 1998.

A new musical, Escape to Margaritaville, opened in San Diego in May 2017. It then played in New Orleans, Houston, and Chicago. The show uses Buffett's classic songs, some with new lyrics to fit the story. The show opened on Broadway in New York City in February 2018. It closed in July 2018 after 124 performances. A national tour of the show began in 2019.

Charity Work

Buffett aboard USS Harry S Truman, January 2008

Jimmy Buffett was involved in many charity efforts. In 1981, he and former Florida governor Bob Graham started the Save the Manatee Club. This club helps protect the West Indian manatee. In 1989, Florida passed a law for "Save the Manatee" license plates. The money from these plates helps fund the club. One of the manatees trained at Mote Marine Laboratory is named Buffett after him. Buffett also strongly supported the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory.

On November 23, 2004, Buffett held a concert called "Surviving the Storm." It raised money for hurricane victims in Florida, Alabama, and the Caribbean. These areas were hit by four major hurricanes that year.

Buffett performed in Hong Kong on January 18, 2008. The concert raised US$63,000 for a charity fund. This was his first concert in Hong Kong, and tickets sold out quickly. He even paid for the concertgoers' tequila and beer.

On July 11, 2010, Buffett, who grew up on the Gulf Coast, gave a free concert. It was on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This concert was his response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The 35,000 free tickets were gone in minutes. The concert helped bring people back to Alabama's beaches. Buffett played many popular songs. He changed the lyrics of "Margaritaville" to "now I know, it's all BP's fault."

Concerts and Tours

Popular Songs

Before 2003, eight songs were almost always played at every Jimmy Buffett concert. These were known as the "Big 8":

• "Margaritaville"
• "Come Monday"
• "Fins"
• "Volcano"
• "A Pirate Looks at Forty"
• "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
• "Why Don't We ..."
• "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes"

All of these "Big Eight" songs were released before 1980. They were all on his best-selling album, Songs You Know By Heart. Later, "One Particular Harbor" was added to the regular set list. "Son of a Son of a Sailor" and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" were added in the early 2000s. After 2004, "Why Don't We ..." was played less often. This created a list of ten songs played at almost all of his concerts.

Stage Accident

On January 26, 2011, Jimmy Buffett was performing in Sydney, Australia. He fell off the stage after an encore. A concert-goer said he "just took one step too many and just disappeared." Luckily, a leading trauma surgeon was at the concert and helped him. Buffett woke up within a few minutes. He was taken to the hospital and released the next day. When he returned to Australia in 2012, he joked about the accident during his shows. He even added new funny verses to "Margaritaville" about it.

Discography

Honors

Jimmy Buffett's hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi, named a bridge after him. It is called Buffett Bridge.

See also

In Spanish: Jimmy Buffett para niños

• List of bestselling music artists
• A Pirate Looks at Fifty