At the beginning of the month, America mourned the loss of one of its finest artists.
Jimmy Buffett (“Margaritaville”), who rose to stardom with his tropical rock music, passed away Sept. 1 at the age of 76. His fans known as “Parrotheads” have been seen on social media hosting parades and leaving flowers at various Margaritaville bar and restaurant locations, the first of which opened in Key West back in 1985. The island life empire Buffett created spanned so widely that he is recognized as one of the richest celebrities with a net worth of over $1 billion. Not that he kept it all to himself of course, as his philanthropy benefits a few different organizations. Most notably there is his Save the Manatee Club which Buffett founded in 1981 alongside former U.S. Senator Bob Graham, who was governor of Florida at the time.
Born on Christmas Day in 1946, Buffett grew up hearing tales from his grandfather who was a steamship captain. Influenced by the salt, sea and the majesty of boats, Buffett often credited his success to those experiences. It was not until later on that he started getting into music. According to his biography on his website, he learned to play guitar from a fraternity brother at college.
At first his newfound talent was all about getting girls, so much so that he flunked out of Auburn University after a year. After some time and changing schools, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and started out as a journalist for Billboard.
Eventually he and his small band found success after performing small gigs around New Orleans and Bourbon Street, but it was after a trip to Key West in 1971 that Buffett discovered his true musical voice. Amid the wanderers, the forlorn folks who just needed to get away to the surf and sun, Buffett found the inspiration he needed that would rocket him to fame.
Among his most famous songs are classics such as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” but his discography includes an expansive profile rich in lyrical and musical talent. In fact, a new album is set to be released posthumously on Nov. 3, titled “Equal Strain on all Parts.” A few songs have already been released as teasers: “Bubbles Up” was released Sept. 8 along with “Like My Dog” and “My Gummie Just Kicked In” which features Paul McCartney (“McCartney III”) on bass guitar.
McCartney has already given praise to “Bubbles Up,” according to Rolling Stone magazine.
“I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever,” McCartney wrote. “He turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles—they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away.”
In total, Buffett released 32 studio albums (56 counting lives and compilations), was nominated for two Grammys and even topped the bestseller charts with three of his books. According to his biography on sunrecords.com, Buffet was one of only nine authors in the history of the New York Times Bestseller List to reach #1 on both the fiction and non-fiction lists. Buffet is survived by his wife Jane, their three children and many grandchildren.
Margaritaville.com reads, “We celebrate his life, believe his spirit lives on like a never-ending encore, and will see his radiant smile and that twinkle in his eye when we look towards the sun and will continue to share his way of life wherever, whenever we can.” Fins up forever, Parrotheads!
Image from Jimmy Buffett via Twitter.com
