Jimmy Buffett Story: The Man That Spent His Whole Life At The Beach

Jimmy Buffett Story: The Man That Spent His Whole Life At The Beach 

Jimmy Buffet was inducted into the Mississippi Song Writer's Hall of Fame. Living in Florida for the last 28 years gave me a new prospective on life and music. I like many transplants became a Jimmy Buffet fan almost right away. Now that I am closer to retiring, I see the Buffet way of music and philosophy as my new lifestyle.

On December 25, 1946, James William Buffett was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi to James Delaney Buffett and Mary Loriane. Buffett attended Auburn University and then the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in journalism (he later worked as a Billboard reporter). He moved to Nashville in the late Sixties, intent on becoming a country singer. By 1972 Buffett had left both Nashville and a failed marriage, moving to Key West. There he helped to support himself by smuggling a little marijuana from the Caribbean.

He was an iconic singer/songwriter with a soft Carribean sound. Not only was he the ultimate musician, but later in life, he became a businessman as well.

Buffett has three kids with his wife Jane Buffett - Savannah Jane Buffett (born June 1st, 1979), Sarah Delaney Buffett (born April 1st, 1992), and Cameron Marley Buffett (adopted).

Awards

10/27/1998 - Carbonell Awards for Best New Work, Best Costume Design, and Best Lighting Design: the musical "Don't Stop the Carnival"

11/5/2003 - Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Event of the Year

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

5/26/2004 - Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for Single of the Year

"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

5/26/2004 - Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for Vocal Event of the Year

"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

11/8/2004 - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Song of the Year

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

Nominations

1977 - CMA Award nomination: Single of the Year

"Margaritaville" - ABC

2003 - CMA Award nomination: Vocal Event of the Year

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

12/4/2003: Grammy nomination for "Best Country Collaboration With Vocals"

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett)

This was Jimmy Buffett's first Grammy nomination.

12/7/2004: Grammy nomination for "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals"

"Hey Good Lookin" (Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait)

2004 - CMA Award nomination: Musical Event of the Year

"Hey Good Lookin'" (Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait)

2004 - CMA Award nomination: Music Video of the Year

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (directed by Trey Fanjoy)

2005 - CMA Award nomination for Vocal Event of the Year

"Trip Around the Sun" (Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride)

2/2/2007 - CMT Music Award nomination for the video "Bama Breeze" in the category Wide Open country video of the year

2007 - CMA Award nomination: Musical Event of the Year

"Hey Good Lookin' Live" (Jimmy Buffett, George Strait and Alan Jackson

Musical History-The Buffet Legend Begins

His musical career actually began in New Orleans. But he soon left for Nashville to get his start in music. He recorded his first album in Nashville, Down To Earth while working as journalist for Billboard Magazine.

In 1971, he gave up on Nashville to move to Key West, a small Island off the coast of Florida. St that time, Key West was not the thriving community it is now. It was generally a rundown area with a low-key lifestyle. Jimmy lived the lifestyle that he most often wrote about. He played in small local bars for drinking money and worked on yachts periodically as a crew member.

Jimmy Buffett signed to ABC-Dunhill, and his 1973 release, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, found Buffett developing his drunken-sailor persona. His breakthrough came in 1977 with the platinum Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (#12) and its hit single, "Margaritaville" (#8).

He formed the first version of his Coral Reefer Band in 1975. The 1985 compilation Songs You Know By Heart (subtitled Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit[s] in self-mocking reference to the fact that "Margaritaville" was his only major pop hit) sold two million copies 1992's Boats Beaches Bars & Ballads also went platinum.

He toured almost all of his career. Those who loved his music will continue to be devoted fans.

The legendary group started out in clubs as a fake band consisting of Kay Pasa, Ms. Kitty Litter, and the legendary Marvin Gardens. In 1975, Jimmy began touring with a real band and the rest is history. Members have come and gone, but the Coral Reefer Band will always be legendary.

In his later years, Jimmy Buffet concerts became more sporadic. In 2023, however he managed to play 4 gigs in Key West followed by Las Vegas; Thousand Palms, California; Phoenix, Arizona; and ultimately San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on May 6. It was the first show at the new stadium, and Buffett’s final full concert.

His last appearance was in Portsmouth, Rhode Island where he played an 8 song gig with Mac Mcnally, A Coral Reefer Band guitarist.

He recorded over 50 albums and at the time of his passing, he was working on another album.

It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad.

Besides his music, recordings and business ventures, Jimmy Buffet was an author. His best-selling books reflected his lifestyle and musical interests. Tales From Margaritaville came out in 1989.

A resolution recognizing April 16, 2011, as "Jimmy Buffett Day" in Florida has been passed by the Florida House of Representatives, in appreciation of Jimmy's charitable efforts, support of the environment, and positive economic impact in the state. This is a well deserved honor . After all, Jimmy and Bob Graham found the Save the Manatee Club. He has done may benefit concerts to help the hurricane victims. He also employs 200 Floridians at his hotel. Well deserved Jimmy

How It All Started

Legends are made from stories that start so easily. Jimmy's music was started in Nashville but was refined in Florida. After a alleged booking date in Miami went sour, Jimmy headed for a friend's house to recoup and regroup. On a weekend drive down a coastal highway, AiA, Jimmy wound up in a town that would provide the biggest influence in his musical career. Key West would become his and our "Margaritaville" and play a huge role in his life.

The Key West of the 1970's was not then what it is now. Servicemen, shrimpers and smugglers populated the island, and they were known not to live the straight and narrow lifestyle. Closed and boarded storefronts made up Duval St. More than not the business trade was housed in dilapidated buildings. Most of those sold liquor over or under the table. The locals had access to the "pot "at the end of the rainbow. The melting pot of all these characters and circumstances inspired Jimmy.

His song, Margaritaville, spent 22 weeks on the US singles chart peaking at number 8. It helped define Key West into the ultimate beach destination that it is known today.

"The Wino and I Know" "Tin Cup Chalice", and "I Have Found Me A Home" were born out of those years. As Bob Anderson says about Jimmy in 1986 interview in High Times, "Every outlaw has a good story, and Buffett has an eye and ear for them."