Jimmy Buffett | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Buffett in 1980 | |
| Born | James William Buffett (1946-12-25)December 25, 1946 Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 2023(2023-09-01) (aged 76) Sag Harbor, New York, U.S. |
| Education | University of Southern Mississippi (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1961[1]–2023 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3,[a] includingSavannah |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Discography | Jimmy Buffett discography |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
| Website | jimmybuffett |
James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman.[10] He was known for histropical rock sound and persona,[2] which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapism"[11] and promoted enjoying life and following passions.[12] Buffett recorded many hit songs, including those known as "The Big 8":[13] "Margaritaville" (1977), which is ranked 234th on theRecording Industry Association of America's list of "Songs of the Century"; "Come Monday" (1974); "Fins" (1979); "Volcano" (1979); "A Pirate Looks at Forty" (1974); "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (1978); "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (1973); and "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" (1977). His other popular songs include "Son of a Son of a Sailor" (1978), "One Particular Harbour" (1983), and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" withAlan Jackson (2003).[14] Buffett formed theCoral Reefer Band in 1975.[15]
Of the over 30 albums released by Buffett, eight arecertified gold and nine are certified platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA.[16] In total, Buffett sold over 20 million certified records worldwide,[3] placing him amongst the world's best-selling music artists.[17][18][19] In addition to twoGrammy Award nominations, Buffett was posthumously inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category in 2024.[20]
Buffett also parlayed the "island escapism" lifestyle of his music into several business ventures, includingJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant chain, the now-defunctCheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain, and ventures in hotels, casinos, liquor, and retirement communities. With anet worth of $1 billion, Buffett was one of theworld's richest musicians andcelebrities.[21] He was also a bestselling author. His devoted fans are known as "Parrotheads".[22]
Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, inPascagoula, Mississippi,[23] and he spent part of his childhood inMobile andFairhope, Alabama. He was the son of Mary Lorraine (née Peets) (died September 25, 2003)[24] and James Delaney Buffett, Jr. (died May 1, 2003), who worked for theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers.[25][26][27] He had two younger sisters, Laurie (born 1948) and Lucy (born 1953).[11][28]
As a child, Buffett was exposed to sailing: his grandfather, James Delaney Buffett, was asteamship captain fromNewfoundland, and his father was a marine engineer and sailor—these experiences later influenced his music.[29][27] Buffett was educated byJesuits as aCatholic and served as analtar boy.[30][31]
In 1961, after seeing a folk music ensemble perform inBiloxi, Mississippi, Buffett realized that he wanted to be a musician.[31] His first performance was a month later at ahootenanny, where he played aStella guitar.[31]
Buffett attended St. Ignatius School, where he played thetrombone in the school band at age 8 in the 1950s.[32] Buffett graduated fromMcGill Institute in 1964.[33][34]
Buffett enrolled atAuburn University and was taught how to play guitar by aSigma Pifraternity brother to "garner attention from girls".[27][34] Buffett failed out of Auburn after a year, in April 1966, "unable to balance his newfound interests in music and girls with his college classes".[35] In 1966, Buffett playedacid rock in a band called the Upstairs Alliance that attempted to emulate the sound ofJefferson Airplane.[31] He continued college atPearl River Community College and theUniversity of Southern Mississippi inHattiesburg, Mississippi and earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1969, where during his time there he also joined theKappa Sigma fraternity. In college, Buffett worked in a shipyard as an electrician and welder.[29] He avoided serving in theVietnam War due to a college deferment and a failed physical exam.[36]
After graduating in 1969, Buffett moved toNew Orleans and often heldstreet performances for tourists onDecatur Street and played for drunken crowds in the former Bayou Room nightclub onBourbon Street.[37][11] In 1970, he moved toNashville, Tennessee, to further hiscountry music career. Buffett did not have much luck with music jobs but found work as an editorial assistant forBillboard, where he was the first to report that the bluegrass duoFlatt and Scruggs had disbanded.[38][11][31]
Buffett signed a two-album contract withBarnaby Records.[39] He released his first album, the country-tingedfolk rock recordDown to Earth, in August 1970; it sold 324 copies.[11] The masters of his second album,High Cumberland Jubilee, recorded in 1971 inBerry Hill, Tennessee, were allegedly lost by the label before the album was released, although they were found in 1976, once Buffett became popular.[39]
In the fall of 1971, after an impromptu audition, Buffett was hired by the Exit/In, a Nashville club, as theopening act for recording artist Dianne Davidson. Unhappy with the business climate in Nashville and with his first marriage heading for divorce, Buffett took up an offer by fellow country singerJerry Jeff Walker, whom he had met while working as a journalist in Nashville, for lodging in his house inCoconut Grove. In November 1971, they went toKey West on abusking expedition; Buffett liked it so much that he moved there in the spring of 1972.[3][40] There, Buffett got involved in the literary scene, meeting writersThomas McGuane (who married Buffett's sister[36]),Jim Harrison,Tom Corcoran, andTruman Capote;[3] sex and drugs were plentiful.[41] Buffett was hired byDavid Wolkowsky, playing for drinks at the Chart Room Bar in the Pier House Motel.[42] There, Buffett met his second wife.[15] From a connection he made there, Buffett was hired as the first mate on the yacht of industrialist Foster Talge, heir toThe Rival Company, which became his day job.[43][44]
In 1973, Buffett signed arecording contract withABC/Dunhill Records, then run byDon Gant. AfterJim Croce died in a plane crash in September 1973, Dunhill promoted Buffett as a replacement.[45]
Buffett's second release and his first release onABC/Dunhill Records wasA White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, recorded atTompall Glaser'sGlaser Sound recording studio onMusic Row and released in June 1973.[46] The album featured the hit singles "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk" as well as "I Have Found Me a Home", written about his experiences in Key West.[46] Buffett used the money he made from the album to buy his first boat.[29]
Living & Dying in 3/4 Time, recorded in October 1973 and released in February 1974, deviated from the island-theme of Buffett's other albums. It included "Come Monday", written for his then-girlfriend and future wife,[15] his first single to place on theBillboard Hot 100.A1A, released in December 1974, included "A Pirate Looks at Forty", written about a drug smuggler.
In 1975, Buffett formed theCoral Reefer Band.[15] He credits his future wife for cleaning up their look, replacing their rippedLevi jeans and collarless shirts.[15] The band was theopening act forthe Eagles in August 1975.[47]
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Havana Daydreamin', produced byDon Gant, was released in January 1976. In January 1977, Buffett releasedChanges in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which, in addition to thetitle track, featured his breakthrough hit song "Margaritaville".[46] Buffett claims that he wrote most of the song in six minutes.[3] Ironically, while it attempts to negatively portray tourists in Key West, it led to an increase in tourism to the city.[48] That year, Buffett sublet his apartment in Key West toHunter S. Thompson.[48]
Buffett first traveled toSaint Barthélemy in 1978[29] and moved there shortly thereafter, where he got the inspiration for songs and characters in his books.[49]
In March 1978, Buffett releasedSon of a Son of a Sailor. In addition to thetitle track, it featured "Cheeseburger in Paradise", which reached number 32 on the Hot 100.[38] In August 1979, he releasedVolcano, which included "Fins" and thetitle track.[50]
In 1983, Buffett filed and won a lawsuit againstChi-Chi's for attempting to trademark "Margaritaville" as a drink special.[51] In October 1985, he released thecompilation albumSongs You Know By Heart, which included all of the "Big Eight" songs and was his best selling album, selling over 7 million copies by 2005.[16]
In 1994, Buffett dueted withFrank Sinatra on a cover of "Mack the Knife" on Sinatra's final studio album,Duets II.[52] In 1996, Buffett penned the song "Jamaica Mistaica" for hisBanana Wind album based on a January 1996 incident in which Buffett'sGrumman HU-16 airplane namedHemisphere Dancer was shot at by Jamaican police, who believed the craft to be smuggling marijuana.[53] The aircraft sustained minimal damage. The plane was carrying Buffett as well asBono ofU2, Bono's wife and two children,Island Records producerChris Blackwell, and co-pilot Bill Dindy. TheJamaican government acknowledged the mistake and apologized to Buffett.[53]
In April 1998, Buffett released an album of songs from amusical theatre production he co-created based onHerman Wouk's novel,Don't Stop the Carnival; was certified gold. AfterFrank Sinatra died the following month, he attended his funeral.[16] Buffett's song "Math Suks", released in May 1999, was condemned by the U.S.National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and theNational Education Association for its alleged negative effect on children's education.[54] ComedianJon Stewart also jokingly criticized the song onThe Daily Show during a segment called "Math Is Quite Pleasant".[55]
By 1999, Buffett had shifted to a more relaxed concert schedule of around 20–30 dates per year, with infrequent back-to-back nights, preferring to play only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This schedule provided the title of his1999 live album.[56]
In 2003, Buffett partnered in a partialduet withAlan Jackson for the song "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", which spent a then record eight weeks atop theHot Country Songs charts.[57][58] This song won the 2003Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year, Buffett's first award in his 30-year recording career.[59]
Buffett's albumLicense to Chill, released on July 13, 2004, sold 238,500 copies in its first week of release according toNielsen Soundscan. With the album, Buffett topped the U.S. pop albums chart for the first time in his career.[60]
In May 2005, Buffett signed an agreement withSirius Satellite Radio to broadcastRadio Margaritaville, which, from its founding in 1998, was broadcast only online.[61][62] The channel broadcasts from the Margaritaville Resort Orlando inKissimmee, Florida.
In August 2006, Buffett released the albumTake the Weather with You, which hit number 1 on the country chart.[63] The album included "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On", written in honor of the survivors ofHurricane Katrina.[64]
In August 2007, Buffett was nominated at theCountry Music Association Awards for the Event of the Year Award for his song "Hey Good Lookin'" which also features Alan Jackson andGeorge Strait.[65] Also in August 2007, Buffett received a star on the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame.[66]
In April 2010, a double CD of performances recorded during the 2008 and 2009 tours calledEncores was released exclusively atWalmart, Walmart.com, and Margaritaville.com.[67]
In 2010, Buffett was named the tenth biggest touring artist of the decade, with 4.5 million ticket sales over the previous 10 years.[48]
SinceWyatt Durrette, co-writer of the song "Knee Deep", was a fan of Buffett's, Buffett partnered on the song with theZac Brown Band, which was released on Brown's 2010 albumYou Get What You Give.[68] The single was certified platinum in September 2017.[16]
In November 2011, Buffett voicedHuckleberry Finn onMark Twain: Words & Music, a benefit for theMark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, which was released onMailboat Records.[69]
In August 2013, Buffett releasedSongs from St. Somewhere; many of the songs were recorded atEden Rock, St Barths.[49]
In 2020, Buffett releasedSongs You Don't Know by Heart, a fan-curated collection of his lesser-known songs rerecorded on his collection of notable guitars.[70]
Buffett performed his final full concert atSnapdragon Stadium inSan Diego on May 6, 2023.[71] He made two further concert appearances, as an unannounced guest at concerts by Coral Reefer Band members, inAmagansett, New York, on June 11 and inPortsmouth, Rhode Island, on July 2, his final live performance before his death.[71][72][73]
Equal Strain on All Parts was released posthumously in November 2023. Buffett got the idea for the album title from his grandfather's description of a nap.[74][75]
Buffett was posthumously selected for induction into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 in the musical excellence category.[76][20]
Buffett's music combined country,rock,folk,calypso, andpop music with coastal as well as tropical lyrical themes for a sound sometimes called "gulf and western," "gulf rock," ortropical rock.[2]
Buffett called his music "drunken Caribbean rock 'n' roll".[77]
"It's pure escapism is all it is...I'm not the first one to do it, nor shall I probably be the last. But I think it's really a part of the human condition that you've got to have some fun. You've got to get away from whatever you do to make a living or other parts of life that stress you out. I try to make it at least 50/50 fun to work and so far it's worked out." -Jimmy Buffett[78]
In 1989, a music critic inThe Washington Post described Buffett's music as a combination of "tropical languor with country funkiness into what some [have] called the Key West sound, or Gulf-and-western."[79] The name "Gulf-and-western" derives from elements in Buffett's early music including musical influence fromcountry, along with lyrical themes from the coast of theGulf of Mexico. It is a play on the form of "Country & Western" andGulf+Western is the former parent company ofParamount Pictures.
In 2020, TheAssociated Press described Buffett's sound as a "specialGulf Coast blend of country,pop,folk and rock, topped by Buffett's swaying voice. Few can mixsteelpans,trombones andpedal steel guitar so effortlessly."[80]
Musicians that have cited Buffett as a musical influence includeGreg "Fingers" Taylor, a former member of Buffett'sCoral Reefer Band, as well as musicians that have "latched on to his seaside-and-booze themes" such asKenny Chesney,Alan Jackson, andZac Brown.[64]
Parrot Head orparrothead is a commonly used nickname for Buffett fans, with "parakeets" or "keets" used for younger fans, or children of Parrotheads. At a 1985 Jimmy Buffett concert at the Timberwolf Amphitheater atKings Island inMason, Ohio, Buffett commented about everyone wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats and how they kept coming back to see his shows, just likeDeadheads.Timothy B. Schmit, then a member of theCoral Reefer Band, coined the term "Parrot Head" to describe them.[81][82] In 1989, the first Parrothead club was founded inAtlanta.[83] The annual Meeting of the Minds inKey West, Florida is a five-day festival held afterFantasy Fest that attracts approximately 5,000 Parrotheads.[84] The Pikes Peak Hash House Harriers and Harriettes have an annual Parrot Head Hash weekend hosted by Yeastee Boy and Bread Box. Buffett's fanbase is composed mostly ofbaby boomers.[22] His concerts were known fortailgate parties and alcohol consumption.[3]
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Buffett wrote three books, all of which placed onThe New York Times Best Seller list.Tales from Margaritaville andWhere Is Joe Merchant? both spent over seven months onThe New York Times Best Seller fiction list. His memoirA Pirate Looks at Fifty, published in 1998, went straight to number one on theNew York Times Best Seller nonfiction list, making him one of the few authors to have reached number one on both the fiction and nonfiction lists.[85]
Buffett also co-wrote two children's books,The Jolly Mon andTrouble Dolls, with his eldest daughter,Savannah Buffett. The original hardcover release ofThe Jolly Mon included a cassette tape recording of the two reading the story accompanied by an original score written byMichael Utley.[86][87]
Buffett's novelA Salty Piece of Land was released on November 30, 2004, and the first edition of the book included a CD single of the song "A Salty Piece of Land." The book was aNew York Times best seller soon after its release.[88]
Buffett's last title,Swine Not?, was released on May 13, 2008.[89]
Buffett wrote the soundtrack for, co-produced, and played a role in, the 2006 filmHoot, directed byWil Shriner and based on the book byCarl Hiaasen, which focused on issues important to Buffett, such as conservation.[90] The film was not a critical or commercial success.[90]
Among his other film music credits are the theme song to the short-lived 1993CBS television seriesJohnny Bago;[91] "Turning Around" for the 1985 filmSummer Rental starringJohn Candy;[92] "I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)" for the 1982 filmFast Times at Ridgemont High;[93] "Hello, Texas" for the 1980John Travolta filmUrban Cowboy;[93] and "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)" for the animated filmFernGully: The Last Rainforest, which was sung in the film by rap artistTone Loc.[94]
Buffett madecameo appearances inRepo Man,[95]Hook,[96]Cobb,Hoot,Congo, andFrom the Earth to the Moon. He also made cameo appearances as himself inRancho Deluxe (for which he also wrote the music) and inFM.[97]
Buffett appeared on theSesame Street special,Elmopalooza, singing "Caribbean Amphibian" with the popular Muppet,Kermit the Frog.[98]
Buffett portrayed helicopter pilot Frank Bama in seven episodes of the 2010 reboot ofHawaii Five-0, in 2011, April 2013, March 2015, January 2017, March 2018, May 2019, and March 2020.[99]
Buffett made a cameo in the 2015 filmJurassic World, where he is seen holding two margaritas while the dinosaurs are set loose in the park.[100]
In 2017, Buffett was the musical guest on theNCIS: New Orleans episode "Rogue Nation", playing the song "I Will Play for Gumbo" in Dwayne Pride's (Scott Bakula) newly rebuilt bar.[101] His final TV appearance saw him busking the same tune on a New Orleans sidewalk to Beth (Amy Schumer) and her fiancée in the 2024Life & Beth episode "Who Dat?"[102]
In 2019, Buffett had an extended cameo playing himself in theHarmony Korine filmThe Beach Bum.[103]
Buffett portrayed both himself and a con artist by the name of Dickie Delaney, who pretended to be the famous singer in order to pull off schemes and trick unsuspecting marks on Season 12, Episode 11 ofBlue Bloods.[citation needed]
In 1994, Buffett began developing a musical based onHerman Wouk's 1965 novel,Don't Stop the Carnival. Buffett wrote the music and lyrics and Wouk wrote the book for the show.Don't Stop the Carnival debuted in Miami, Florida, in 1997 to negative reviews from critics.[104] The show ran only for six weeks in Miami.[105]
Escape to Margaritaville, a musical, ran at theLa Jolla Playhouse inSan Diego from May 2017 to July 2017. The show then performed limited runs inNew Orleans,Houston, andChicago, and was well received by critics. The show features a book byGreg Garcia andMike O'Malley and uses Buffett's classic songs, some of which he rewrote the lyrics to in order to better fit in the context of the story. The show began previews at theMarquis Theatre onBroadway on February 16, 2018, and officially opened on March 15 under the direction ofTony winnerChristopher Ashley. The Broadway production received mixed reviews from New York critics and closed on July 1 after 29 previews and 124 regular performances. A national tour launched inProvidence, Rhode Island, in the fall of 2019.[106]
Buffett took advantage of thetropical "island escapism" lifestyle that fans of his music sought by launching several business ventures to sell this lifestyle to his fans.[107][106]
Through his Margaritaville brand, Buffett licensed hotels, casinos, cruise experiences, restaurants and bars, packaged foods, beverages, spirits, outdoor furniture, home goods, appliances, and apparel and accessories.[108]
In 1984, Buffett and a friend opened a T-shirt shop inGulf Shores, Alabama.[36] After it failed, in 1985, they tried again in Key West, expanding it to what becameJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in 1987.[2] The chain opened restaurants under the Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grill names in locations including Atlantic City, New Orleans, Nashville, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Las Vegas, Jamaica, Orlando,Baltimore,[109] and the Cayman Islands.[110] The Margaritaville cafe on the Las Vegas strip was possibly the highest grossing restaurant in the U.S.[111]
Buffett previously owned theCheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant chain, founded in 2002 in partnership withBloomin' Brands; it was sold toLuby's for $11 million in 2012 and shut down in 2020.[112]
In 1992, Buffett launched Margaritaville Records, with distribution throughMCA Records.[113] His MCA record deal ended in 1996. In 1999, he startedMailboat Records to release live albums.[114]
Buffett sought and received a concert sponsorship fromCorona; the partnership was credited for increasing sales of the brand.[3] After deciding that he wanted his own beer brand, Buffett partnered withAnheuser-Busch in 2006 to brew Landshark Lager, now one of theAnheuser-Busch brands.[110]
In 2013, Buffett partnered with theResorts Casino Hotel inAtlantic City, New Jersey, to open the $35 million Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville-themed entertainment complex at the hotel, which included a Margaritaville Restaurant with a giant blender and tiki bar, a Landshark Bar and Grill, the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar, a coffee shop, a retail store, and a gaming area with 12 Margaritaville-themed table games and 160 slot machines.[115][116]
TheMargaritaville Casino and Restaurant inBiloxi, Mississippi, licensed the name from Buffett; it was in operation from May 2012 to September 2014.[117] Plans to bring a Buffett-themed casino to Biloxi had been in process since 2000.[118]
From May 8, 2009, through January 5, 2010, the home stadium of theMiami Dolphins, now calledHard Rock Stadium, was named LandShark Stadium pursuant to an eight-month naming rights deal.[119] Buffett also wrote new lyrics for the team to his 1979 song "Fins", which is played during Dolphins home games.[120]
As a baseball fan, Buffett was part-owner of twominor-league teams: theMiami/Fort Myers Miracle (1989–2014)[121] and theMadison Black Wolf (1996–2000).[122]
In 2012, a "Margaritaville Online" game was released byTHQ forFacebook.[123] The game was discontinued two years later.[123] In 2016, Buffett partnered withFunPlus to develop a new Margaritaville game.[123]
In 2017, Latitude Margaritaville, a 3,900-home $1 billionretirement village nearInterstate 95 inDaytona Beach, Florida, was announced by Buffett in partnership withMinto Group.[124][125] The partnership announced similar retirement communities onHilton Head Island, South Carolina, also in 2017[126] and inPanama City Beach, Florida, in 2021.[127]
In September 2018, Buffett teamed withWrigley Company heirWilliam Wrigley Jr. II's Surterra Holdings to license "Coral Reefer" brandmarijuana; it launched in April 2019. The brand licensing ended in April 2023.[128][129][130][131]
In the 1980s, Buffett became friends withWarren Buffett and a shareholder inBerkshire Hathaway, increasing his stake over the years. They called each other "Cousin Jimmy" and "Uncle Warren" though they were not related.[112]
In 1981, theSave the Manatee Club, a501(c)(3) organization, was founded by Buffett and formerFlorida governorBob Graham.[132][133] In 1986, Buffett began work to introduce the "Save the Manatee"license plate, featuring an image of aWest Indian manatee, with proceeds going to the Save the Manatee Club.[132] Buffett was also a major donor to theGulf Specimen Marine Laboratory.[132]
In 1987, Buffett lobbied for the reauthorization of theEndangered Species Act of 1973.[132]
Buffett enjoyed playing for U.S. troops; he played at theGuantanamo Bay Naval Base in 2002.[134]
Buffett performed at several hurricane relief concerts including the Surviving the Storm hurricane relief concert in November 2004, which raised funds to support relief efforts for the four major hurricanes that year:Hurricane Charley,Hurricane Frances,Hurricane Ivan, andHurricane Jeanne[135] and a hurricane relief concert in November 2017 withKenny Chesney andToby Keith.[136]
In January 2008, Buffett performed a concert in Hong Kong that raised funds for theForeign Correspondents' Club Charity Fund to support needy children.[137][138][139]
On July 11, 2010, along withJesse Winchester andAllen Toussaint, Buffett, a Gulf Coast native, performed a free concert for 35,000 people on the beach inGulf Shores, Alabama to draw tourism to the area in the aftermath of theDeepwater Horizon oil spill.[140][141] Buffett changed some of the lyrics of his songs to reference theenvironmental disaster.[142]
After the2010 Haiti earthquake, Buffett brought tents via his seaplane to donate to those that lost their homes.[143]
In the aftermath ofHurricane Irma, Buffett sent private planes to help ferry supplies and gave a benefit concert inGustavia, Saint Barthélemy.[49]
Buffett married Margie Washichek in 1969; they divorced in 1972.[144] Buffett met his second wife, Jane (née Slagsvol), then a student at theUniversity of South Carolina, at the Chart Room bar while she was visiting Key West onspring break; she never returned to the university. They were married in 1977 in Aspen, Colorado.The Eagles, for whom Buffett was the opening act in 1975, played at their wedding.[36][47] The couple had two daughters, radio personalitySavannah Buffett (born 1979) and filmmaker Sarah Delaney (born 1992), and an adopted son, Cameron Marley (born 1994).[15][145] They split in the early 1980s due to their partying lifestyle but reconciled in 1991 after she became sober.[15]
Buffett resided in a waterfront estate inSag Harbor, New York. In September 1998, he sold his properties in Key West for $900,000.[146] In 2010, Buffett sold his house inPalm Beach, Florida, toJon Stryker for $18.5 million; he had bought the house in 1994 for $4.4 million. At that time, he also owned a 2-unit property in the area, which he purchased in 2002 for $802,000.[147] In 2013, Buffett purchased another house in Palm Beach, with 3,100 square feet, for $1.3 million.[148] In April 2014, he bought a 4,322 square foot house inBeverly Hills, California for $8.25 million.[149] In 2020, Buffett sold a 4,783-square-foot house in Palm Beach for $6.9 million; he paid $4.95 million for it in 2011.[150] Buffett also owned a home inSaint Barthélemy, where he lived on and off in the early 1980s. There, Buffett was part owner of the Autour de Rocher hotel and restaurant. It was closed by local police and burned down shortly after(the story of the hotel is chronicled in the song "Autour Du Rocher" on Buffett's 2002Far Side of the World album).[49] He also owned an apartment in theDeutsche Bank Center in New York City.[106]
Buffett was a devotedNew Orleans Saints fan, having attended the team's first game atTulane Stadium in 1967.[151] On April 1, 2012, he had Saints head coachSean Payton serve as an honorary member of the Coral Reefer Band at a concert inNew Orleans in protest of Payton's suspension by theNational Football League as a result of theNew Orleans Saints bounty scandal.[152][153]
Buffett was an avid pilot and owned aDassault Falcon 900 jet that he often used while on concert tours and during his travels. At various points, he also owned aBoeing Stearman,Cessna Citation,Lake Amphibian,Pilatus PC-12, andGrumman Albatross.[154] While attempting to take off on August 25, 1994, around 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, Buffett crashed hisGrumman G-44 Widgeon into the waters offNantucket, Massachusetts. The airplane nosed over, and Buffett was able to swim to safety, sustaining only minor injuries.[155][154]
On February 4, 2001, Buffett was ejected from the American Airlines Arena (now theKaseya Center) in Miami during a basketball game between theMiami Heat and theNew York Knicks for cursing.[156] The referee who ejected Buffett apparently did not know who he was, and got upset at Heat coachPat Riley because he thought Riley—who was trying to explain to him who Buffett was—was insulting him by asking if he had ever been a "Parrothead", the nickname for Buffett fans.[157]
On October 6, 2006, Buffett was detained by French customs officials inSaint Tropez for allegedly carrying over 100 pills ofecstasy. Buffett's luggage was searched after hisDassault Falcon 900 private jet landed at Toulon-Hyères International Airport. He paid a fine of $300 and was released. Aspokesperson for Buffett stated the pills in question wereprescription drugs but declined to name the drug or the health problem for which he was being treated. Buffett released a statement that the "ecstasy" was in fact a B-vitamin supplement known asFoltx.[158][159][160]
At a performance by Buffett on January 26, 2011 (Australia Day) at Sydney'sHordern Pavilion, he fell off the stage after an encore and lost consciousness.[161][162] Coincidentally,Gordian Fulde, a trauma surgeon, was at the concert and close to the stage; Fulde treated Buffett at the scene.[161][163][164][165] Buffett regained consciousness within a few minutes, and was then transported to St. Vincent's Hospital Emergency Centre for treatment and was discharged the next day.[161] Buffett returned to Australia in 2012 for two shows in Brisbane and Melbourne, and made fun of the incident during those shows.[166]
By 2017, Buffett's diet did not include sugar orcarbohydrates, except on Sundays, and he no longer smokedmarijuana.[106]
Buffett was a supporter of theDemocratic Party. He sang in Florida for theBill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and again forBill Clinton in theWhite House in August 2000.[167] Buffett hosted fundraisers for Democratic politicians, including one for Obama in 2008, several forHillary Clinton in 2016.[168] In 2018, Buffett hosted a concert to supportGwen Graham, daughter ofBob Graham, in the Democratic primary of the2018 Florida gubernatorial election.[132] In November 2018, he hosted a rally for Florida Democratic candidatesAndrew Gillum andBill Nelson inWest Palm Beach, Florida, changing the lyrics of some of his songs to disparage the policies ofRick Scott andDonald Trump. The rally faced some backlash from conservative fans.[169][170]
Buffett was raised Catholic, although he did not practice the religion later in life.[30]
In May 2023, Buffett was hospitalized to "address some issues that needed immediate attention" and rescheduled tour dates.[171] In late August, he enteredhospice care[172] and had a final meeting with family and friends.[173]
Buffett died on September 1, 2023, at age 76, at his home inSag Harbor, New York, due to complications fromMerkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressiveskin cancer, with which he had been diagnosed four years earlier. Prior to his death, Buffett had kept his illness private and continued to tour while undergoing treatment.[3][38]
PresidentJoe Biden called Buffett a "music icon".[174] A tribute concert was held at theHollywood Bowl in April 2024, featuringPaul McCartney,Eagles,Snoop Dogg,Harrison Ford, andPitbull among others.[175][176]
In 2015, Buffett spoke at theUniversity of Miami's graduation ceremony and received an honorary doctorate in music. Wearing aviator sunglasses, he told graduates, from a line in his song "The Pascagoula Run", that "it's time to see the world, time to kiss a girl, and time to cross the wild meridian."[177] Also in 2015, Buffett's hometown ofPascagoula, Mississippi named a bridge after him in his honor, Buffett Bridge.[178]
A species ofcrustacean discovered in 2023,Gnathia jimmybuffetti, was named after Buffett.[179]
In 2024, the Florida legislature declared August 30Jimmy Buffett Day, renamedState Road A1A as theJimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, and issued a commemorative Florida and Margaritaville-themed license plate, to benefit Buffett's charity SFC Charitable Foundation Inc., also known as Singing for Change.[180]
The City ofHattiesburg unveiled their 57th mural in October 2024, titled "Parrots in Paradise." The mural is on Hardy Street and was painted byGulfport artist Lucinda L'Enfant.
[181] In 2024, Jimmy Buffett was entered into the 39th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The honor was bestowed by musician James Taylor, who also sang Buffet's 1974 hit "Come Monday" along with musician Kenny Chesney and Buffet's long-time Coral Reefer Band member, Mac McAnally.
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Introducing Jimmy Buffett[182] | Himself | Documentary Short film |
| 1973 | Tarpon[183] | Himself | Documentary |
| 1975 | Rancho Deluxe | Himself | Also composer |
| 1978 | FM | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| 1984 | Repo Man | Additional Blond Agent | Cameo appearance |
| 1986 | Live by the Bay | Himself | Concert film Also executive producer Direct-to-video |
| 1991 | Hook | Shoe-Stealing Pirate | Cameo appearance Uncredited |
| 1994 | Cobb | The Armless Guy /Heckler | Double role |
| 1995 | Congo | 727 Pilot | Cameo appearance |
| 2005 | The Aristocrats | Himself | Documentary |
| 2006 | Hoot | Mr. Ryan | Also producer and composer |
| 2006 | Sun Dogs | — | Documentary Also producer |
| 2008 | Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson | Himself | Documentary |
| 2015 | Jurassic World | Running Park Visitor with Margarita Drinks /Himself | Cameo appearance Uncredited |
| 2018 | Billionaire Boys Club | Police Captain | Video on demand Limited release |
| 2018 | The Wall's Embrace[184] | Himself | Documentary Short film |
| 2019 | The Beach Bum[185] | Himself | Cameo appearance Final film role in appearance |
| 2020 | Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President | Himself[186] | Documentary |
| 2021 | Under the Volcano | Himself | Documentary |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Your Hit Parade | Himself | Episode: "August 9, 1974" |
| 1978 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Episode: "Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett, Gary Tigerman" |
| 1981 1992 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself | 8 episodes |
| 1981 | Fridays | Himself | Episode: "#2.25" |
| 1982 | SCTV Network | Himself | Episode: "Rome, Italian Style" |
| 1977 1984 | Austin City Limits | Himself | 3 episodes[187] |
| 1983 1985 | Late Night with David Letterman | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 1984 | Nashville Now | Himself | Episode: "April 1, 1984" |
| 1989 2020 | Today | Himself | 8 episodes |
| 1991 | Voices That Care | Himself | Television special |
| 1993 | Johnny Bago | — | 8 episodes Theme music composer |
| 1994 2008 | Late Show with David Letterman | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1995 2003 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Himself | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Music for Montserrat | Himself | Television concert special |
| 1998 2005 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Elmopalooza | Himself | Television special[188] |
| 1998 | Brian Wilson's Imagination | Himself | Television documentary |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | First Journalist | Unknown episodes |
| 2004 2005 | 60 Minutes | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2004 2006 | Live! with Regis and Kelly | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2005 2013 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Himself | Episode: "#1.90" |
| 2010 | CMT Crossroads | Himself | Episode: "Jimmy Buffett & Zac Brown Band" |
| 2011 2020 | Hawaii Five-0 | Frank Bama | Recurring guest star 7 episodes |
| 2014 2022 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | NCIS: New Orleans | Himself | Episode: "Rogue Nation" |
| 2017 | Magnificent Mile Lights Festival | Himself | Television special |
| 2018 | CBS News Sunday Morning | Himself | Episode: "Cheating Hearts/On Broadway/A Moveable Feast/The Envelope Please: Willem Dafoe" |
| 2018 | The View | Himself | Episode: "Guest Co-Hostess Ana Navarro/Jimmy Buffett" |
| 2018 | Megyn Kelly Today | Himself | Episode: "#1.114" |
| 2018 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Himself | Episode: "Carol Kane & Jimmy Buffet" |
| 2019 | The Late Late Show with James Corden | Himself | Episode: "Matthew McConaughey/Reba McEntire/Jimmy Buffett" |
| 2019 | Wheel of Fortune | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Celebrity Page | Himself | Episode: "#7.136" |
| 2022 | Blue Bloods | Dickie Delaney Himself | Episode: "On the Arm" |
| 2024 | Life & Beth | Street Busker | Episode: "Who Dat?" |
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