Another one gone. I always liked his music in a kind of laid back Florida Keys sort of way. Visited Margaritaville in Key West a few times.
Jimmy Buffett RIP
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
I too was rather fond of his lackadaisical sailor’s tales of boats and booze.
His cover of Steve Goodman’s Banana Republics sums it all nicely.
Well I never! He was a millionaire several times over!
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/arts/jimmy-buffett-dead.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230902&instance_id=101770&nl=from-the-times®i_id=104571562&segment_id=143560&te=1&user_id=2625e84bb1ddce5d8e8835038b42b03c
Absolutely massive in the US, played huge arenas
Really? Gosh. What about KIss, Dai? Did they have many fans “over the pond”?
I lived in Miami in the 80’s and he was an absolute icon there. Key West was his town and his followers were in many ways as fanatical as Dead Heads.
Was quite fond of much his music in a non committed way.
Don’t they call themselves ‘Parrotheads’?
They do indeed. A lot of women followers too – I knew a lady who travelled all over USA and the Caribbean to see him.
His mantra was to sit in the sun all day preferably on a yacht and drink Margaritas. There are worse lifestyles.
I have a cat called Mr Utley.
I am seriously impressed @Gary.
You and your cat really know the Coral Reefer Band.
https://buffettworld.com/coral-reefer-band/
Looking through the notes on the members, one notices that many of them played with for a long period. He must have been a boss who inspired loyalty.
I’m glad you asked. Don’t be too impressed though. I only know one of Jimmy Buffet’s songs, Volcano, which I play on the guitar. Half way through the song he exclaims “Mr Utley” (at 1.48 in the video) seemingly at random. It always intrigued me, especially before I got myself a Google.
Perhaps it was Adrian Utley of The Portishead Band, who seems to pop up everywhere.
Dull fact: I once bought a magnetic acoustic guitar pickup off him.
Fun trivia fact: Jacques Cousteau was a big Jimmy Buffet fan.
But is it Buffit or Boofay?
My sister saw I had one of his books & asked “Who’s Jammy Buffet?”
Macca’s eulogy:
It seems that so many wonderful people are leaving this world, and now Jimmy Buffett is one of them. I’ve known Jimmy for some time and found him to be one of the kindest and most generous people.
I remember once on holiday when I had forgotten to bring my guitar and was itching to play. He said he would get me one of his, but I said, ‘I’m left-handed’. So, Jimmy had his roadie restring one of his guitars which he loaned me for the duration of the holiday. He then followed this act of generosity by giving me my own beautiful left-handed guitar that had been made by one of his guitar-making pals. It’s a beautiful instrument, and every time I play it now it’ll remind me of what a great man Jimmy was.
He had a most amazing lust for life and a beautiful sense of humour. When we swapped tales about the past his were so exotic and lush and involved sailing trips and surfing and so many exciting stories that it was hard for me to keep up with him.
Right up to the last minute his eyes still twinkled with a humour that said, ‘I love this world and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it’.
So many of us will miss Jimmy and his tremendous personality. His love for us all, and for mankind as a whole.
Last, but not least, is his songwriting and vocal ability. If someone made an interesting remark he repeated it in his gorgeous Louisiana drawl and said, ‘That’s a good idea for a song’. Most times it didn’t take too long for that song to appear. I was very happy to have played on one of his latest songs called ‘My Gummy Just Kicked In’. We had a real fun session and he played me some of his new songs. One, in particular, I loved was the song, ‘Bubbles Up’. And I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever. 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.
So long, Jim. You are a very special man and friend and it was a great privilege to get to know you and love you. Bubbles up, my friend.
Love, Paul
I’d like Paul McCartney to write something about me when I die…
That’s good. I should check out his back catalogue. I know only:
1. Volcano (see above)
2. A friend of mine in Florida is a fan.
3. He was friends with Mishka, who I’m a big fan of. They collaborated on a song of Mishka’s called “Ocean Is My Potion”.
@Gary The albums of his that I have are the one in the vid in my post above, which is ‘A1A’, plus these:
‘Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes’,
‘Havana Daydreamin’
‘A White Sports Coat and a Pink Crustacean’ (what a top title!),
‘Living and Dying in 3/4 Time’,
‘Son Of A Son Of A Sailor’,
‘Fruitcakes’,
‘Feeding Frenzy’
…and they all have lots to offer.
No doubt a Buffett buff will be able to suggest others to explore – there are loads – but I’d start with ‘A1A’ and ‘White Sports Coat…’ which is one of the early ones and one of the very best.
Thanks
Cheeseburger in paradise is a good one
Genuinely never heard of him until now, unless I thought he was Jimmy Ruffin. That might have been. So much for my music knowledge. What I’ve now heard (Margaritaville, Come Monday) is very pleasant.
I’ve just learnt another thing about him: He has a very brief, blink-and-miss-it, cameo in Jurassic World. He’s at the Margaritaville restaurant drinking margaritas when flying dinosaurs attack. While all around panic, his main concern is to protect the margaritas.
Had a heart attack on stage at the Sydney Opera House.
When it comes to musicians lives you’d like to have lived , I think Buffet wins.
Thanks to his business smarts he was fabulously wealthy as well as wonderfully laid-back.. Worth more than Bruce Springsteen according to the NYT article what I just read. I’ll have a frozen concoction later in his memory.
He also disliked Trump intensely and had a go at him in song, so that made him a good guy
@Gary quoted Macca’s eulogy to Jimmy. It didn’t end with that, @jazzjet. I just stumbled across this clip,
He turned up at the Hollywood Bowl to sing in honour of his old friend.
I was surprised at first to hear that they were such good pals. But, as a bit of Parrothead and something of a MaccaMan, I am delighted to hear that they were.
Paul’s performance here says a lot about both of them. At his point in life, Macca doesn’t need to do anything he doesn’t want to.
Us Parrotheads need to stick together @Kaisfatdad.
Let’s have Sheryl Crow’s tribute too!
His early albums are not what you’d expect, and very worthwhile.
https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-boffo-buffett-buffet.html