Headed to that Margaritaville in the sky. Splash Jimmy Buffett, legendary 'Margaritaville' singer, dies at 76
Jimmy and I had the same taste in dogs. His were Springers mine is a Brittany but they sure do look alike especially the one on the right..
Months ago was having a convo with wife n kids about famous fav musicians, like Spingsteen, Petty, Prince, Garth Brooks, Shania, Van Halen, Kiss, Aerosmith... others. I told them that the one guy who was always there (ie featured prominently) through every phase of my life, was Jimmy Buffett. He was also the one who every one of us was a fan of. ....and the singer of "our" song (my wife's and mine). Love that guy. Fins up forever!
I'm not ok. I'm a self proclaimed parrot head. Been pouring through pics of different shows Ive been to. The last was April 21, 2022. Was hoping to see him at Walnut Creek in Raleigh next year. I knew something was off after his hospital stay and the fact that no dates for next year had been posted. First Tom, now Jimmy. Literally my two favorite musicians are gone.
Saw Buffet at the old Florida Gym. One of the greatest shows that I attended. Saw him lots of other times but that one was the best. One time my roommates and I took out our beach chairs, put on bathing suits, and turned up the heat (it was February) and put Buffet on the stereo. Busted out the blender. Great memories, thanks Jimmy.
As a fan this seems odd to me. He didnt really have a "time" . He is bigger today than ever. Much bigger. He was decades older than me, (He is actually a year older than my dad actually) but any Florida kid growing up on the gulf coast like I did... Man he basically wrote my soundtrack....Not being hyperbolic either. Some of his best music was recent. Life on the Flip Side from 2020 is a great listen. Pretty much every major country star wants him on an album. He is very much current yet very much classic all at the same time. I bet 20% of the music I listen too out in the garage or doing yard work etc is Tom and Jimmy. Maybe more than that. Their libraries are so deep that you can listen to both for days.
In 1972, before he was a star, he moved to Key West. I could swear I saw him playing at a dive bar on Stock Island. Favorite songs: Come Monday, Cheeseburger in Paradise One of his songs is about a woman going crazy on Caroline St. The street I grew up on is one block away from Caroline. His music was just woven throughout the tapestry of my life.
Echoing Tilly, Buffett is timeless. Like I wrote above, my kids are parrot heads. TBL: YOU'RE still alive. Get you some Buffett, get your margaritaville on, leave your cares behind, and welcome to the family! Just like that, you're a parrothead. No one judges in margaritaville. It's like the only rule. Fins up!
Nah. One of his many ballads (though I'll keep which one and why, to myself. And my wife). ....but so as not to leave you with nothing, I'll leave you with one of my all time favorite Buffett tunes:
I just realized that I’ve been to more Buffett concerts than anyone else. Three at UF and two when I lived near San Francisco. The last one was a doubleheader: San Francisco Giants baseball game followed by Buffett concert at Candlestick Park. RIP Pirate!
And there's that one particular harbour Sheltered from the wind Where the children play on the shore each day And all are safe within Most mysterious calling harbour So far but yet so near I can see the day when my hair's full gray And I finally disappear RIP Jimmy and thanks for the great music and good times.......
He hasn’t stuck with me over decades the way Prine has. But there was a time when he was right up at top for me. Captured a Florida mood that no one had. I dated three women in the ‘70s for whom I think I was a cheap buffett substitute, stringy haired guitar playing guy from Florida. I was ok knowing I wasn’t their first choice. I married the third one.
I started listening to him in 4th or 5th grade; 1977. I listened to changes and Latitude album so much my Dad bought a second one. Banana Republic was and is my favorite. Once everyone started discovering Jimmy I started moving away from him. Although his newer song, new is anything after 1980; about his Dad renewed my interest; “ False Echos”. I was a weird kid; first song I obsesssed over around 7 was “ The Box” by John Denver. Dad said he didn’t understand how a 7 year old connected so much with a very complex and pseudo political poem/song. https://pandora.app.link/WwXD5H3HLCb https://pandora.app.link/WwXD5H3HLCb
