Jimmy Buffett Dies At 76
Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer/songwriter whose wide appeal included everyone from Deadheads to mainstream country music fans, has died at age 76. Buffett’s official social media accounts posted the sad…
Jimmy Buffett, the legendary singer/songwriter whose wide appeal included everyone from Deadheads to mainstream country music fans, has died at age 76. Buffett's official social media accounts posted the sad news earlier this morning. "Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many." No cause of death has been revealed.
Buffett got his start in music relatively late. According to ABC News, he didn't start playing music until his freshman year of college. He worked as a writer for Billboard. In fact, he was working there when he released his debut album, Down To Earth, in 1970. Jimmy Buffett started out as a country singer, but as The Washington Post noted, his first two albums "sold in the hundreds, and [he] realized that he felt off-kilter in the country genre."
He then went to Coconut Grove, Florida, at the invitation of a friend, singer/songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker. As The Post reports, when Buffett went to Key West with Walker, they arrived in time for sunset. That's where he witnessed "a daily ritual in which hippies free-danced on the beach to conga drums." Buffett found his muse, and with that, his artistic identity.
"Margaritaville"
Buffett's big breakthrough came with his seventh album, 1977's Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes. That album included the hit the he's most famous for: the funny but also melancholy "Margaritaville." It's a song about a guy who is down on his luck. But at least he's down on his luck in a beach town. It's become a beloved anthem. The lyrics include, "Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville/Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt/Some people claim that there's a woman to blame/But I know it's nobody's fault."
"Margaritaville" was more than just a massive hit for Buffett: it became his brand. According to Florida Today, Buffett's multi-billion dollar business empire includes Margaritaville-themed stores, hotels, bars, restaurants, daiquiri makers, pickleball paddles, beer, luxury resorts, retirement villages and Buffett's Coral Reefer THC (his backing band was called "the Coral Reefer Band").
He was also an accomplished author; according to the New York Times, Buffett was one of only six writers to top both The Times’s fiction and nonfiction best-seller lists. That elite group also includes Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck.
About three decades after leaving country music, he topped the country music charts with a duet with Alan Jackson, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," in 2003, according to American Songwriter. Buffett's influence can be heard all over country music today, in every song celebrating good times at beaches.
According to ABC News, Jimmy Buffett is survived by his wife, Jane, two daughters and a son.
Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost
We've already had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment and beyond.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we've lost so far in 2023.
Jeff Beck
Simone Joyner/Getty Imagesduring day three of the Isle of Wight Festival 2011 at Seaclose Park on June 12, 2011 in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Lola Mitchell
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Republic RecordsWEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Gangsta Boo attends the Coi Leray album release party hosted by Republic Records and Sprite at Bootsy Bellows on April 07, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Republic Records)
Lisa Marie Presley
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Wonderwallposes at the Wonderwall portrait studio during the 2013 CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena on June 5, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Robbie Bachman
MercuryDavid Crosby
Mike Windle/Getty Imagesattends the International Myeloma Foundation's 7th Annual Comedy Celebration Benefiting The Peter Boyle Research Fund hosted by Ray Romano at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on November 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Jeremiah Green, drummer for Modest Mouse
Jason Koerner/Getty ImagesFORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 04: Jeremiah Green of Modest Mouse performs on stage during Audacy Beach Festival at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park on December 04, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Audacy)
Anita Pointer
Mike Windle/Getty Images for VFCBEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 03: Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters performs onstage at the Venice Family Clinic's 32nd Annual Silver Circle Gala held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 3, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for VFC)
The Beatles 50 Year Commemorative Anniversary Photo Exhibit
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 04: Photographer Henry Grossman attends The Beatles 50 Year Commemorative Anniversary photo exhibit at Rock Paper Photo NYC Pop Up Gallery on February 4, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Art McNally, “Father of Instant Replay” in the NFL
CANTON, OHIO - AUGUST 06: Art McNally is presented during the 2022 Pro Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Adam Rich, Child Star on ‘Eight Is Enough’
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 17: Actor Adam Rich attends the Chrysalis Third Annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Gina Lollobrigida
Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida as Marietta in the film 'La Legge' ('The Law', aka 'Where the Hot Wind Blows'), 1959. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Lynette Hardaway (L), "Diamond" of conservative media personalities "Diamond and Silk"
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 17: Fox Nation contributors Diamond (L) and Silk (R) attend the Save the Storks 2nd Annual Stork Charity Ball at the Trump International Hotel on January 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Save the Storks)
Carl Hahn, former head of Volkswagen that helped popularize the VW Beetle
ZWICKAU, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 04: Carl Hahn, who was head of Volkswagen Group from 1982 to 1983, chats with workers at the assembly line of the new Volkswagen ID.3 electric car at the Volkswagen factory on November 04, 2019 in Zwickau, Germany. Volkswagen launched assembly of the car at the Zwickau plant today. A spokesman said the numbers of vehicles finished per day will gradually be ramped up, from a current 6 to over 50 by the end of the year, and then much higher numbers in 2020. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Cindy Williams
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Actress Cindy Williams attends the 10th Annual TV Land Awards at the Lexington Avenue Armory on April 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Burt Bacharach
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 3: Musician Burt Bacharach performs at the Mentor Foundation's "Global Celebration: An Evening Honoring the Generations of the Future" Gala at the Paramount Studios on November 3, 2002 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Raquel Welch
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Actress Raquel Welch arrives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 16, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 02: Honorees Dave, Maseo and Posdnuos of De La Soul attend the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors at the Hammerstein Ballroom on October 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Songwriter Kyle Jacobs
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 07: Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs attend the 2017 CMT Music awards at the Music City Center on June 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
Charles Kimbrough
Gary Gershoff/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Actor Charles Kimbrough attends the 10th Annual TV Land Awards at the Lexington Avenue Armory on April 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Bob Born
William Thomas Cain/Getty ImagesWARMINSTER, PA - APRIL 18: Pink and yellow Marshmallow Peeps are seen April 18, 2003 in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Just Born, the manufacturer of Marshmallow Peeps, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Marshmallow Peeps, and now produces more than one billion individual Peeps per year. Last Easter, more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps and Bunnies were consumed by men, women, and children throughout the United States. Strange things people like to do with Marshmallow Peeps: eat them stale, microwave them, freeze them, roast them and use them as a pizza topping. Marshmallow Peeps and Bunnies come in five colors. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
Bobby Hull
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesCHICAGO - MAY 05: Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull walks out to drop the puck for the ceremonial face off prior to the Blackhawks hosting the Vancouver Canucks in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 5, 2009 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Lloyd Morrisett
Paul Morigi/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: Sesame Street co-founder Lloyd Morrisett (C) with Sesame Street characters Abby Cadabby (L) and Cookie Monster (R) attend the 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors Kennedy Center on December 08, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Jerry Blavat
William Thomas Cain/Getty ImagesPHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 13: Philadelphia radio personality Jerry Blavat, poses for photos at PBS Presents "Love Train: The Sound Of Philadelphia" Premiere Screening November 13, 2008 at the Ritz East in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Part one of a two-part PBS special celebrating the classic Philly soul of Gamble and Huff will premiere on PBS Thanksgiving weekend. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
Tom Verlaine
Stephen Lovekin/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - FEBRUARY 13: Singer/musician Tom Verlaine performs at The 2008 Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on February 13, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Lisa Loring
Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images403350 01: Actress Lisa Loring poses for a photo April 3, 2002, in New York City. Loring played Wednesday Addams in the television series the Addams Family. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images)
Cody Longo
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTVNEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Cody Longo attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
Tim McCarver
Portrait of American baseball player Tim McCarver infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, 1973. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Sal Piro
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Painted TurtleLOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Founder and President of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' fan club Sal Piro speaks onstage during The Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th anniversary to benefit The Painted Turtle at The Wiltern on October 28, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Painted Turtle)
