Beloved singer, Jimmy Buffett has passed away at the age of 76 according to his website.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs” the website reads.
Buffett’s decorated career began in 1970 with his debut album “Down To Earth” and he never looked back. Since then, he wrote and performed a plethora of songs that helped shape his live performance to the experience that it is. His most iconic song ‘Margaritaville’ comes from his 1977 “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Altitude” which is RIAA-certified Platinum. Despite the sensational song topping charts, one of his more unique achievements is its induction to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress in April 2023. Among his other awards, such as two Grammy nominations, two Academy of Country Music Awards and a Country Music Association Award, Buffett was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and went as far to perform on Saturday Night Live in 1978.
Tributes are pouring in from fellow musicians and fans which were coined as “Parrotheads”. “So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever. Sail On Sailor” Kenny Chesney Wrote on Twitter.
Buffett shaped a whole new style of country music centered around beaches and relaxing by the water. Alan Jackson has been known to put out songs of similar style even to go as far as releasing, ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’ with Buffett and name dropping ‘Margaritaville’ in the bridge of the song. Modern singers like Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band have also emulated similar vibes in their music with lots of summer beach anthems.
Aside from his legendary musical career, Buffett was a savvy business man with an international brand built around his iconic song and beachy style of music. He opened two restaurants opened with the song’s name in Universal CityWalk Hollywood and CityWalk Orlando. The first Margaritaville Cafe opened in Key West, Florida in 1985 and now spans across 23 locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Australia. His music also inspired the Broadway show “Escape to Margaritaville” which premiered in 2018 followed by a national tour the year later. In 2022, the Margaritaville brand started a partnership with the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line with a ship being renamed to “Margaritaville at Sea”. Buffett’s net worth was estimated at $1 billion according to Forbes.
Before his passing, Buffett had announced a new album with previews being released every week on “Margaritaville Radio.”
